Security Threats

Описание: Computer and network security are important to prevent loss of, or unauthorized access to, important information resources. Some threats can be controlled completely or partially, but some cannot be controlled. Threats can also be categorized by whether they are unintentional (such as natural disasters, a user’s accidental deletion of data, and structural failures) or intentional. Intentional threats include hacker attacks and attacks by disgruntled employees—such as spreading a virus on the company network.

Viruses are the most well-known computer and network threats. They are a type of malware (short for malicious software), which is any program or file that is harmful to computers or networks. A virus consists of self-propagating program code that is triggered by a specified time or event. When the program or operating system containing the virus is used, the virus attaches itself to other files, and the cycle continues. The seriousness of viruses varies, ranging from playing a prank, such as displaying a funny (but usually annoying) image on the user’s screen, to destroying programs and data.

In the context of security, social engineering means using “people skills”—such as being a good listener and assuming a friendly, unthreatening air—to trick others into revealing private information. This is an attack that takes advantage of the human element of security systems. In addition to these intentional threats, loss or theft of equipment and computer media is a serious problem, particularly when a computer or flash drive contains confidential data.