There are many techniques that are used to protect against cyber attacks. In the next section, we will explore some of the most widely used methods to prevent and manage cyber threats.
1. Authentication:
Authentication is the process of confirming that someone is who he or she claims to be. A common method of authentication used on the Internet is through a username and password combination. However, as the number of cybercrime incidents involving identity theft has increased, many organizations have implemented additional authentication methods to enhance security. One such method is the one-time password (OTP), which is a password that can only be used once. It is usually sent to the user via SMS or email based on the phone number or email address provided during the registration process. This method is known as two-factor authentication, as it requires two forms of evidence to verify the user’s identity. Other popular techniques for two-factor authentication include biometric data (such as fingerprints or facial recognition) and physical tokens, which are used along with usernames and passwords for added security.
The importance of authentication has grown significantly with the way multinational organizations work today. Unlike 15 years ago, many companies now have offices in different parts of the world, and employees may need access to data stored in central servers. Some employees may work remotely and not use the company’s internal network. In such situations, the system must authenticate the user and decide whether to grant them access to the requested information based on their credentials. The process of providing access to certain resources based on a person’s credentials is known as authorization. Often, authentication and authorization work together to ensure secure access. It is now clear that strong passwords play a vital role in maintaining cybersecurity. Weak passwords can be easily guessed or stolen, creating major security vulnerabilities and putting the entire organization at risk.
Therefore, organizations should implement password policies that require employees to use strong passwords—usually at least 12 characters in length, containing a mix of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters—and to change their passwords regularly. In some large organizations or organizations dealing with sensitive information, such as defense agencies, financial institutions, or government bodies, hybrid authentication systems are often used. This system combines traditional username and password authentication with advanced security measures such as biometric systems. Some organizations also use virtual private networks (VPNs), which provide secure access to company networks over the Internet using hybrid security authentication methods.
2. Encryption:
Encryption is a technique that converts data into an unreadable format before it is transmitted over the Internet. Only someone with the right key can decrypt the data and read it. Formally, encryption is the process of locking data by converting it into complex codes using mathematical algorithms. These codes are so complex that even the most powerful computers would take years to break them. This ensures that data can be transmitted securely through the Internet to its intended destination. The receiver, on receiving the encrypted data, can use the corresponding key to decrypt it and read the original message. The process of converting encrypted data back into its original readable form is known as decryption. If the same key is used to encrypt and decrypt the data, it is called symmetric key encryption.
In symmetric key encryption, the encryption key is sent to the recipient through a different medium such as the postal service or telephone, because if a hacker gains access to the key, the data becomes insecure.
Key distribution is a complex task because the security of the key during transmission is a major concern. To address this problem, a method called asymmetric key encryption, also known as public key encryption, is commonly used. This method uses two different keys—one public and one private. The public key is available to everyone, while the private key is known only to the owner. For example, if user A wants to send a confidential message to user B over the Internet, A would use B’s public key to encrypt the message. The encrypted message can then be sent securely over the Internet. Once B receives the message, they would use their private key to decrypt it and retrieve the original content.
3. Digital Signature:
Digital signature is a technique used to validate the authenticity and integrity of data. Validation involves confirming the contents of the document, as well as ensuring that no changes have been made to it. Digital signatures are used not only for verification but also as an authentication mechanism. Digital signatures are created by encrypting data using the sender’s private key. This encrypted data is then appended to the original message and sent over the Internet. The recipient can use the sender’s public key to decrypt the signature. Once decrypted, the message is compared to the original message. If they match, it indicates that the data has not been tampered with and the sender’s identity is verified, as only the sender has the private key. If the data is altered during transmission, the receiver will notice the discrepancy, as the decrypted message will differ from the original. Furthermore, once the data is altered, it cannot be re-encrypted using the original sender’s private key, ensuring its integrity and authenticity.
As more and more documents are shared on the Internet, digital signatures have become a vital part of both legal and financial processes. They are not only a way to confirm that a person has signed a document, but also serve as a verification mechanism that ensures the authenticity of the document. Additionally, digital signatures also provide protection against future disputes, such as when a person attempts to deny agreeing to a document or claims that the document was not signed by him or her. For example, imagine a shareholder sending an email to his or her broker instructing them to sell shares at the current market price. Once the transaction is completed, the shareholder may later claim that the email was fake or not genuine. In such cases, digital signatures act as legal proof, preventing such disputes and ensuring that the intentions of the person signing the document are clear and unchallenged.
4. Antivirus :
Antivirus software is a vital tool in protecting computer systems from various types of malicious programs such as viruses, worms, and Trojans. These harmful programs often spread via the Internet and can pose a serious threat to the security of the computer. They can not only corrupt or destroy data but also steal sensitive information such as passwords. Antivirus software is used to prevent these threats. This special program is designed to prevent these malicious codes from entering the system, as well as detect and remove any codes already present. Since new viruses are constantly emerging, antivirus programs regularly update their databases to stay ahead of these threats. This ensures that the system will be protected from the latest types of malware.
5. Firewall:
A firewall is a protective measure, which can be hardware or software, that acts as a defensive barrier between an organization’s internal network and the Internet. Its main role is to provide protection against various online threats such as viruses, malware, and unauthorized access by hackers. Firewalls are also used to control who can access the network and who can manage the flow of information. There are two types of network traffic in an organization: inbound, which comes into the network, and outbound, which goes out of the network. A firewall allows administrators to configure and monitor data traffic through specific ports. This ensures that only data from trusted sources can enter the network, while blocking access from blacklisted or unauthorized sources. Importantly, a firewall is only effective when it is properly configured. It can be implemented using hardware alone, software alone, or a combination of both.
For example, hardware firewalls are often found in routers that connect an organization to the Internet. These physical devices act as the first line of defence. On the other hand, software firewalls are installed on servers and client machines to provide additional security. In operating systems such as Windows 2003 and Windows 2008, these firewalls are often pre-installed. The user’s task is to configure the firewall according to their specific needs. Firewalls can be set up based on rules and policies, and these rules determine how to filter data. Filtering mechanisms include:
- Proxy: This method routes all outgoing traffic through a proxy server, allowing administrators to monitor and control data going out of the network.
- Packet filtering: Based on predefined rules, this mechanism filters data packets by checking their type, source and destination addresses, port numbers, and protocols.
Basic packet filtering can be done by routers. Stateful inspection: Instead of examining every part of a packet, this method only examines specific key features.
These incoming and outgoing data packets are evaluated based on these features to decide whether to allow or block them.
Firewalls are essential components of an organization’s network infrastructure.
They provide protection against various cyber threats, including viruses and malware, and also help prevent hackers from using the organization’s network to perform attacks such as denial of service (DoS) attacks.
6. Steganography :
Steganography is a technique used to hide secret messages within other types of files, such as documents, images, audio, and video files, in such a way that the presence of the hidden message is not noticeable.
Only the sender and the intended recipient are aware of the existence of the secret message. One advantage of steganography is that these files are less likely to arouse suspicion, making them effective for covert communications.
Steganography has many applications, such as sending confidential messages without alerting others, preventing unauthorized access or theft of sensitive files, and embedding digital watermarks to protect intellectual property.
Let’s take the example of an image file used as a cover medium. Each pixel in a high-resolution image is represented by three bytes, which make up 24 bits. By altering the three least significant bits of these 24 bits, data can be embedded without affecting the image quality. Only someone with special knowledge can detect the change. Similarly, generating white noise at regular or random intervals in an audio file can be used to hide data within audio or video content. There are many free steganography tools available, including QuickStego, Zhiao, Tucows, and OpenStego, etc.
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