Chapter #11 Manage Computing Securely, Safely and Ethically

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.
• A cybercrime is an online or Internet-based illegal act

1. Hackers
2. Crackers 
3. Script Kiddies
4. Corporate Spies
5. Unethical Employees
6. Cyberextortionists
7. Cyberterrorists

Internet and Network Attacks

• Information transmitted over networks has a higher degree of security risk than information kept on an organization's premises.
• An online security service is a Web site that evaluates your computer to check for Internet and e-mail vulnerabilities.
• Computer Virus - Affects a computer negatively by altering the way the computer works.
• Worm - Copies itself repeatedly, using up resources and possibly shutting down the computer or network.
• Trojan Horse - A malicious program that hides within or looks like a legitimate program.
• Rootkit - Program that hides in a computer and allows someone from a remote location to take full control.
• An infected computer has one or more of the following symptoms :

1. Operating system runs much slower than usual
2. Available memory is less than expected
3. Files become corrupted
4. Screen displays unusual message or image
5. Music or unusual sound plays randomly
6. Existing programs and files disappear
7. Programs or files do not work properly
8. Unknown programs or files mysteriously appear
9. System properties change 
10. Operating system does not start up
11. Operating system shuts down unexpectedly 

• Users can take several precautions to protect their home and work computers and mobile devices from these malicious infections.
• A botnet is a group of compromised computers connected to a network - A compromised computer is known as a zombie.
• A denial of service attack (DoS attack) disrupts computer access to Internet services - Distributed DoS (DDoS)

A back door is a program or set instruction in a program that allow users to bypass security controls.

• Spoofing is a technique intruders use to make their network or Internet transmission appear legitimate.
• A firewall is hardware and/or software that protects a network's resources from intrusion.
• Intrusion detection software

1. Analyzes all network traffic
2. Assesses system vulnerabilities
3. Identifies any unauthorized intrusions
4. Notifies network administrators of suspicious behavior patterns or system breaches

• Honeypot

1. Vulnerable computer that is set up to entice an intruder to break into it.

Unauthorized Access and Use

• Unauthorized access is the use of a computer or network without permission.
• Unauthorized use is the use of a computer of its data for unapproved or possibly illegal activities.
• Organizations take several measures to help prevent unauthorized access and use

1. Acceptable use policy
2. Disable file and printer sharing
3. Firewalls
4. Intrusion detection software

• Access controls define who can access a computer, when they can access it, and what actions they can take

1. Two-phase processes called identification and authentication
2. User name
3. Password
4. Passphrase
5. CAPTCHA

• A possessed object is any item that you must carry to gain access to a computer or computer facility - Often are used in combination with a personal identification number (PIN)
• A biometric device authenticates a person's identity by translating a personal characteristics into a digital code that is compared with a digital code in a computer.
• Digital forensics is the discovery, collection, and analysis of evidence found on computers and networks.
• Many areas use digital forensics

1. Law enforcement
2. Criminal prosecutors
3. Military intelligence
4. Insurance agencies
5. Information security departments

Hardware Theft and Vandalism

• Hardware theft is the act of stealing computer equipment.
• Hardware vandalism is the act of defacing or destroying computer equipment.
• To help reduce the of chances of theft, companies and schools use a variety of security measures.

1. Physical access controls
2. Alarm systems
3. Cables to lock equipment
4. Real time location system
5. Passwords, possessed objects, and biometrics

Software Theft 

• Software theft occurs when someone :

1. Steals software media
2. Intentionally erases programs
3. Illegally copies a program
4. Illegally registers and/or activates a program

• A single-user license agreement typically contains the following conditions :

Permitted to :

1. Install the software on one computer
2. Make one copy of the software
3. Remove the software from your computer before giving it away or selling it

Not permitted to :

1. Install the software on a network
2. Gibe copies to friends or colleagues while continuing to use the software
3. Export the software
4. Rent or lease the software

• Copying, loaning, borrowing, renting, or distributing software can be a violation of copyright law.
• Some software requires product activation to function fully.
• Information theft occurs when someone steals personal or confidential information.
• Encryption is a process of converting readable data into unreadable characters to prevent unauthorized access.
• A digital signatures is an encrypted code that a person, Web site, or organization attaches to an electronic message to verify the identity of the sender - Often used to ensure that an impostor is not participating in an Internet transaction.
• Web browsers and Web sites use encryption techniques.
• Popular security techniques include :

1. Digital Certificates
2. Transport Layer Security (TLS)
3. Secure HTTP
4. VPN

System Failure

• A system failure is the prolonged malfunction of a computer.
• A variety of factors can lead to system failure, including :

1. Aging hardware
2. Natural disasters
3. Electrical power problems (Noise, undervoltages, and overvoltages)
4. Errors in computer programs

• Two ways to protect from system failures caused by electrical power variations include surge protectors and uninterruptable power supplies (UPS)

Backing Up - The Ultimate Safeguard

• A backup is a duplicate of a file, program, or disk that can be used if the original is lost, damaged, or destroyed.
• Offsite backups are stores in a location separate from the computer site.
• Two categories of backups :

1. Full backup
2. Selective backup

• Three-generation backup policy 

Wireless Security

• Wireless access poses additional security risks - About 80 percent of wireless networks have no security protection.
• War driving allows individuals to detect wireless networks while driving a vehicle through the area.
• In additional to using firewalls, some safeguards improve security of wireless networks :

1. A wireless access point should not broadcast an SSID
2. Change the default SSID
3. Configure a WAP so that only certain devices can access it
4. Use WPA or WPA2 security standards

Ethics and Society

• Computer ethics are the moral guidelines that govern the use of computers and information systems.
• Information accuracy is a concern - Not all information on the Web is correct.
• Intellectual property rights are the rights to which creators are entitled for their work. - A copyright protects any tangible form of expression.
• An IT code of conduct is a written guideline that helps determine whether a specific computer action is ethical or unethical.
• Green computing involves reducing the electricity and environmental waste while using a computer.
• Information privacy refers to the right of individuals and companies to deny restrict the collection and use of information about them.
• Huge databases store data online.
• It is important to safeguard your information.
• When you fill out a form, the merchant that receives the form usually enters it into a database.
• Many companies today allow people to specify whether they want their personal information distributed.
• A cookie is a small text file that a Web server stores on your computer.
• Web sites use cookies for a variety of reasons :

1. Allow for personalization
2. Store users' passwords
3. Assist with online shopping
4. Track how often users visit a site
5. Target advertisement

• Spam is an unsolicited e-mail message or newsgroup posting.
• W-mail filtering block e-mail messages from designated sources.
• Anti-spam programs attempt to remove spam before it reaches your inbox.
• Phishing is a scam in which a perpetrator sends an official looking e-mail message that attempts to obtain your personal and financial information.
• Pharming is a scam where a perpetrator attempts to obtain your personal financial information via spoofing.
• Social engineering is defined as gaining unauthorized access or obtaining confidential information by taking advantage of trust and naivety.
• Employee monitoring involves the use of computers to observe, record, and review an employee's use of a computer.
• Content filtering is the process or restricts access to specified Web sites.