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IT Is Gr8! at Grade 11 - Module 1.3 (Computer Management)

The document discusses various threats to computer data and information including unauthorized access, malware, human errors, social engineering, natural disasters, and hardware and software issues. It also provides recommendations for protecting data through regular backups, access restrictions, anti-malware software, firewalls, common-sense precautions, and designing secure and validated software.

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tmsanema
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31 views

IT Is Gr8! at Grade 11 - Module 1.3 (Computer Management)

The document discusses various threats to computer data and information including unauthorized access, malware, human errors, social engineering, natural disasters, and hardware and software issues. It also provides recommendations for protecting data through regular backups, access restrictions, anti-malware software, firewalls, common-sense precautions, and designing secure and validated software.

Uploaded by

tmsanema
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer management –

safe-guarding our data


MODULE 1.3
Importance of data and information

• What would a loss of data ‘cost’ us??


• Possible to work without it?
• Time/effort to enter it again?
• Loss of clients’ trust?
• Confidential information? What would happen if a hacker got access to it?

• We need to protect data against loss, but we also need to ‘protect’ its
accuracy.
Category of threat to data:
Unauthorised access to data
• Unauthorised physical access
• Hackers and crackers
• White-, Grey- and Black hat
• What does the law say?
• Why do people hack?
Category of threat to data:
Malware threats
• Malware (Malicious software) – Definition
• Virus: attaches to file, spreads, activated by user
• Computer worm: can spread without the help of a user, e-mails itself to
everybody, uses memory/bandwidth
• Spyware: keyloggers are dangerous spyware that record what you do and
reports back to a 3rd party
• Trojan: disguised as a useful program
• Rootkit: collection of programs, infiltrates and controls computer by gaining
administrator rights
Category of threat to data:
Human issues

• Accidentally deleting files or reformatting a disk

• Neglecting backup

• Entering incorrect data

• Losing portable storage devices

• Not using strong passwords


Category of threat to data:
Human issues
Social engineering - Any attempt to manipulate or trick users into
installing malware on their computers or into giving sensitive or
personal information.
• Phishing
• Please log in to verify; Click on link
• Personal information is then
used to commit identity theft
• Spoofing
• Any technique to make it look like a message comes from a different source
Category of threat to data:
Human issues
Threats from social networking -
• Why are social networking sites prone to attacks?
• Millions of users
• Artificial level of trust
• Personal details displayed
Category of threat to data:
Natural disasters
• Can happen to anyone

• THIS IS WHY BACKUP IS SO IMPORTANT – and why it should be


stored
SOMEWHERE ELSE!
Category of threat to data:
Hardware issues
• Hardware failure
• Hardware theft
• Power problems

Software issues
• Software bugs
• GIGO
ACTIVITY 1
Complete activity
What can we do?
Backup, backup, backup ….
• Disc imaging
• Backup software
• Scheduled
• Incremental
• Compressed
• Online backup
• Dropbox, SkyDrive, Box
• Tips
• Backup only data
• Auto or schedule
• External devices
• Archive
• Confirm that backups work
What can we do?
Restricting access to data
• Physical measures
• Access control
• Lock it up!
• Biometric devices
• Software measures
• Strong passwords
• Rights and permissions
• Encryption
• Substitution code, Ceasor
• PGP
• Longer encription key
• SSL
• 128 bit key
• 2128 possibilities
• 3 000000000000000000000000000000000
What can we do?
Reducing malware threats
• Anti-malware
• Anti-virus
• Anti-spyware
• Update!!!
• Operating System updates
• Software updates
• Firewalls
• What are they?
• Firewall software
• Firewall hardware
What can we do?
Reducing the ‘human risk’ factor
• Precautions – use common sense
• Precautions when you are online
• Personal information, hyperlinks, meeting in person, websites’ privacy
notices, use secure sites, phising emails, privacy settings in browsers, privacy
settings on social networking sites.
• Avoid social engineering
• Be cautious, protect personal information, look at links carefully, educate
yourself, “If it sounds to good to be true – it probably is”, anti-spam
What can we do?
Protect your hardware
• UPS
• RAID
• Mirroring
• Striping
What can we do?
Designing quality software
• Make sure it works
• Correct output
• Reduce GIGO
• Handle the unexpected
• Validation versus verification
• Defensive programming
• Validate data data
• Get data from instrumentation
• Let users verify it
• Cross-checking
• Methods for data validation
• Minimise user input
• Default values
• GUI-controls
• Data from other systems
• Format checks
• Input masks
• Data type checks
• Numbers
• , or .
• Text
• Range checks
• M or F
• Older than 120?
• Presence check
Complete activity

ACTIVITY 2

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