Computer Security: Threats, Protection, and Best Practices

What is Computer Security?

Security is the set of actions, tools, and devices whose purpose is to provide a computer system with integrity, confidentiality, and availability.

• Integrity: Prevents the modification of information by any user who has not been previously authorized.
• Confidentiality: Prevents data visualization by users who have no privileges on the system.
• Availability: Ensures that authorized users have access to the system and its resources when needed.

What Must We Protect Against?

We must protect against ourselves, accidents, breakdowns, malicious intruders, and malware.

Active Security

Active security is designed to prevent damage to computer systems:

1. Appropriate passwords
2. Data encryption
3. Computer security software

Passive Security

Passive security aims to minimize the effects of an accident or disaster:

1. Use of appropriate hardware
2. Data backups

Silent Threats

• Computer Virus: A program that is installed on the computer without the user's knowledge. Its functions range from small jokes to the destruction of files or even the total destruction of hard drives.

• Worm: A type of virus that multiplies and infects all nodes in a network of computers.

• Trojan: A small application hidden in other programs.

• Spyware: A program that is installed on the computer without the user's knowledge. It collects information about the user to send to servers on the internet, often significantly slowing down the internet connection.

• Dialers: Programs that are installed on your computer and use the phone modem for the user's internet connection. If the internet connection is made via a DSL router, this problem is avoided.

• Spam: Also known as junk mail, spam is the mass sending of unsolicited emails to any existing email address, usually for advertising purposes.

• Pharming: Spoofing of web pages. It is often used to obtain bank details from users and commit economic crimes.

• Phishing: The practice of obtaining confidential information from users of electronic banking through deceptive means.

Antivirus

An antivirus is a program designed to detect and prevent the execution and removal of malware such as viruses, worms, spyware, and trojans. Antivirus software typically offers different levels of protection, including resident monitoring and complete system analysis.

Firewall

A firewall is a program designed to allow or prohibit communication between applications on our computer and the network. Steps to enable the Windows Firewall: Control Panel > Security Center > Windows Firewall > Turn On.

Antispam Software

Antispam software functions similarly to a firewall but specifically detects and blocks spam.