Cyber Security

iSchools Project Team

HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP

Commission on Information and Communications Technology

 Internet

• Positive: venue where people get

together to communicate, exchange
information, entertain, transact
business, and understand how the
world operates.
• Negative: playground of crooked
individuals and ruthless firms who take
advantage of the freedom it maintains
as well as its many weaknesses.

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 Privacy?

• E-mail is completely insecure.

• Each e-mail you send results in at least 3 or 4 copies
being stored on different computers.
• You can take measures to protect your e-mail.

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 Cyber Security

Unfortunately, there's no 100%

guarantee that even with the best
precautions some of these things won't
happen to you, but there are steps you
can take to minimize the chances.

BE RESPONSIBLE CYBER-CITIZENS!
BE CYBER-SMART!

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 Cyber Security

• protecting digital information by

preventing, detecting, and responding
to attacks
• recognize the risks and become
familiar with terminology associated
with them

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 Security Settings

• High, Medium, Low

• Trust sites vs.
Restricted sites
• Internet & LAN
content
• Firewall
• Filters

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 Malicious Individuals

• Hacker, attacker, or intruder

– exploit weaknesses in software and
computer systems for their own gain
– intentions: sometimes benign and
motivated solely by curiosity
– actions: typically in violation of the
intended use of the systems they are
exploiting

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 Malware

• designed “to wreak havoc on personal

computers and networks” by attaching to
programs (“hosts”) and spreading from one
program or storage device to another
• ranging from silly pranks to data destruction/
theft

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 Malware

• Virus: attaches to various files and executes

(infects the computer) when the host programs are
run (or an email attachment is opened or a
particular web page is visited)
• Worm: propagates without user intervention via
email, web sites, or network-based software, clogs
the system via numerous reproductions
• Logic Bomb: lies dormant until triggered by a
certain event
• Trojan Horse: unsuspicous delivery program of
malware

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 Spyware & Key Logger

• Spyware (also called sneakware or

stealthware) - software that comes hidden in
free downloadable software
– tracks your online movements
– mines the information stored on your computer
– uses your computer’s CPU and storage, slows it
down
• Key logger, or key trapper, software, -a
program, when installed on a computer,
records every keystroke and mouse click.
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 Spyware

• record keystrokes and steal private

information for advertisers, hackers, and
cyberthieves
– Cookie - a small record deposited on your hard disk by a
Web site containing information about you and your Web
activities.
– Adware - software to generate ads that installs itself on
your computer when you download some other (usually
free ) program from the Web.
• Earthlink (ISP) study: average computer harbors 26
spyware programs

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 Myths
• Anti-virus software and firewalls are 100% effective.
• Once software is installed on your computer, you do
not have to worry about it anymore.
• There is nothing important on your machine, so you
do not need to protect it.
• Attackers only target people with money.
• When computers slow down, it means that they are
old and should be replaced.

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 Tips
1. Perform basic computer maintenance
– firewall, data encryption, regular update of security patches
– regularly run anti-virus and anti-spyware software
2. Don't open files from strangers/ unreliable sites
– E-mail and IM
– verify first
3. Help fight spam and online scams
– use filters
– be wary of phishing
– check for secure pages (lock icon), server authentication,
and message integrity
– review the privacy policies of websites before entering
information

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 Tips
1. learn how to protect yourself from adware/spyware
– Regularly run anti-spyware software
– read license agreements of freeware against attached
spyware
2. take precautions when you go wireless
– convenient but with security risks
3. password-protect your computer—and lock it
– as first line of defense
4. back up your work

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 Safeguard your passwords!
• Guidelines from Learn the Net.com:
– Although passwords should be easily
remembered, do not use passwords that refer
to easily obtainable personal information,
such as your name, address, phone number,
or birthday.
– Avoid using common words.
– Passwords should be at least six
alphanumeric characters – meaning, combine
upper and lower case letters, numbers, and
symbols, e.g. 2fjm0x@Ic. NOTE: Passwords
are case-sensitive.
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 Safeguard your passwords!
• Guidelines from Learn the Net.com:
1.Ideally, use a different password for each
service you register with. For sensitive
accounts, such as financial services, change
your passwords frequently.
2.Never ever disclose your password/s. Don’t
have your computer “remember your
password”.

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 www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST04-001.html
(US-CERT: US Computer Emergency Readiness Team)

www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children/backtoschool.mspx

www,learnthenet.com

Commission on Information and Communications Technology