Computer Security Threats

Malware:
- Viruses: replicate themselves by attaching to programs or files
- Worms: self-replicating, do not need to attach to programs or files
- Trojans: disguise themselves as legitimate software
- Ransomware: encrypt files and demand payment
Internal Threats:
- Insider threats: authorized personnel with malicious intent
- Social engineering: manipulating individuals to reveal sensitive information
External Threats:
- Hacking: unauthorized access to computer systems
- Phishing: fraudulent emails, texts, or calls to obtain sensitive information
- Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks

Network Security:
- Firewalls: control incoming and outgoing network traffic
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): encrypt internet connections
Access Control:
- Authentication: verifying user identity (e.g., passwords, biometrics)
- Authorization: controlling access to resources based on user identity
Data Security:
- Encryption: protecting data in transit and at rest
- Backup and recovery: ensuring data availability in case of loss

Password Management:
- Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts
- Avoid password reuse and sharing
Software Updates:
- Regularly update operating systems, software, and firmware
- Enable automatic updates when possible
Safe Browsing:
- Avoid suspicious emails, links, and attachments
- Keep antivirus software up to date

Identification:
- Monitor systems for signs of security breaches
- Implement incident response plans
Containment:
- Isolate affected systems or networks
- Prevent further damage
Eradication:
- Remove malware or other threats
- Fix vulnerabilities
Recovery:
- Restore systems and data to a known good state
- Implement additional security measures to prevent future incidents

Malware: can replicate themselves and spread to other devices
- Viruses: attach to programs or files to replicate
- Worms: self-replicating and do not need to attach to programs or files
- Trojans: disguise themselves as legitimate software
- Ransomware: encrypt files and demand payment in exchange for the decryption key
Internal Threats:
- Insider threats: authorized personnel with malicious intent, e.g., stealing sensitive data
- Social engineering: manipulating individuals to reveal sensitive information, e.g., phishing attacks
External Threats:
- Hacking: unauthorized access to computer systems, e.g., using stolen passwords
- Phishing: fraudulent emails, texts, or calls to obtain sensitive information, e.g., login credentials
- Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks: overwhelming systems with traffic to make them unavailable

Network Security:
- Firewalls: control incoming and outgoing network traffic, blocking unauthorized access
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): encrypt internet connections to protect data in transit
Access Control:
- Authentication: verifying user identity using passwords, biometrics, or smart cards
- Authorization: controlling access to resources based on user identity and role
Data Security:
- Encryption: protecting data in transit and at rest using algorithms like AES and RSA
- Backup and recovery: ensuring data availability in case of loss or corruption, using techniques like RAID and backups

Password Management:
- Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts, avoiding common words and birthdates
- Avoid password reuse and sharing, using password managers to generate and store unique passwords
Software Updates:
- Regularly update operating systems, software, and firmware to fix vulnerabilities and improve security
- Enable automatic updates when possible, to ensure timely patching
Safe Browsing:
- Avoid suspicious emails, links, and attachments, being cautious of phishing attempts
- Keep antivirus software up to date, using features like real-time scanning and automatic updates

Identification:
- Monitor systems for signs of security breaches, using tools like intrusion detection systems
- Implement incident response plans, establishing procedures for containment and eradication
Containment:
- Isolate affected systems or networks, to prevent further damage
- Prevent lateral movement, using techniques like network segmentation
Eradication:
- Remove malware or other threats, using tools like antivirus software and incident response playbooks
- Fix vulnerabilities, patching systems and software to prevent re-infection
Recovery:
- Restore systems and data to a known good state, using backups and snapshots
- Implement additional security measures to prevent future incidents, like improving access controls and network segmentation