Introduction to Computer and

Information Security
An Overview of Security Concepts,
Attacks, and Protection Mechanisms
 Need for Computer Security
• With the increase in digital technologies and
interconnected systems, computer security is
vital to protect sensitive data, prevent cyber-
attacks, and ensure the integrity and
availability of resources.
 Definition of Computer Security
• Computer security involves protecting
computer systems, networks, and data from
unauthorized access, attacks, damage, and
theft. It aims to ensure confidentiality,
integrity, and availability.
 Security Basics
• The fundamental aspects of computer security
include:\n1. Confidentiality\n2. Integrity\n3.
Availability\n4. Authentication\n5. Non-
repudiation\n6. Accountability
 Confidentiality
• Confidentiality ensures that sensitive data is
only accessible to authorized individuals or
systems. It prevents unauthorized disclosure
of information.
 Integrity
• Integrity guarantees that data remains
accurate and unaltered during storage,
transmission, or processing. Any unauthorized
modification should be detectable.
 Availability
• Availability ensures that systems and data are
accessible and usable when needed, without
disruptions from system failures, attacks, or
other issues.
 Accountability
• Accountability involves tracking the actions of
users and systems. It ensures that individuals
or systems are held responsible for their
actions.
 Non-Repudiation
• Non-repudiation ensures that a person or
system cannot deny the authenticity of their
actions or communications, providing proof of
origin and receipt.
 Reliability
• Reliability refers to the trustworthiness of a
system, ensuring that it performs consistently
and securely without failure or breach.
 Phases of Computer Viruses
• 1. Dormant Phase: Virus remains inactive.\n2.
Propagation Phase: Virus spreads to other
systems.\n3. Triggering Phase: Virus executes
its payload.\n4. Execution Phase: Virus causes
harm or damage.
 Viruses, Worms, Trojan Horses
• Viruses: Malicious software that attaches itself
to files.\nWorms: Self-replicating programs
that spread through networks.\nTrojan
Horses: Malicious software disguised as
legitimate programs.
 Insider and Intruder
• Insider: A person within the organization who
misuses access.\nIntruder: An external
attacker attempting to break into the system.
 Types of Attacks
• 1. Active Attack: Direct attempts to alter
system operations.\n2. Passive Attack:
Attempts to intercept or monitor
communication without altering it.
 Denial of Service (DoS)
• DoS attacks overload a system or network,
causing it to become unavailable to legitimate
users. This can be accomplished through
excessive requests or exploiting system
vulnerabilities.
 Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
• DDoS attacks use multiple systems to launch a
coordinated attack, overwhelming the target
with traffic and rendering it unusable.
 Backdoors and Trapdoors
• Backdoors: Hidden methods of bypassing
security, allowing unauthorized access.\
nTrapdoors: Intentional vulnerabilities created
in software for later access.
 Sniffing
• Sniffing is the process of intercepting network
traffic to capture sensitive information, such
as passwords or personal data.
 Spoofing
• Spoofing involves impersonating another
system or user to gain unauthorized access or
confuse systems into trusting the attacker.
 Man-in-the-Middle Attack
• In a man-in-the-middle attack, the attacker
intercepts and potentially alters
communication between two parties, making
it difficult to detect.
 Replay Attack
• Replay attacks involve intercepting and re-
transmitting valid data to impersonate
legitimate users and gain unauthorized access.
 TCP/IP Hacking
• TCP/IP hacking involves exploiting
vulnerabilities in the TCP/IP protocol to gain
unauthorized access, execute denial-of-service
attacks, or disrupt network operations.
 Encryption
• Encryption is the process of encoding data so
that it is unreadable without the correct
decryption key. It is used to protect data
during storage or transmission.
 Decryption
• Decryption is the process of converting
encrypted data back into its original form
using a decryption key. It ensures that only
authorized parties can access the data.
 Encryption Algorithms
• Common encryption algorithms include:\n1.
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)\n2. RSA
(Rivest-Shamir-Adleman)\n3. DES (Data
Encryption Standard)
 Security Protocols
• Security protocols like SSL/TLS and HTTPS
provide secure communication over networks,
ensuring confidentiality and data integrity.
Security Policies and Best Practices
• Organizations should implement
comprehensive security policies, regular
vulnerability assessments, user education, and
strong access control mechanisms.
 Security Threat Landscape
• The cybersecurity landscape is constantly
evolving with new threats, requiring
organizations to continuously adapt their
security measures.
 Future of Computer Security
• The future of computer security will involve
more advanced technologies, including AI-
driven security measures, quantum
encryption, and automated threat detection.
 Conclusion
• Computer and information security is crucial
in protecting sensitive data and systems from
cyber threats. By understanding and
implementing various security measures, we
can mitigate risks and secure our digital world.