Introduction to computer security issues.
In the modern high-tech world, information is so crucial that every aspect of our lives is based on it.
Values placed on information in the present generation can not be underestimated. Almost all information
is electronically stored and a large percentage of it is stored in a computer system.
When Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks, he replied,
"because that's where the money is." People attack computers because that's where the information is,
and in our hyper-competitive, hi-tech business and international environment, information increasingly
has great value. Some alienated individuals also gain a sense of power, control,
and self-importance through successful penetration of computer systems to
steal or destroy information or disrupt an organization's activities.
This has made the computer system prone to various attacks which for sometime
now have been a subject of discussion from within the family homes to large organizations
and government establishments.
It is important that computer system is protected at all times. This is so in order to keep
data secure and reliable. A breach of security in a computer can lead to a great loss
which can not be quantified in any manner.
Taking the banking sector as an example, imagine what could happen
if an unauthorised personnel is allowed to break into the bank
system and access all customers details. This could lead to
an unquantifiable fraud in the bank which could lead to
loss of billions of pounds and at the same time makes the bank vulnerable
to legal issues which could collapse the whole organization.
Not only this, most present day computers are connected via the internet
and the more connection being made, the more vulnerable all computers
are to different threat all over the world. From a remote computer in any
part of the world, an intruder can gain access to any computer and use
this for illegal operation ranging from money laundry to acts of terrorism.
A malicious programmer can take an advantage of an insecure system to
send malicious software (viruses) from one particular system to millions
of computer in a matter of minutes, military information could be extracted
and used to cause unnecessary conflicts within nations, and government files
can be accessed and used in a most unwanted way, unauthorised changes in the
data of a university or school system can be accessed and altered in an illegal way etc.
All the above problems (to mention but few) make security an important issue
which must be considered not only in large organization but within small
enterprise and home computer usage.
In considering computer system security, it is worth identifying what are the security
threats which could impact negatively on the way computers are used and from
hereon means by which systems could be secured can be evolved.
By gaining insight knowledge into what the security threats are, it will be possible to develop
a system which will check these threats and although it is difficult to reduce this risk to the
zero level checks will always be in place and the effects will be reduced to a reasonable acceptable level.
http://rf-web.tamu.edu/security/secguide/V1comput/Threats.htm