Introduction to
Computer Security
What is Computer
Security?
Computer security is the protection of computing
systems and the data that they store or access
Why do I need to learn about
Computer Security?
Isn’t this just an IT Problem?
Good Security Standards
follow the “90 / 10” Rule:
⚫ 10% of security safeguards are technical
⚫ 90% of security safeguards rely on the
computer user (“YOU”) to adhere to good
computing practices
Example: The lock on the door is the 10%. You
remembering to lock the lock, checking to see if the
door is closed, ensuring others do not prop the door
open, keeping control of the keys, etc. is the 90%.
You need both parts for effective security.
What Does This Mean for Me?
This means that everyone who uses a
computer or mobile device needs to
understand how to keep their computer,
devices and data secure.
Information Security is
everyone’s responsibility
Computer viruses
A computer virus is a type of malicious
software program that attaches itself to
files, programs, or system areas on a
computer and can replicate itself without
the user’s knowledge.
Like a biological virus, it spreads from one
computer to another and can disrupt normal
operations, corrupt data, or steal
information
Symptoms of a virus infected computer
❑ Your computer behaves strangely
❑ You see unexpected messages or images.
❑ You hear unexpected sounds, played at random.
❑ Programs start unexpectedly.
❑ Your personal firewall tells you that an application has tried to
connect to the Internet (and it’s not a program that you ran).
❑ Your friends tell you that they have received e-mail messages from
your address and you haven’t sent them anything.
❑ Your computer ‘freezes’ frequently, or programs start running
slowly.
❑ You get lots of system error messages.
❑ The operating system will not load when you start your computer.
❑ You notice that files or folders have been deleted or changed.
❑ You notice hard disk access (shown by one of the small flashing
lights) when you’re not aware of any programs running.
❑ Your web browser behaves erratically, e.g. you can’t close a
browser window.
And what can be done about it?
❑ Disconnect from the Internet immediately.
❑ If the OS won’t load, start in Safe Mode (press F8 on
startup) or use a rescue CD.
❑ Ensure your antivirus is up-to-date; update from another
safe computer if possible.
❑ Disconnect from any local network and perform a full
system scan.
❑ Follow your antivirus program’s instructions to quarantine,
disinfect, or delete infected files.
❑ If no threats are found, check your system for unlicensed
software, junk files, and install latest updates/patches.
❑ Contact your antivirus support if you need further
assistance or to submit suspicious files.
Who is a hacker?
❑individuals who exploit system vulnerabilities
to gain unauthorized access.
❑They target personal computers or large
networks.
What can a Hacked computer be
used to do?
❑ Record keystrokes and steal passwords.
❑ Send spam and phishing emails.
❑ Harvest and sell email addresses and passwords.
❑ Access restricted or personal information on your
computer or other systems that you have access to.
❑ Infect other systems.
❑ Hide programs that launch attacks on other computers.
❑ Illegally distribute music, movies and software.
❑ Distribute child pornography.
❑ Generate large volumes of traffic, slowing down the
entire system
What is a vulnerability?
❑ Modern software is very complex
(thousands of lines of code).
❑ Human-written code often contains bugs
and flaws.
A vulnerability is a flaw or weakness in
software, hardware, or procedures that can
be exploited to compromise a system.
Why are passwords important?
A password is a secret word, phrase, or combination
of characters used to verify your identity and grant
access to systems, accounts, or data
❑We use the Internet for banking, shopping, and
social networking, sharing lots of personal
information.
❑This exposes us to identity theft — when
criminals steal personal data to commit fraud.
❑Passwords protect valuable data such as bank
details, emails, and social media accounts.
How to choose secure passwords
❑ Choose memorable passwords — avoid writing or storing
them on your computer.
❑ Avoid real dictionary words that hackers can easily
guess.
❑ Use a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and
symbols.
❑ Do not recycle similar passwords (e.g., password1,
password2).
❑ Prefer a passphrase (a short sentence) instead of a
single word.
❑ Use different passwords for different accounts to prevent
full access if one is compromised
END