Network Security Threats

Network Security Threats

1. Forms of Attacks

   • Passive- data gets monitored
   • Active- data is modified
   • Inside- by someone inside an organisation
   • Outside- by an unauthorised user

2. System Security Threats

   • Brute-force Attack – when all possible password combinations are attempted until the password if found to gain access.
   • Denial of Service Attack (DoS) - when a network resource becomes flooded with traffic making the site crash or not work properly.
   • Distributed Denial of Service Attack (DDoS) – when requests come from multiple places so you can't just block a single IP address (a way of identifying specific devices that are all connected to the internet so things like data packets can be sent to the right device).
   • Malware - software that has been created to damage, change or take control of networks.
   • Social engineering techniques- manipulates people to show personal or confidential information.

3. Types of Malware

   • Computer viruses – put themselves into programs. Viruses can duplicate themselves and move from one device to another. They're usually in email attachments or attachments to files and programs.
   • Trojan horses- they get access to a device by pretending to be real software. It allows unauthorised access to a device without the user being aware
   • Spyware- it can record your activity, like keystrokes to figure out passwords for access to personal information. Spyware can also record things through your microphone and/or your webcam/camera.
   • Worms- they move around like viruses but don't need activation from a user. They attach themselves to network tools so they can spread very quickly.

4. Types of Social Engineering

   • Blagging- fraudsters create personal scenarios to trick people into revealing personal information they can get from social medias.
   • Phishing- usually come in the form of an email or text message scam where people are tricked into believing that they are being contacted by an authentic organisation in order to gain personal information.
   • Pharming Users- fake websites people are tricked to believe are real to give away personal information like bank account details.
   • Shoulder surfing- when someone leans over to see your PIN number for your bank account.