CAMBRIDGE - A Level - IT - Network Security

Network Security - Issues - What is Malware?

• Malware is short for Maladjusted Hardware.

• Malware is the alternative to software.

• Malware is a a play on words meaning Microsoft I aware.

• Malware is software that is designed to cause damage to a computer system.

Network Security - Issues - What is hacking?

• Hacking is the process of installing malicious software on a computer system.

• Hacking is the response to having a terribly sore throat.

• Hacking is unauthorised access to a computer or computer network.

• Hacking is a positive test for a networked computer system.

Network Security - Issues - What is Spyware?

• Spyware is malicious software that is installed on a computer or computer network to record what a user is doing.

• Spyware is a colloquial term for the software used to install 'S'uper 'Py'thon soft'ware'.

• Spyware is used to see what a user is doing using their cameras.

• Spyware is a term for technical officers of the FBI.

• Keyloggers record key presses through which they gain user information.

Network Security - Issues - How does a virus work?

• Email viruses arrive attached to email and are triggered by opening the documents.

• Viruses are designed to cause damage to data or cause problems on a computer system. Worms spread automatically through connected computers therefore are a real concern for networks.

• Trojan Horses are disguised as legitimate software, if run, causing damage to the computer system.

• Parasitic viruses attach themselves to other files on a computer and are triggered by a computer event; certain date or time for example.

• Macro viruses attach themselves within macro enabled software.

Network Security - Issues - What is a Denial of Service Attack?

• Distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS) are an upgrade to Dos attacks and utilise many network connections to disable a single computer.

• A DoS attack is designed to send more requests to a server than it can cope with, easy to launch and difficult to track.

• A Denial of Service attack is an example of the 'Just Say No' protocol.

• Most websites only require 50 requests per second to prevent them form working properly. To exceed 50RPS is the target rate of a DoS attack.

Network Security - Security Methods - How can access rights be used to secure a computer network?

• Giving verbal authority to a user to use certain areas of a network, morally users are obliged to only access areas that they have rights to.

• Access rights are created as soon as you purchase a new computer. They are the same on all networks.

• By implementing access rights, network access and access to applications can be restricted to certain users. This is done by using a users login details to allocate them access rights.

• Access rights are chosen by the user and no other user can use them.

Network Security - Security methods - Other than passwords, how else can access rights be restricted to a computer network?

• Biometrics could be used to identify a user.

• Using a doorbell will prevent intruders from entering unnoticed.

• Accounts can be suspended on certain days or for certain times.

• Physical swipecards could be used.

• Two factor authentication could be used - This may require not only a password but a second way of authenticating a users identification; mobile number, authentication app for example.

Network Security - Security methods - Identify some common biometric methods of identification.

• Retina recognition

• Facial recognition

• Voice recognition

• Fingerprints

• Ear Wax

Network Security - Security methods - Firewalls; What are they and how do they work?

• A fire wall controls traffic into and out of a network. It is effectively a barrier between the network and external traffic.

• A firewall can often include a proxy server. This makes requests to the internet on behalf of the network computers.

• A firewall makes it impossible to infiltrate a computer network.

• Firewalls use an access control list (ACL) that uses a technique called packet filtering. An ACL controls which packets can travel through the firewall.

Network Security - Backups - Why are they required?

• A backup prevents hacking and stops unauthorised access.

• Backups are not required.

• A backup is a copy of the original data. Should anything go wrong, the data can be reinstated to a historic save point.

• A backup is the sole means of protecting data from hackers.