Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is meant by confidentiality in the context of information security?
What is meant by confidentiality in the context of information security?
- Guaranteeing that information is not available during a security breach.
- Preserving authorized restrictions on information access and disclosure. (correct)
- Modifying information to enhance its reliability.
- Ensuring that information is accessible to anyone who requests it.
Which of the following describes integrity in information security?
Which of the following describes integrity in information security?
- The assurance that information remains accessible at all times.
- The ability for users to access data without any restrictions.
- Preventing unauthorized modifications or destruction of information. (correct)
- The process of ensuring information is available even after attacks.
What does availability mean within the CIA triad?
What does availability mean within the CIA triad?
- Making information accessible only to authorized users.
- Restricting information access to enhance security.
- Ensuring timely and reliable access to information. (correct)
- Ensuring backup copies of information exist.
Which of the following is an example of a security mechanism?
Which of the following is an example of a security mechanism?
What does non-repudiation ensure in information security?
What does non-repudiation ensure in information security?
Which of the following is primarily concerned with user verification?
Which of the following is primarily concerned with user verification?
What is the main goal of a security attack?
What is the main goal of a security attack?
What is an example of a security service in the context of information security?
What is an example of a security service in the context of information security?
Which prevention strategy could have minimized the impact of the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack?
Which prevention strategy could have minimized the impact of the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack?
What was a significant security flaw in the T-Mobile data breach?
What was a significant security flaw in the T-Mobile data breach?
How did the Log4j vulnerability illustrate risks associated with open-source software?
How did the Log4j vulnerability illustrate risks associated with open-source software?
Which measure could have effectively mitigated the risks associated with the T-Mobile data breach?
Which measure could have effectively mitigated the risks associated with the T-Mobile data breach?
Which factor contributes significantly to the potential for attacks on critical infrastructure?
Which factor contributes significantly to the potential for attacks on critical infrastructure?
What is a vulnerability in the context of security?
What is a vulnerability in the context of security?
Which of the following best defines a threat in a security context?
Which of the following best defines a threat in a security context?
What does an attack on the availability of information typically result in?
What does an attack on the availability of information typically result in?
Which action qualifies as an attack on confidentiality?
Which action qualifies as an attack on confidentiality?
What type of attack involves unauthorized tampering with the asset?
What type of attack involves unauthorized tampering with the asset?
Which of the following actions is an example of an attack on integrity?
Which of the following actions is an example of an attack on integrity?
Fabrication in a security context refers to which of the following?
Fabrication in a security context refers to which of the following?
What type of security threat is characterized by unauthorized access to the information source by an unauthorized party?
What type of security threat is characterized by unauthorized access to the information source by an unauthorized party?
What is the main difference between passive and active attacks?
What is the main difference between passive and active attacks?
Which type of passive attack involves the unauthorized extraction of data contents?
Which type of passive attack involves the unauthorized extraction of data contents?
What characterizes a masquerade attack?
What characterizes a masquerade attack?
What is the goal of active attacks?
What is the goal of active attacks?
Which of the following is an example of a denial of service attack?
Which of the following is an example of a denial of service attack?
In which attack are legitimate messages altered to produce an unauthorized effect?
In which attack are legitimate messages altered to produce an unauthorized effect?
What does traffic analysis in passive attacks seek to accomplish?
What does traffic analysis in passive attacks seek to accomplish?
What was the strategy behind the SolarWinds hack in 2020?
What was the strategy behind the SolarWinds hack in 2020?
What term describes a deliberate attempt to exploit security vulnerabilities?
What term describes a deliberate attempt to exploit security vulnerabilities?
How would you define vulnerability in the context of a security policy?
How would you define vulnerability in the context of a security policy?
What type of security threat involves unauthorized access to information during transmission?
What type of security threat involves unauthorized access to information during transmission?
In security terms, what happens during an interruption threat?
In security terms, what happens during an interruption threat?
What attack involves an unauthorized party tampering with data?
What attack involves an unauthorized party tampering with data?
Which security threat occurs when counterfeit objects are inserted into a system?
Which security threat occurs when counterfeit objects are inserted into a system?
What constitutes a threat in the context of information security?
What constitutes a threat in the context of information security?
What are two examples of attacks focused on confidentiality?
What are two examples of attacks focused on confidentiality?
What are the two primary types of passive attacks in information security?
What are the two primary types of passive attacks in information security?
What is the main goal of an active attack?
What is the main goal of an active attack?
What distinguishes a masquerade attack from other types of active attacks?
What distinguishes a masquerade attack from other types of active attacks?
How is a replay attack characterized?
How is a replay attack characterized?
What effect does a denial of service attack have on communication facilities?
What effect does a denial of service attack have on communication facilities?
What are the challenges associated with preventing active attacks?
What are the challenges associated with preventing active attacks?
Define traffic analysis in the context of passive attacks.
Define traffic analysis in the context of passive attacks.
What significant risk was highlighted by the SolarWinds hack incident?
What significant risk was highlighted by the SolarWinds hack incident?
Explain the significance of the CIA triad in information security.
Explain the significance of the CIA triad in information security.
Describe how encryption supports the principle of confidentiality.
Describe how encryption supports the principle of confidentiality.
What are security mechanisms, and why are they important in cybersecurity?
What are security mechanisms, and why are they important in cybersecurity?
What role does authentication play in information security?
What role does authentication play in information security?
How do security services contribute to information assurance?
How do security services contribute to information assurance?
Define non-repudiation in the context of information security.
Define non-repudiation in the context of information security.
What is the difference between security attacks and security mechanisms?
What is the difference between security attacks and security mechanisms?
Discuss the importance of availability in information security.
Discuss the importance of availability in information security.
What vulnerabilities were exploited in the supply chains during cyber attacks, and how could better access controls have helped?
What vulnerabilities were exploited in the supply chains during cyber attacks, and how could better access controls have helped?
Discuss the impact of attacks on critical infrastructure, specifically regarding public safety and the economy.
Discuss the impact of attacks on critical infrastructure, specifically regarding public safety and the economy.
Identify the key security flaws that contributed to the T-Mobile data breach and how encryption could have mitigated these risks.
Identify the key security flaws that contributed to the T-Mobile data breach and how encryption could have mitigated these risks.
How did the Log4j vulnerability underscore the risks posed by open-source software, and what can organizations do to mitigate such vulnerabilities?
How did the Log4j vulnerability underscore the risks posed by open-source software, and what can organizations do to mitigate such vulnerabilities?
What are the best strategies to prevent ransomware attacks in critical environments?
What are the best strategies to prevent ransomware attacks in critical environments?
Explain the significance of protecting confidentiality in information security.
Explain the significance of protecting confidentiality in information security.
What is meant by integrity in the context of information security, and why is it important?
What is meant by integrity in the context of information security, and why is it important?
How does the availability aspect of the CIA Triad affect an organization's operations?
How does the availability aspect of the CIA Triad affect an organization's operations?
In cybersecurity, what role does authorization play post-authentication?
In cybersecurity, what role does authorization play post-authentication?
Describe how non-repudiation contributes to information security.
Describe how non-repudiation contributes to information security.
What consequences can arise from a loss of availability in a cybersecurity context?
What consequences can arise from a loss of availability in a cybersecurity context?
How do security mechanisms help mitigate security attacks?
How do security mechanisms help mitigate security attacks?
Why is it crucial to have a balance between confidentiality, integrity, and availability in information security?
Why is it crucial to have a balance between confidentiality, integrity, and availability in information security?
Explain the term 'interception' in the context of security threats.
Explain the term 'interception' in the context of security threats.
What is meant by 'interruption' as a security threat?
What is meant by 'interruption' as a security threat?
Differentiate between 'modification' and 'fabrication' in security attacks.
Differentiate between 'modification' and 'fabrication' in security attacks.
Describe how a threat differs from a vulnerability.
Describe how a threat differs from a vulnerability.
Identify two examples of attacks focused on integrity.
Identify two examples of attacks focused on integrity.
What type of security threat involves the unauthorized copying of files?
What type of security threat involves the unauthorized copying of files?
How does an active attack differ from a passive attack?
How does an active attack differ from a passive attack?
In what way does the concept of 'fabrication' pose a risk in information security?
In what way does the concept of 'fabrication' pose a risk in information security?
What vulnerabilities were exploited during the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, and how could better access controls have prevented this incident?
What vulnerabilities were exploited during the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, and how could better access controls have prevented this incident?
In the T-Mobile data breach, what key security flaws allowed hackers access to personal information of millions, and how could data encryption have helped?
In the T-Mobile data breach, what key security flaws allowed hackers access to personal information of millions, and how could data encryption have helped?
How did the Log4j vulnerability showcase the risks of using widely adopted open-source software, and what measures could organizations take to mitigate such vulnerabilities?
How did the Log4j vulnerability showcase the risks of using widely adopted open-source software, and what measures could organizations take to mitigate such vulnerabilities?
What potential impacts do attacks on critical infrastructure have on public safety and the economy, particularly in the context of the Colonial Pipeline incident?
What potential impacts do attacks on critical infrastructure have on public safety and the economy, particularly in the context of the Colonial Pipeline incident?
What prevention strategies could organizations implement to protect against ransomware attacks like that on Colonial Pipeline?
What prevention strategies could organizations implement to protect against ransomware attacks like that on Colonial Pipeline?
What is the fundamental difference in the effects of passive and active attacks?
What is the fundamental difference in the effects of passive and active attacks?
List two examples of passive attacks and briefly explain them.
List two examples of passive attacks and briefly explain them.
Describe what occurs in a replay attack.
Describe what occurs in a replay attack.
What is the intent behind a denial of service attack?
What is the intent behind a denial of service attack?
Explain the concept of masquerade attacks and their significance.
Explain the concept of masquerade attacks and their significance.
How do active attacks differ in terms of prevention compared to passive attacks?
How do active attacks differ in terms of prevention compared to passive attacks?
What is the overarching goal of active attacks in cybersecurity?
What is the overarching goal of active attacks in cybersecurity?
What was the primary tactic used in the SolarWinds hack of 2020?
What was the primary tactic used in the SolarWinds hack of 2020?
Study Notes
Introduction to Computer Security
- "The only secure system is one that is powered off, cast in a block of concrete and sealed in a lead-lined room with armed guards - and even then, I have my doubts." - Gene Spafford, Professor of Computer Science at Purdue University.
- Security measures and controls ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information system assets.
The CIA Triad
- Confidentiality: Preserving restrictions on information access and disclosure, protecting personal privacy and proprietary information.
- Example: Encryption in online banking.
- Integrity: Guarding against improper information modification or destruction.
- Example: Digital signatures used in file verification.
- Availability: Ensuring timely and reliable access to and use of information.
- Example: Load balancing and backups.
Expanding Beyond the CIA Triad
- Authentication: Verifying the identity of a user.
- Example: Biometrics, two-factor authentication.
- Non-repudiation: Ensuring a party cannot deny their actions.
- Example: Digital signatures in contracts.
- Authorization: Defining the actions an authenticated user is allowed to perform.
- Example: Access control policies.
Security Attacks, Mechanisms and Services
- Security attacks: Assaults on system security, attempting to violate security policies.
- Security Mechanisms: Designed to prevent, detect, or recover from attacks.
- Security Services: Specific security functions needed, such as identification, authorization, and secrecy.
Vulnerability, Threat, and Attack
- Vulnerability: A weakness in a system that might be exploited to cause harm.
- Threat: A potential danger that might exploit a vulnerability.
- Threats can be accidental (natural disasters, human error) or malicious (attackers, fraud).
- Attack: A deliberate attempt to evade security services and violate the security policy.
- Attacks exploit vulnerabilities.
Security Threats
- Interruption: Asset becomes lost, unavailable, or unusable.
- Attacks the Availability principle.
- Examples: Destruction of hardware, cutting communication lines, disabling file management systems.
- Interception: Unauthorized party gains access to information.
- Attacks the Confidentiality principle.
- Examples: Wiretapping, unauthorized copying of files.
- Modification: Unauthorized party tampers with an asset.
- Attacks the Integrity principle.
- Examples: Changing database values, altering programs, modifying message content.
- Fabrication: Unauthorized party inserts counterfeit objects into the system.
- Attacks the Authenticity principle.
- Examples: Insertion of offending messages, adding records to a file.
Security Attacks Classification
- Passive Attacks: Attempt to learn or use information from the system without affecting system resources.
- Release of Message Contents: Unauthorized interception of information.
- Traffic Analysis: Analyzing communication patterns to gain information.
- Active Attacks: Attempt to alter system resources or affect their operation.
- Masquerade: One entity pretends to be another.
- Replay: Capturing data units and retransmitting them.
- Modification of Messages: Altering messages to produce an unauthorized effect.
- Denial of Service: Preventing or inhibiting the normal use of communication facilities.
Security in Daily Life
- SolarWinds Hack (2020): A software update was compromised, allowing attackers to infiltrate government agencies and private corporations.
- Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack (2021): Ransomware shut down a major fuel pipeline, causing widespread disruption.
- T-Mobile Data Breach (2021): Hackers gained access to customer information due to weak security measures.
- Log4j Vulnerability (2021): A critical vulnerability in a popular logging library allowed attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
Introduction to Computer Security
- Gene Spafford's quote highlights the difficulty of achieving true security in computer systems.
Computer Security
- Defined as measures and controls ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information system assets.
The CIA Triad
- Confidentiality: Protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access and disclosure.
- Integrity: Ensuring information remains accurate and unaltered, preventing unauthorized modifications or destruction.
- Availability: Guaranteeing timely and reliable access to information and systems.
Expanding Beyond the CIA Triad
- Authentication: Verifying a user's identity.
- Non-repudiation: Ensuring a party cannot deny their actions.
- Authorization: Defining what an authenticated user can do within a system.
Terminology Related to Security
- Security Attacks: Assaults on system security aiming to bypass security objectives.
- Security Mechanisms: Tools designed to prevent, detect, or recover from attacks.
- Security Services: Specific security functions needed, such as identification, authorization, and secrecy.
Vulnerability, Threat, and Attack:
- Vulnerability: A weakness in a system that can be exploited.
- Threat: A potential danger that might exploit a vulnerability. Threats can be accidental or malicious.
- Attack: A deliberate attempt to bypass security services and violate a system's security policy.
Security Threats
- Interruption: An asset becomes lost, unavailable, or unusable, affecting availability.
- Interception: An unauthorized party gains access to information, affecting confidentiality.
- Modification: An unauthorized party alters an asset, affecting integrity.
- Fabrication: An unauthorized party inserts counterfeit information into the system, affecting authenticity.
Security Attacks Classification
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Passive Attacks: Attempting to learn or use information from a system without affecting system resources.
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Active Attacks: Attempting to alter system resources or affect their operation.
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Types of Passive Attacks:*
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Release of message content: Unauthorized access to information.
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Traffic analysis: Observing communication patterns to deduce information.
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Types of Active Attacks:*
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Masquerade: One entity pretends to be another.
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Replay: Capturing a data unit and retransmitting it to produce an unauthorized effect.
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Modification of messages: Altering messages to produce an unauthorized effect.
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Denial of service: Preventing or inhibiting normal use or management of communication facilities.
Security in Daily Life
- SolarWinds Hack (2020): Compromised software update allowed attackers to infiltrate government agencies and private corporations.
- Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack (2021): Ransomware attack shut down a major fuel pipeline, impacting public safety and economy.
- T-Mobile Data Breach (2021): Hackers gained access to personal information due to weak security measures.
- Log4j Vulnerability (2021): Critical vulnerability allowed attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
Introduction to Computer Security
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Information security is critical for protecting crucial information, and it is essential to have reliable systems to safeguard data.
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Gene Spafford, a professor of computer science, expresses the challenges of securing systems by stating: "The only secure system is one that is powered off, cast in a block of concrete and sealed in a lead-lined room with armed guards - and even then, I have my doubts."
Computer Security and the CIA Triad
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Computer security encompasses measures and controls designed to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information system assets. These assets include software, hardware, firmware, and information being processed, stored, and communicated.
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The CIA Triad outlines three key principles:
Confidentiality
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Confidentiality protects authorized restrictions on information access and disclosure, safeguarding personal privacy and proprietary information.
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A loss of confidentiality occurs when unauthorized disclosure of information takes place.
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Examples include: protecting sensitive information (e.g. encryption in online banking).
Integrity
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Integrity protects information from improper modification or destruction, ensuring information non-repudiation and authenticity.
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A loss of integrity results from unauthorized modification or destruction of information.
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Examples include: ensuring the data hasn't been altered (e.g., digital signatures in file verification).
Availability
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Availability ensures timely and reliable access to, and use of, information.
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A loss of availability is the disruption of access to, or use of, information or an information system.
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Examples include: ensuring system functionality and accessibility (e.g., load balancing and backups).
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Expanding Beyond the CIA Triad
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Additional security concepts:
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Authentication: Verifying the identity of a user. Examples: biometrics, two-factor authentication.
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Non-repudiation: Ensuring a party cannot deny the authenticity of their actions. Examples: digital signatures in contracts.
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Authorization: Defining what an authenticated user is allowed to do. Examples: access control policies.
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Security Attacks, Mechanisms and Services
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Security attacks: An assault on system security to evade security objectives and violate the system's security policy.
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Security mechanisms: Implemented to prevent, detect, or recover from attacks.
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Security services: Security functions that provide identification, authorization, secrecy, etc. The goal is to implement security objectives outlined by a security policy.
Vulnerability, Threat, and Attack
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Vulnerability: A weakness in a system that might be exploited to cause harm.
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Threat: A potential danger that might exploit a vulnerability. Threats can be accidental (natural disasters, human error) or malicious (attackers, insider fraud).
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Attack: A deliberate attempt to evade security services and violate the security policy. Attacks exploit vulnerabilities.
Security Threats
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Security threats can target information flow, interrupting, intercepting, modifying, or fabricating it.
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An interruption attack aims to disrupt availability by making assets lost, unavailable, or unusable. Examples include: destruction of hardware, cutting communication lines, disabling file management systems.
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Interception attacks violate confidentiality by allowing unauthorized parties to gain access to information. Examples include: wiretapping, unauthorized copying of files.
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Modification attacks compromise integrity by allowing unauthorized parties to tamper with system assets. Examples include: changing database values, altering programs, modifying message content.
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Fabrication attacks affect authenticity by allowing unauthorized parties to introduce counterfeit objects into the system. Examples include: insertion of malicious messages, adding records to a file.
Security Attacks Classification
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Security attacks are classified as passive and active attacks.
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Passive attacks aim to learn or make use of information from a system without affecting the system's resources.
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Active attacks attempt to alter system resources or affect their operation. Security services work to detect and recover from any disruption or delays caused by active attacks.
Passive Attacks
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Two types of passive attacks:
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Release of message contents: An attacker intercepts a message to gain access to confidential information.
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Traffic Analysis: The attacker analyzes communication patterns, such as frequency, volume, and length of messages, to gain information about the system, even without understanding the messages' content.
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Active Attacks
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Active attacks involve modifications to the data stream or creation of false streams.
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Masquerade: An attacker impersonates a different entity, often involving other active attack tactics.
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Replay: An attacker intercepts a data unit and retransmits it to produce an unauthorized effect, potentially harming system security.
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Modification of messages: An attacker alters or delays legitimate messages to produce unauthorized effects, impacting information integrity.
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Denial of service: An attacker prevents or inhibits the normal use or management of communication facilities, potentially disrupting availability.
Examples of Recent Cybersecurity Incidents
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SolarWinds Hack (2020): A software update for the SolarWinds Orion platform was compromised, enabling attackers to infiltrate government agencies and private corporations.
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Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack (2021): A ransomware attack led to the shutdown of a major fuel pipeline in the US, causing widespread economic and public safety disruptions.
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T-Mobile Data Breach (2021): Hackers gained access to personal information of over 40 million customers due to weaknesses in security measures.
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Log4j Vulnerability (2021): A critical vulnerability in the popular Log4j logging library allowed attackers to execute code on affected systems.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the fundamentals of computer security, including the principles of the CIA Triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. Explore essential security measures and controls that safeguard information systems. This quiz will cover authentication methods as well.
