What is cyber security?
Cyber security means protecting computer systems, networks and data from attack, damage or unauthorised access. Attackers often target people, not just machines, so understanding common threats is the first line of defence.
Common threats
- Phishing - fake emails or messages that pretend to be from a trusted source to trick a user into revealing personal details, such as passwords.
- Pharming - malicious code redirects a user to a fake website even when they type the correct address, so their data is stolen.
- Brute-force attack - software tries huge numbers of password combinations until the correct one is found.
- Malware - harmful software such as viruses and spyware that damages systems or steals data.
Remember
- Phishing tricks the user into giving away data.
- Pharming redirects the user to a fake site without them knowing.
Defences
No single measure is enough, so systems use several defences together:
- Strong passwords and two-factor authentication make brute-force attacks far harder.
- A firewall monitors traffic between a network and the internet and blocks suspicious connections.
- Anti-malware software detects and removes harmful programs.
- Being careful with links and checking website addresses reduces phishing and pharming risks.
Key idea
Each threat has a matching defence: brute-force is beaten by strong passwords and account lockouts; phishing is beaten by user awareness; pharming is beaten by checking the real web address and using secure (HTTPS) connections.