Chapter 4: Networks

Subject :ICT
Grade : 8

By: Nilofer Malek

 4.2 Network issues and communication
 Security of computer networks

 All networks must be kept secure so that data is not corrupted or

stolen.

 All online systems can be hacked and data can be stolen when it is

stored or transmitted.

 Criminals can also use spyware, which monitors users’ key presses

and can help them to discover passwords and pins, etc.

 There are several different ways to ensure that networks are

protected and that data is kept private and confidential.

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Encryption

◎ When data is transferred electronically, it can be encrypted to

keep it secure.

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◎ Encryption is the scrambling of data into a form that cannot be
understood by unauthorised recipients.

◎ The encrypted data must be decrypted back to its original form

before it can be understood.

◎ A common method is to use asymmetric encryption which

employs two different keys – a ‘public’ key and a ‘private’ key.

◎ A private key can decrypt messages encrypted with the

corresponding public key.

◎ The public key is freely available and is used to encrypt a

message for the person who then decrypts it with their private
key.
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 Firewalls
◎ Firewalls are either software or hardware devices that protect
against unauthorised access to a network and are primarily used
to prevent unauthorised access from the internet.
◎ They can be configured to prevent communications from
entering the network and also to prevent programs and users
from accessing the internet from within the network.
◎ For example, a firewall can inspect the incoming packets and
reject those that are from IP addresses not on a trusted list or
block communication to certain external IP addresses.

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Authentication

◎ Authentication is the process of determining whether someone

trying to log into the network is who they declare to be.

◎ The primary method of authentication is by the use of

passwords.

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Passwords

◎ A password is a secret word or phrase that is used to

authenticate a user so that they can gain access.

◎ To ensure that a password is secure, some simple rules should be

followed.

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◎ Strong passwords:
◎ should be at least eight characters long
◎ contain both numbers and letters
◎ contain both upper and lower case letters
◎ contain at least one character such as: !, $, ?, etc.
◎ never use user-identifiable items such as name, date of birth,
phone number, postcode, car registration, etc.
◎ Passwords should be changed regularly.
◎ Previous passwords must never be reused.
◎ Passwords must never be written down.
◎ Passwords must never be shared with other users.
◎ Passwords should be unpredictable so hackers cannot guess
them or try to enter them by trial and error.

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Authentication can also include a variety of methods such as:
◎ biometric methods
◎ magnetic stripes
◎ smart cards
◎ physical tokens
◎ electronic tokens zero login.

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Biometric methods
◎ Biometric methods of authentication are biological
measurements or an analysis of physical characteristics that
can be used to identify individuals.

Biometric data falls into two categories:

◎ Physiological biometric data relates to a physical aspect of a

person’s body (such as a fingerprint or an eye retina scan).
◎ Behavioural biometrics include signatures, handwriting
analysis and voice pattern recognition.

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◎ The information being measured needs to be universal – it should
be something that everyone possesses.

◎ It should also be unique, so that an individual can be definitively

recognised.

◎ It should also be permanent, meaning that it should not change

significantly as a person ages.

◎ example, fingerprint mapping, facial recognition, retina scans,

blood vessel patterns in hands and arms are all forms of
biometric technology

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◎ Biometric devices tend to work in one of two main ways:
verification or identification.
◎ For verification, biometric technologies perform a comparison of
the data with a template that has previously been stored, such
as a fingerprint scan or other physical tokens such as retina, iris
or face scans, on a personal computer or electronic safe.
◎ At present, biometric systems are mainly used for:

Verification: to make sure a person is who they say they are.

Identification: to identify a person in a crowd.
Screening: to match a person who may be on a ‘watch list’ for
security purposes.

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 Magnetic stripes
◎ Personal and security data can be encoded on the magnetic
stripe of a card and can be swiped through a reader to allow
access.
◎
◎ The magnetic stripe on the back of a credit card is split into three
tracks and they can all contain data.

◎ The first and second track hold coded information about the
cardholder’s account: the card holder’s full name, card number
and CVV value, date of expiry of the card and the code for the
country in which it was issued.

◎ The third track is not always used, but if it is, it holds details like
the currencies that are valid for use with the card.
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Smart cards
◎ A smart card looks like a credit card in size and shape.

◎ However, a smart card contains a computer chip and when it is

held near a reader, data can be transferred to allow the owner to
be authenticated for access to a room or computer system

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◎ There are two kinds of smart cards: contact and contactless.

◎ With contact smart cards, the smart card is inserted into the
reader, and the card’s contact plate makes physical contact with
the reader to transmit data.

◎ The user then enters the associated PIN.

◎ With contactless smart cards, the card just has to be held close
to the reader, and data is transmitted via radio waves.

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 Physical tokens
◎ A physical token allows you to access software and verify your
identity with a physical device rather than relying on
authentication codes or passwords.

◎ They are also called key fobs, security tokens or USB tokens. As
physical tokens may be lost, forgotten or stolen, some multi-
factor authentication methods use mobile phones.

◎ The user enters their knowledge factor, for example, their

password, and the server sends a text message containing an
access code to their registered mobile phone. The code can be
used once within a certain time limit.

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 Electronic tokens
◎ Electronic tokens can be used for electronic payments.

◎ A credit card number is converted to a string of random

characters that have no value.

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◎ When a credit card payment has been converted to a token, a
payment network such as Visa uses its secure keys to decode it
and pass the card number to the standard electronic payment
processors.

◎ Importantly, merchants themselves cannot decode a token.

◎ Converting a token back to a card number requires access to the

encryption keys, which are typically stored in military-grade
security.

◎ Paying with a smartphone uses electronic tokens.

◎ The app replaces the customer’s card details with a unique

virtual account number. That way, sensitive information stays
private.
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Zero login
◎ Passwords and other methods of authentication can no longer be
relied upon in the long term.
◎ Using artificial intelligence, technologies are being developed so
that users can be authenticated, not by a password or physical
features, but by how they behave.
◎ This is called zero login.
◎ Its main difference is that complex passwords or other
documentation will not be required for identification.
◎ Our smart devices will be smart enough, and also secure enough
to recognise facial features, voice, movements and other ways,
in which a person is unique, to use as identification.
◎ How you swipe and type, where you are and when you work are
all unique to you.

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Anti-malware software- Malware

◎ Malware is short for malicious software and is designed to get

into computers without the user’s consent and to disrupt or
damage the computer.

◎ It includes any software designed to disrupt the functioning of a

computer system and gain unauthorised access to a computer
system.

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Types of malware include:

◎ virus
◎ worm
◎ Trojan (or Trojan horse)
◎ spyware
◎ adware

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◎ Anti-malware software is software that is designed to
combat the effects (or even the installation) of malware.

◎ It needs to be installed on a computer so that the

system can be protected from infiltration and infection
by any malware.

◎ The anti-malware program first detects any malware on

a computer, removes it safely and then clears up any
damage that the malware made to the computer.

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◎ To prevent infection, security measures should be taken:
◎ Install anti-malware software, including ant-virus software, and
ensure that it is continually updated.
◎ The software should be used to scan all storage media to detect
and destroy or quarantine malware.
◎ The software quarantines the suspected malware if it is unable to
delete it or it is not sure if it actually is malware and waits for the
user to decide.
◎ When files are quarantined, they are placed in a folder where
they cannot interfere with any other programs.
◎ Install a firewall to ensure software is not downloaded without
your knowledge.

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◎ Ensure that the operating system is up to date.
◎ Install the latest security updates.
◎ Install anti-spyware protection software that removes or blocks
spyware.
◎ Avoid opening emails and attachments from unknown sources.
◎ Scan all data files as they are downloaded.

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Surf and download more safely:

◎ Only download programs from trusted websites and ensure that

the anti-malware software scans all downloads.
◎ Read all security warnings, licence agreements and privacy
statements.
◎ Never click ‘Agree’ or ‘OK’ to close a window.
◎ Instead, click the red ‘X’ in the corner of the window.
◎ Be wary of popular ‘free’ music and movie file-sharing programs.

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Electronic-conferencing
◎ Audio-conferencing
◎ Video-conferencing
◎ Web-conferencing

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 Audio-conferencing
◎ Audio-conferencing is where people in different locations use
technology to speak to each other.

◎ Audio-conferencing is different from a traditional phone call as,

instead of directly dialling each other as for a phone call, all
participants use their phones to dial into a central system that
connects them.

◎ Audio-conferencing has similar advantages over face to-face

meetings such as video-conferencing, but there is no visual
communication.

◎ The members cannot see each other or any visual presentations.

They may not be able to tell who is actually speaking or may
inadvertently talk over each other.
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 Video-conferencing and web-
conferencing

◎ Video-conferencing and web-conferencing Both video-conferencing

and web-conferencing allow an audio and a visual connection
between the members of the conference.

◎ Both allow participants in different locations to communicate with

each other in sound and vision.

◎ In video-conferencing, visual and audio communication links two

or more participants using specialised high quality video-
conferencing equipment, including large displays (TV screen) and
video cameras

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◎ The term web-conferencing is often used interchangeably with
video-conferencing.
◎ An important distinction between the two is the quality and
security of the live video stream and the difference in the
equipment required.
◎ Web-conferencing takes place online over public internet and
enables multiple participants to connect and work together
visually using their laptops or mobile devices.

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◎ Web-conferencing also includes: Webcasts which involve a one-
way transmission and are non-interactive.

◎ The host presents information via an audio and/or video stream

over the internet and may use screen sharing to show
presentations, videos or documents.

◎ Webinars which are teaching sessions that take place on the

internet.

◎ Participants in different locations see and hear the presenter and

ask and answer questions.

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Equipment needed for video- and web-conferencing

◎ Both require input and output devices for sound and vision and a
communications link between the participants.

◎ For web-conferencing microphone speakers or headphones video

camera (if it is visual as well as audio) a display screen or
monitor an internet connection web-conferencing software.

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 For video-conferencing

◎ Video-conferencing requires the same hardware, but this is

usually of high quality, individual components rather than being
built into a single device.

◎ Usually a dedicated room is used with a large, wall mounted

monitor and central video camera and speakers.

◎ Video-conferences are also conducted over private lines or

secure internet connections.

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Thanks!

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