PIE Lesson 6 - Computer Security

Welcome  OBJECTIVES Recap on previous session Introduction Strengths and Weaknesses to Protect; – Privacy Protection – Intellectual Property Protection – Protection Against Computer Malfunctions – Protection Against Computer Crime Summary RECAP ...

Welcome  OBJECTIVES Recap on previous session Introduction Strengths and Weaknesses to Protect; – Privacy Protection – Intellectual Property Protection – Protection Against Computer Malfunctions – Protection Against Computer Crime Summary RECAP  RECAP Definitions: Computer Security: Measures and practices designed to protect computer systems and networks from threats, attacks, and unauthorized access. Computer Reliability: The ability of a computer system to consistently perform its required functions without failure over a specified period.  RECAP Threats and Vulnerabilities: Threats: Potential dangers that could exploit vulnerabilities (e.g., malware, phishing, insider threats). Vulnerabilities: Weaknesses in a system that can be exploited by threats (e.g., software bugs, unpatched systems).  RECAP Attacks: An attack is an action taken by an individual or group to breach a system’s security controls with the intent of causing harm, stealing information, or gaining unauthorized access.  INTRODUCTION Overview of Topics: Privacy Protection Intellectual Property Protection Protection Against Computer Malfunctions Protection Against Crime  PRIVACY PROTECTION Approaches Covered: Encryption Anonymization Access Controls  PRIVACY PROTECTION Encryption; Strengths: Confidentiality: Ensures that data remains private and inaccessible to unauthorized users. Integrity: Protects data from being altered by unauthorized entities. Widely Adopted: Standard practice in securing communications (e.g., SSL/TLS for web traffic).  PRIVACY PROTECTION Encryption; Weaknesses: Key Management: Securely managing and distributing encryption keys can be complex. Performance Overhead: Encryption/decryption can introduce latency and impact performance. Not a Panacea: Does not protect against all forms of privacy invasion, such as metadata analysis.  PRIVACY PROTECTION Anonymization Strengths: Data Privacy: Helps protect individuals' identities by removing or obfuscating personal identifiers. Regulatory Compliance: Can assist in meeting data protection regulations like GDPR.  PRIVACY PROTECTION Anonymization Weaknesses: Data Utility: Can reduce the usefulness of data for analysis or research if not implemented carefully. Re-identification Risk: Advanced techniques and large datasets can sometimes re-identify anonymized data.  PRIVACY PROTECTION Access Control Strengths: Controlled Access: Limits data access to authorized users based on roles and permissions. Granular Control: Allows for specific, fine-grained access rules. Weaknesses: Complexity: Implementing and managing detailed access controls can be complex and error-prone. User Management: Requires up-to-date management of user credentials and permissions.  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION Copyright Strengths: Legal Protection: Provides exclusive rights to creators for reproduction, distribution, and performance of their works. Enforcement: Can be enforced through legal action against infringers. Weaknesses: Cost: Legal actions can be expensive and time- consuming. Global Variability: Enforcement can be inconsistent across different jurisdictions.  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION Patents Strengths: Exclusive Rights: Grants inventors exclusive rights to their inventions for a specific period. Encourages Innovation: Provides incentives for technological advancements. Weaknesses: High Cost: Obtaining and defending patents can be costly. Limited Duration: Protection is only granted for a finite period (typically 20 years).  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION Trade Secrets Strengths: Indefinite Protection: Can provide protection for as long as the information remains secret. Cost-Effective: Less expensive than patents and copyrights. Weaknesses: Risk of Exposure: If the secret is disclosed or independently discovered, protection is lost. Enforcement Challenges: Proving misappropriation can be difficult.  PROTECTION AGAINST COMPUTER MALFUNCTION Regular Software Updates Strengths: Security Patches: Fixes vulnerabilities and bugs, reducing the risk of exploits. Improved Functionality: Enhances performance and adds new features. Weaknesses: Update Management: Keeping software up-to-date requires regular monitoring and management. Compatibility Issues: Updates can sometimes introduce new issues or compatibility problems.  PROTECTION AGAINST COMPUTER MALFUNCTION Redundancy and Backup Strengths: Data Recovery: Ensures data can be restored in case of hardware failure or data loss. Reliability: Enhances system reliability by having backup components or systems. Weaknesses: Cost: Implementing redundancy and maintaining backups can be expensive. Complexity: Managing and verifying backups adds complexity to system administration.  PROTECTION AGAINST COMPUTER MALFUNCTION Hardware Fail-Safes Strengths: Prevention of Damage: Protects against physical damage and system failures (e.g., RAID configurations). Enhanced Reliability: Increases overall system stability and uptime. Weaknesses: Cost: Hardware fail-safes can be costly to implement and maintain. Complex Maintenance: Requires careful configuration and monitoring to ensure effectiveness.  RAID RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) RAID 0; also known as striping, divides data into blocks and spreads it across multiple disks. RAID 1; also known as mirroring, duplicates the same data across two or more disks. Each disk in the array contains an exact copy of the data, providing redundancy.  PROTECTION AGAINST COMPUTER CRIME Firewalls Strengths: Network Protection: Monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules. Threat Prevention: Can prevent unauthorized access and block malicious traffic. Weaknesses: False Positives/Negatives: May incorrectly classify legitimate traffic as malicious or vice versa. Limited Scope: Does not protect against all types of cyber threats, such as insider threats or advanced persistent threats (APTs).  PROTECTION AGAINST COMPUTER CRIME Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) Strengths: Threat Detection: Identifies and alerts on suspicious or unauthorized activities within a network. Real-Time Monitoring: Provides real-time analysis and monitoring of network traffic. Weaknesses: False Alerts: Can generate false positives, leading to alert fatigue and potential oversight. Resource Intensive: Requires significant resources for monitoring and analysis.  PROTECTION AGAINST COMPUTER CRIME Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software Strengths: Malware Protection: Detects and removes malicious software, protecting systems from viruses, worms, and other threats. Regular Updates: Often includes regular updates to identify new threats. Weaknesses: Evolving Threats: New malware can sometimes evade detection until signatures are updated. System Impact: Can consume significant system resources, affecting performance.  SUMMARY Each approach to protecting privacy, intellectual property, and safeguarding against computer malfunctions and crime comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. A well-rounded security and protection strategy often involves a combination of these approaches to address different aspects of security, legal, and operational needs effectively. Understanding these approaches allows for informed decision-making and strategic planning to balance security, functionality, and user rights. Thank You!