System Threats

System Threats

1. Malware

   • Malware - software written to infect computers and commit crimes such as fraud and identity theft
     • Types of malware include: worms, trojan horses, adware and scareware
   • Full name is Malicious Software
   • Lots of malware attacks happen every day.

2. Denial of service attack

   • Flooding a server with useless traffic causes servers to become overloaded preventing them responding to legitimate client-server requests from users.
   • Many DoS attacks, such as the Ping of Death and Teardrop attacks, exploit limitations in the TCP/IP protocols.
   • DDoS is a type of attack where multiple compromised systems, which are often infected with a Trojan, are used to target a single system causing a Denial of Service attack.
   • Revenue losses: downtime affects profits. Based on industry surveys, the average cost of downtime is over £4000/minute
   • Productivity Loss: when critical network systems are shut down, your workforce’s productivity comes to a halt.
   • Reputation Damage: your brand suffers if customers can’t access your site or become casualties of a data breach.
   • Strong security software (firewall). Packet filters on routers. Configuration of the webserver. Good network policy: audits, logs, monitoring.

3. Phishing

   • Phishing is a fraud technique used to get personal information like usernames, passwords and credit card details, this is done by disguising as a bank or other trustworthy sources.
   • A common phishing practice involves spamming recipients with a fake message under the name of a trusted institution.
   • Strong security software (firewall, spam filter, anti-virus, anti-spam). Staff training: awareness of spotting fake websites & emails. Staff training: never disclose personal or financial information. Staff training: disable pop-ups.
   • Lots of phishing attacks target old people due to most of them not knowing how to deal with them, or what to do about it.

4. Data interception and theft

   • An attacker monitors data streams to or from a target, in order to gather sensitive information. This attack usually involves sniffing network traffic. Sniffing or eavesdropping is the act of monitoring traffic on the network for data such as plaintext passwords or configuration information. With a simple packet sniffer program, an attacker can easily read all plaintext traffic.
   • Effects of data interception and theft: Discovering username and password credentials. Gaining access to systems. Disclosure of corporate data. Theft of data.
   • Preventing data interception and theft: Strong encryption. Using virtual networks. Staff training: use of passwords, locking and portable storage devices. Network forensics.

5. Brute Force attack

   • A brute force attack is a trial and error method used by programs to decode encrypted data such as passwords or Data Encryption Standard keys, through exhaustive effort rather than employing intellectual strategies.
   • Challenge response tests e.g. reCAPTCHA – user has to look at a picture and answer a question.
   • Network lockout policy: locks out after a number of tries. Staff training: using effective passwords that contain symbols and numbers.

6. SQL injection

   • SQL injection is a code injection technique, used to attack data-driven applications. If a database application has not been coded in a secure way, code can be entered into text boxes, and will be executed by the server.
   • Contents of the database can be output, revealing data that otherwise would be hidden.
   • Data in the database can be amended and deleted.
   • New rogue records can be added.
   • Validation of input fields. Using parameterised queries. Using database permissions. Penetration testing.

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