Internet and Computer Security Overview
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abraham workuInternet and Computer Security Overview
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Powered by AIAuthentication is the process of verifying a user's identity, often by entering a username and password or using a fingerprint. For example, logging into an online bank account requires authentication to confirm the user's identity. Authorization, on the other hand, is determining what resources an authenticated user can access. For instance, an admin may have rights to edit and delete files in a system, whereas a guest might only have permission to view them .
ARPANET was the first packet-switching network developed in the late 1960s by the U.S. Department of Defense's ARPA. It connected four U.S. universities and introduced the concept of packet-switching, which is fundamental to today's Internet. This network evolved over time to include more organizations and adopted the TCP/IP protocol in the 1980s, making it possible for disparate networks to communicate globally. The creation of the World Wide Web in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee further transformed the Internet into a widely accessible platform for information sharing and communication .
The adoption of TCP/IP protocols in the 1980s was pivotal in transforming ARPANET into the modern Internet, as it standardized the way computers communicated over networks. This allowed for the interconnection of disparate and international networks, facilitating the growth of a global communication infrastructure. TCP/IP provided a universal language for data exchange, thus enabling the expansion of the Internet beyond academic and military realms to commercial and personal usage .
Encryption enhances data security by converting readable information into coded form, which prevents unauthorized access. A common application of encryption is in online banking, where protocols like SSL/TLS are used to protect users' credit card details during transactions. This ensures that sensitive data is safely transmitted over the Internet .
Organizations can protect against malware by implementing a multi-layered security strategy that includes using firewalls and regularly updated antivirus software to detect and block malicious activities. Enforcing a strong password policy and conducting regular employee training on identifying phishing attempts and securing data can further mitigate risks. Performing regular data backups ensures that systems can be restored in case of a malware attack, such as ransomware .
Organizations can prevent unauthorized access by enforcing strong password policies that require complex and regularly changed passwords, using firewalls to inspect and filter network traffic, and implementing access controls to restrict resources to authorized users. Additionally, user education on recognizing phishing attempts and maintaining overall security hygiene is essential .
IT officers can ensure data security by implementing a strong password policy, deploying firewalls and antivirus software, ensuring regular data backups, establishing access controls to restrict sensitive data to authorized users, and conducting regular user training to educate employees on safe browsing habits, phishing threats, and data handling procedures .
The World Wide Web transformed the Internet by providing a user-friendly platform for accessing and sharing a vast array of information through interlinked hypertext documents. Developed in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee, the Web allowed users to easily navigate and retrieve information using web browsers, thus broadening the Internet's appeal beyond technical and academic users to the general public. This transformation led to the Internet becoming a dominant medium for communication, information dissemination, and e-commerce .
A virus is a type of malware that attaches itself to files and spreads when the infected file is opened, such as the Melissa virus. A worm is self-replicating malware that spreads through networks without needing to attach to a host file, exemplified by the ILOVEYOU worm. A Trojan horse disguises itself as legitimate software but performs harmful actions once installed; fake banking apps are an example of this type of malware .
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is used for transferring web pages and multimedia content between web servers and browsers. It forms the backbone of data exchange on the World Wide Web. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is used for transferring files between computers on a network, specifically for uploading and downloading files to and from a server over the Internet .