Computer security risks
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Computer security risks include cybercrime, hackers, crackers, script kiddies, cyberextortionists, and cyberterrorists illegally accessing networks and computers. To protect against viruses and malware, precautions should be taken like not opening attachments from unknown sources, enabling macro security in programs, installing antivirus software and updating it frequently with the latest virus definitions.
Computer security risks
- 2. Computer Security Risks • A computer security risk is any event or • action that could cause a loss of or damage to • computer hardware, software, data, information, • or processing capability
- 3. Cybercrime Any illegal act involving a computer generally is referred to as a computer crime. The term cybercrime refers to online or Internet-based illegal acts. Software used by cybercriminals sometimes is called crimeware. Today, cybercrime is one of the FBI’s top three priorities.
- 4. Hacker • Someone who accesses a • computer or network illegally is called hacker. • Some hackers • claim the intent of their security breaches is • to improve security.
- 5. Cracker • A cracker also is someone who accesses • a computer or network illegally but has • the intent of destroying data, stealing • information, or other malicious action. • Both hackers and crackers have advanced • computer and network skills.
- 6. Script kiddie • A script kiddie has the same intent as a • cracker but does not have the technical skills
- 7. Cyberextortionist (CRIMINAL LAW obtaining something by illegal threats) A cyberextortionist is someone who uses e-mail as a vehicle for extortion. These perpetrators send an organization a threatening e-mail message indicating they will expose confidential information, exploit a security flaw, or launch an attack that will compromise the organization’s network — if they are not paid a sum of money.
- 8. Cyberterrorist • A cyberterrorist is someone who uses the • Internet or network to destroy or damage computers for political reasons. The • cyberterrorist might target the nation’s air • traffic control system, electricity-generating companies, or a telecommunications infrastructure. • The term, cyberwarfare, describes an attack whose goal ranges from disabling a government’s computer network to crippling • a country. Cyberterrorism and cyberwarfare usually require a team of highly skilled
- 9. Internet and Network Attacks • Information transmitted over networks has a • higher degree of security risk than information • kept on an organization’s premises. In an organization, • network administrators usually take • measures to protect a network from security • risks. On the Internet, where no central administrator • is present, the security risk is greater.
- 10. Security service • To determine if your computer is vulnerable • to an Internet or network attack, you • could use an online security service. An online • security service is a Web site that evaluates • your computer to check for Internet and e-mail • vulnera bilities
- 11. How virus can spread through Email Message
- 12. Safeguards against Computer Viruses and Other Malware • Methods that guarantee a computer or • network is safe from computer viruses and other • malware simply do not exist. Users can take several • precautions, however, to protect their home • and work computers and mobile devices from • these malicious infections
- 13. Precautions • Do not start a computer with removable media inserted in the drives or plugged in the ports. • For example, optical disc drives should be empty, and a USB port should not contain a USB flash • drive. During the startup process, a computer • may attempt to execute the boot sector on media • in certain drives and ports. Even if the attempt is • unsuccessful, a virus on the boot sector of removable • media can infect the computer’s hard disk. • If you must start the computer with media in a • drive or port, be certain the media are uninfected • or from a trusted source
- 14. Precautions • Never open an e-mail attachment unless you • are expecting the attachment and it is from a • trusted source. If the e-mail message is from an • unknown source or untrusted source, delete the • e-mail message immediately — without opening • or executing any attachments.
- 15. Precautions • Some viruses are hidden in macros, which • are instructions saved in software such as a word • processing or spreadsheet program. In programs • that allow users to write macros, you should set • the macro security level so that the application • software warns users that a document they are • attempting to open contains a macro
- 16. Precautions • Users should install an antivirus program and • update it frequently. • An antivirus program protects a computer against • viruses by identifying and removing any computer • viruses found in memory, on storage media, • or on incoming files.
- 17. Precautions • One technique that antivirus programs use to • identify a virus is to look for virus signatures. A • virus signature, also called a virus definition, is • a known specific pattern of virus code. Computer • users should update their antivirus program’s • signature files regularly