Cyber Security Fundamentals

Study Notes

Cyber Security

Cyber security refers to the protection of information systems, data, and services from unauthorized access, harm, or misuse.
Protection includes harm caused intentionally by the system operator or accidentally due to failing to follow security procedures.

Information Security

Information security is the preservation of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
Additional properties involved in information security include authenticity, accountability, non-repudiation, and reliability.

Malware

Malware is a generic term for software with a malicious purpose.
Types of malware include viruses, worms, adware, Trojan horses, and spyware.
Viruses are small programs that replicate and hide themselves inside other programs, usually without the user's knowledge.
Viruses can cause network slowdowns due to heavy network traffic caused by replication.
Trojan horses are electronic programs that appear to be benign but secretly download malware onto the computer.
Spyware is software that tracks a user's activities on their computer, including browsing history.
Logic bombs are software that lay dormant until a specific condition is met, then perform malicious acts.
Key loggers record all keystrokes and can take periodic screenshots of the computer.

Security Breaches

Security breaches include any attempt to gain unauthorized access to a system.
Examples of security breaches include cracking passwords, elevating privileges, and breaking into a server.
Cracking is the act of intruding into a system without permission, usually with malevolent intent.
Social engineering is a technique for breaching a system's security by exploiting human nature rather than technology.
War-dialing and war-driving are techniques used to gain entry to a system by calling phone numbers or locating vulnerable wireless networks.

Description

Learn about the basics of cyber security, including the protection of information systems, data, and services from unauthorized access, harm, or misuse. Understand the importance of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.