System Security

System Security

1. Malware

   • Viruses
     • Viruses are small programs which aim to cause physical damage to a computer system, they can duplicate and delete files.
     • Main types are; Standard virus, Worms Virus and Trojan Virus
   • Spyware
     • Spyware aims to spy on the user and send info about them back. (Such as passwords, usernames, purchases they made etc).
     • A common one is key logger which records every key you hit.
   • Adware
     • Adware uses advertisement to make you click on things such as unwanted adverts or marketing information about your online habits.
     • It will sometimes try to direct you to unwanted websites by changing your default page.
   • Pharming
     • Pharming seeks to change the ip address (stored into the DNS) to another IP address so the user is sent to a phoney website that looks the same.

2. Phishing

   • Phishing seeks to get private information about a user. For e.g. usernames, password, bank details etc.
   • They try to impersonate other companies over phone or email (such as banks) and ask for private information.

3. Brute Force Attack

   • Where criminals use trial and error to hack an account by trying thousands of different possible passwords and usernames.
   • They'll repeatedly try and login with one password after another.

4. DoS - Denial of Service attacks.

   • Seeks to bring down websites using a web servers resources.
   • Acquiring multiple computers (often through malware) repeatedly try to access a website.
   • Criminals demand money in order for the attack to be stopped.

5. SQL Injections

   • SQL= Structured Query Language used to lookup data in a database.
   • When you log into an account, you add your username and password into some input boxes.
   • Eg: SELECT account WHERE username = "bjones" AND password = "pa$$w0rd"