1. The purpose of authentication is to verify the identity of a user, system, or device before granting access to resources or services.
2. A strong password is typically longer, includes a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters, and is not easily guessed. A weak password, on the other hand, is usually short, contains common words or phrases, and lacks complexity.
3. Multifactor authentication is a security measure that requires users to provide more than one form of verification to access a system or application. This can include something the user knows (like a password), something they have (like a phone or security token), or something they are (like a fingerprint).
4. Three common types of identity required in multifactor authentication are knowledge (password), possession (security token), and inherence (biometric data like fingerprints).
5. The purpose of authorization is to determine what actions a user can perform within a system or application. Example user roles could include administrator, manager, and regular user, each with different levels of access and permissions.
6. The purpose of accounting is to track and record user activity within a system, including login attempts, file access, and changes made to data.
7. Symmetric encryption uses a single shared secret key to both encrypt and decrypt data. Both the sender and receiver need to share this secret key in advance to securely communicate.
8. Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of public and private keys to encrypt and decrypt data. The sender uses the recipient's public key to encrypt the data, which can only be decrypted using the recipient's private key.
9. The identity of the server or receiver is verified in public-key encryption through the use of digital certificates issued by a trusted certificate authority. The certificate authority verifies the identity of the server and binds its public key to a specific domain name.
10. Viruses or malware can infect a computer through malicious email attachments, infected websites, software downloads, or removable storage devices.
11. The main purpose of spyware is to secretly monitor and gather personal information, ransomware encrypts files and demands payment for decryption, and adware displays unwanted advertisements. Other types of malware include worms, Trojans, and rootkits.
12. Anti-virus software is designed to detect, prevent, and remove malware from a computer. It is important to keep anti-virus software installed and updated to protect against new threats and vulnerabilities.
13. When anti-virus software finds a suspicious file, it may quarantine or delete the file to prevent it from causing harm to the computer.
1. What is the purpose of authentication?
2. What is the difference between a strong and weak password?
3. What is multifactor authentication? How does this improve security?
4. What are three common types of identity that might be required in multifactor authentication?
5. What is the purpose of authorization? What are some example user roles and how might their access differ?
6. What is the purpose of accounting? What sorts of activity might be tracked in a system?
7. How does symmetric encryption work? Do both sender and receiver need to share a secret key in advance?
8. How does asymmetric encryption work? Do both sender and receiver need to share a secret key in advance? What keys are used to encrypt and decrypt data?
9. How is the identity of the server or receiver verified in public-key encryption? What is the role of a certificate authority?
10. What are some ways that viruses or malware can infect a computer?
11. What is the main purpose of spyware, ransomware, and adware? What other kinds of malware exist?
12. What is anti-virus software? Why is it important to keep anti-virus software installed and 13. updated?
What does anti-virus software do when it finds a suspicious file?
5 answers
Use this Text to answer the questions
I apologize for the confusion, as I did not receive any specific text to refer to in my previous responses. Please provide the relevant text, and I would be more than happy to use it to answer the questions provided. Thank you!
In this lesson, you are going to learn about some of the basic security technologies that can be applied to protect computer systems, websites, applications, communications, and files. Each of these areas has special risks that can be addressed with the right approach. We'll begin with the three "A"'s - authentication, authorization, and accounting - and also discuss encryption, malware, and anti-virus software.
Authentication with Usernames and Passwords
Authentication is a way of identifying a valid user for a system. Authentication seeks to identify who is using the system, though it does not control what you can do inside that system once you are identified.
Many systems allow you to prove your identity by entering a username and password. Usernames might be formed from your real name, email address, or other characters. You should not share your username with anyone, but they can be easy to guess.
Your password, by contrast, should not be easy for anyone to discover. You especially want to avoid weak passwords that are formed from common phrases, your name, important dates in your life, or other things that someone might try based on their knowledge of you. A strong password normally includes a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and other special symbols. A strong password should be hard for someone to guess, but may still include sequences that are easy for you to remember.
Example Weak Passwords
password
1234
110620 (your birthday or anniversary)
fuzzy (the name of your pet)
Example Strong Passwords
Ghr5431!
__QR71@Me
#Smarty42!@
Some systems have minimum requirements for strong passwords and will not let you select a weak password!
Other Types of Authentication
Usernames and passwords are not the only way you can verify your identity. Systems and online services will increasingly use multifactor authentication for additional security. This type of authentication requires multiple steps to unlock protected devices or services. As you add more steps to the authentication procedure, it becomes harder for someone to hack all of the steps to break into an account or device.
Multifactor authentication will commonly rely on different types of verification for each step. One step may ask you for something you know (like a password or pin#). Another step may ask you to verify something you have in your possession (like a bank card or key fob). A third step may ask for something unique about you like a fingerprint or retina scan. If you are asked to provide verification for 2 of these 3 steps, this is called 2-factor authentication. 2-factor authentication is increasingly common when working with online services and other secure systems.
If you have a bank account, you are probably already familiar with 2-factor authentication. To get cash from an ATM, you need to provide both a bank card and a secret PIN. Having one piece without the other will not allow access at all!
Have you ever been asked to provide these or other unique forms of identification?
PIN Numbers - These 4, 5, or 6-digit numbers should keep secret so they are only known to you.
Biometrics - Your fingerprint, retina (eye) pattern and facial features are unique to you.
Pattern-drawing - You can create a secret pattern drawn between a grid of dots (often used to unlock smartphones).
Authorization
Authorized personnel onlyJust because you are authenticated in a system does not mean you have access to all of the system's data! The system may know exactly who you are and still prevent you from reaching certain areas. For example, your school may use an online grading system. You are allowed to log in and see your own grades and information, but you are not allowed to change those grades or view the grades of other students.
Different users can have different authorization levels. When a user attempts to perform a task (like changing a grade), the system checks to see if they are authorized first. Users without authorization to do or see certain things will be prevented from completing those tasks. Authorization rules control who is allowed to do things.
Accounting (Auditing)
Systems will often keep track of what authenticated users do within the system. These historical records provide an accounting (or audit log) of your activity. The system might track how much time you spent logged in, the specific pages you visited, and each action that you took while logged in. System administrators can use this information to study system performance and usability. Audit logs are also used to answer questions about who authorized changes in a system.
Symmetric Encryption
Encryption is the process of converting plain data (that can be read by anyone) to encoded or encrypted data that can only be understood by a person or a program that has a secret key. You encrypt data to keep it secure from unauthorized access. The encryption algorithm may be well-known and understood, but the key should be kept secret, shared only with the programs or users that are authorized to access the data.
Symmetric Encryption and decryption
When ready to read the data, decryption will reverse the process. A decryption algorithm, combined with the secret key, will turn the encrypted data back into plain data that can be understood by anyone.
Using the same shared, secret key to both encrypt and decrypt data is called symmetric encryption (or private-key cryptography). The secret key must be securely owned in advance by both the sender and the receiver. The sender will encrypt the data with the shared key and send only the encrypted data to the receiver. The receiver will use a decryption algorithm and the shared key to recover the original, plain data.
Anyone with access to the secret key can decrypt the data. The encryption is secure as long as the key is kept a secret. If the key falls into the wrong hands, the data can be easily decrypted and read.
Asymmetric (Public-Key) Encryption
Asymmetric encryption, or public-key cryptography, actually uses two different keys, each representing and owned by the receiver of the data (typically, a web, file, or email server). One key is public, meaning it can be freely distributed to the general public. The other key is private and is known only to the receiver of the information. The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL / TLS) protocol used by web servers to secure your online activities is based on public-key cryptography.
When a client (such as your web browser) wants to send secure information to a server, it first gets a digital certificate from the server. This certificate is public information; anyone can have it. The certificate is produced by some well-known organization (a certificate authority) that is trusted by the client, and it is used to verify the identity of the server. That way, the sender is confident about the identity of the server. The certificate also contains a public key that belongs to the server and this public key is used to encrypt data.
Public-Private Key Encryption and decryption
When the server receives the encrypted data, it uses a private key (known only to the server) to decrypt the data. Since nobody outside the server knows about the private key, the encrypted package can only be decrypted and read by the server. The public and private keys are a matched set; data encrypted by the public key can only be decrypted by the matching private key.
While public-key encryption is more computationally expensive than symmetric encryption, it has a huge advantage. The sender and receiver don't need to share any secret key between them in advance!
Viruses, Malware, Spyware, Ransomware, and Adware
Virus Detection AlertEvery time you go online to browse the web or receive an email, your computer is at risk of infection from viruses or other malicious software (malware). These small programs attack your computer and may damage your files, steal your private information, give complete control to someone else, or display unwanted advertisements.
Viruses can infect your computer in many ways. For example:
You might download and run a program that contains the virus
You might visit a website that takes advantage of security holes in your web browser
You might click on a link or open an unknown attachment that you receive by email
Your computer might be infected by other computers on the network that have access to your hard drive
You might insert a flash or thumb drive that contains a virus into your computer's USB port
It is not easy to know when you are at risk. Hackers will disguise virus delivery by attaching the virus to other software that you really want or using misleading names and descriptions for links and attachments.
There are several common types of malware that may do different things to your computer.
Virus Type Description
Spyware Spyware will try to spy on you! Spyware programs may track your Internet web browsing history, record all of the keystrokes you make on your keyboard, steal usernames and passwords as you enter them into forms, and report this personal data back to someone else.
Ransomware Ransomware is designed to lock you out of your computer and keep you from accessing any of your files. The hackers may then demand payment from you to unlock your computer.
Adware Adware programs will display unwanted advertisements on your computer. Adware programs might track your web browsing history and display targeted advertisements based on the things you visit. Or they may simply display a large number of unwanted ads for both legal and illegal goods and services.
Others Malware programs can be written to cause other kinds of damage or frustration. Viruses may damage or delete files on your computer, corrupt your operating system, or even reformat your entire hard drive!
Anti-Virus Software
peeking through shut curtainsThe best way to deal with viruses and malware is to avoid infecting your computer in the first place! Preventing viruses will protect your private information and keep your computer secure. You can follow a few common-sense rules when you are online.
Keep your software updated! All software programs can have errors that can be exploited by criminals. Keeping your software updated helps minimize the chance that these errors can be used against you.
Avoid visiting websites that are obviously aimed at illegal activities such as stolen movie downloads, pirated software downloads, etc. These websites frequently add viruses to downloaded programs.
Never download or run unknown programs. Make sure to scan any downloaded file with your computer's anti-virus software before opening and running it.
Avoid clicking on unknown attachments or links sent by email or chat sessions.
No matter how careful you are, some viruses may slip through, and it may be hard for humans to detect a computer infection. When viruses and other malware are allowed to run on your computer undetected, your private information and security are at risk. That is why it is important to install anti-virus software on your computer.
Authentication with Usernames and Passwords
Authentication is a way of identifying a valid user for a system. Authentication seeks to identify who is using the system, though it does not control what you can do inside that system once you are identified.
Many systems allow you to prove your identity by entering a username and password. Usernames might be formed from your real name, email address, or other characters. You should not share your username with anyone, but they can be easy to guess.
Your password, by contrast, should not be easy for anyone to discover. You especially want to avoid weak passwords that are formed from common phrases, your name, important dates in your life, or other things that someone might try based on their knowledge of you. A strong password normally includes a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and other special symbols. A strong password should be hard for someone to guess, but may still include sequences that are easy for you to remember.
Example Weak Passwords
password
1234
110620 (your birthday or anniversary)
fuzzy (the name of your pet)
Example Strong Passwords
Ghr5431!
__QR71@Me
#Smarty42!@
Some systems have minimum requirements for strong passwords and will not let you select a weak password!
Other Types of Authentication
Usernames and passwords are not the only way you can verify your identity. Systems and online services will increasingly use multifactor authentication for additional security. This type of authentication requires multiple steps to unlock protected devices or services. As you add more steps to the authentication procedure, it becomes harder for someone to hack all of the steps to break into an account or device.
Multifactor authentication will commonly rely on different types of verification for each step. One step may ask you for something you know (like a password or pin#). Another step may ask you to verify something you have in your possession (like a bank card or key fob). A third step may ask for something unique about you like a fingerprint or retina scan. If you are asked to provide verification for 2 of these 3 steps, this is called 2-factor authentication. 2-factor authentication is increasingly common when working with online services and other secure systems.
If you have a bank account, you are probably already familiar with 2-factor authentication. To get cash from an ATM, you need to provide both a bank card and a secret PIN. Having one piece without the other will not allow access at all!
Have you ever been asked to provide these or other unique forms of identification?
PIN Numbers - These 4, 5, or 6-digit numbers should keep secret so they are only known to you.
Biometrics - Your fingerprint, retina (eye) pattern and facial features are unique to you.
Pattern-drawing - You can create a secret pattern drawn between a grid of dots (often used to unlock smartphones).
Authorization
Authorized personnel onlyJust because you are authenticated in a system does not mean you have access to all of the system's data! The system may know exactly who you are and still prevent you from reaching certain areas. For example, your school may use an online grading system. You are allowed to log in and see your own grades and information, but you are not allowed to change those grades or view the grades of other students.
Different users can have different authorization levels. When a user attempts to perform a task (like changing a grade), the system checks to see if they are authorized first. Users without authorization to do or see certain things will be prevented from completing those tasks. Authorization rules control who is allowed to do things.
Accounting (Auditing)
Systems will often keep track of what authenticated users do within the system. These historical records provide an accounting (or audit log) of your activity. The system might track how much time you spent logged in, the specific pages you visited, and each action that you took while logged in. System administrators can use this information to study system performance and usability. Audit logs are also used to answer questions about who authorized changes in a system.
Symmetric Encryption
Encryption is the process of converting plain data (that can be read by anyone) to encoded or encrypted data that can only be understood by a person or a program that has a secret key. You encrypt data to keep it secure from unauthorized access. The encryption algorithm may be well-known and understood, but the key should be kept secret, shared only with the programs or users that are authorized to access the data.
Symmetric Encryption and decryption
When ready to read the data, decryption will reverse the process. A decryption algorithm, combined with the secret key, will turn the encrypted data back into plain data that can be understood by anyone.
Using the same shared, secret key to both encrypt and decrypt data is called symmetric encryption (or private-key cryptography). The secret key must be securely owned in advance by both the sender and the receiver. The sender will encrypt the data with the shared key and send only the encrypted data to the receiver. The receiver will use a decryption algorithm and the shared key to recover the original, plain data.
Anyone with access to the secret key can decrypt the data. The encryption is secure as long as the key is kept a secret. If the key falls into the wrong hands, the data can be easily decrypted and read.
Asymmetric (Public-Key) Encryption
Asymmetric encryption, or public-key cryptography, actually uses two different keys, each representing and owned by the receiver of the data (typically, a web, file, or email server). One key is public, meaning it can be freely distributed to the general public. The other key is private and is known only to the receiver of the information. The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL / TLS) protocol used by web servers to secure your online activities is based on public-key cryptography.
When a client (such as your web browser) wants to send secure information to a server, it first gets a digital certificate from the server. This certificate is public information; anyone can have it. The certificate is produced by some well-known organization (a certificate authority) that is trusted by the client, and it is used to verify the identity of the server. That way, the sender is confident about the identity of the server. The certificate also contains a public key that belongs to the server and this public key is used to encrypt data.
Public-Private Key Encryption and decryption
When the server receives the encrypted data, it uses a private key (known only to the server) to decrypt the data. Since nobody outside the server knows about the private key, the encrypted package can only be decrypted and read by the server. The public and private keys are a matched set; data encrypted by the public key can only be decrypted by the matching private key.
While public-key encryption is more computationally expensive than symmetric encryption, it has a huge advantage. The sender and receiver don't need to share any secret key between them in advance!
Viruses, Malware, Spyware, Ransomware, and Adware
Virus Detection AlertEvery time you go online to browse the web or receive an email, your computer is at risk of infection from viruses or other malicious software (malware). These small programs attack your computer and may damage your files, steal your private information, give complete control to someone else, or display unwanted advertisements.
Viruses can infect your computer in many ways. For example:
You might download and run a program that contains the virus
You might visit a website that takes advantage of security holes in your web browser
You might click on a link or open an unknown attachment that you receive by email
Your computer might be infected by other computers on the network that have access to your hard drive
You might insert a flash or thumb drive that contains a virus into your computer's USB port
It is not easy to know when you are at risk. Hackers will disguise virus delivery by attaching the virus to other software that you really want or using misleading names and descriptions for links and attachments.
There are several common types of malware that may do different things to your computer.
Virus Type Description
Spyware Spyware will try to spy on you! Spyware programs may track your Internet web browsing history, record all of the keystrokes you make on your keyboard, steal usernames and passwords as you enter them into forms, and report this personal data back to someone else.
Ransomware Ransomware is designed to lock you out of your computer and keep you from accessing any of your files. The hackers may then demand payment from you to unlock your computer.
Adware Adware programs will display unwanted advertisements on your computer. Adware programs might track your web browsing history and display targeted advertisements based on the things you visit. Or they may simply display a large number of unwanted ads for both legal and illegal goods and services.
Others Malware programs can be written to cause other kinds of damage or frustration. Viruses may damage or delete files on your computer, corrupt your operating system, or even reformat your entire hard drive!
Anti-Virus Software
peeking through shut curtainsThe best way to deal with viruses and malware is to avoid infecting your computer in the first place! Preventing viruses will protect your private information and keep your computer secure. You can follow a few common-sense rules when you are online.
Keep your software updated! All software programs can have errors that can be exploited by criminals. Keeping your software updated helps minimize the chance that these errors can be used against you.
Avoid visiting websites that are obviously aimed at illegal activities such as stolen movie downloads, pirated software downloads, etc. These websites frequently add viruses to downloaded programs.
Never download or run unknown programs. Make sure to scan any downloaded file with your computer's anti-virus software before opening and running it.
Avoid clicking on unknown attachments or links sent by email or chat sessions.
No matter how careful you are, some viruses may slip through, and it may be hard for humans to detect a computer infection. When viruses and other malware are allowed to run on your computer undetected, your private information and security are at risk. That is why it is important to install anti-virus software on your computer.
1. What are the three "A"'s of basic security technologies discussed in the lesson?
- The three "A"'s are authentication, authorization, and accounting.
2. What is the purpose of authentication in a system?
- The purpose of authentication is to identify a valid user for a system and verify their identity.
3. What are some characteristics of a strong password and why is it important to avoid weak passwords?
- A strong password includes a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. It is important to avoid weak passwords because they are easy to guess and can compromise the security of your accounts.
4. What is multifactor authentication and how does it enhance security?
- Multifactor authentication requires multiple steps to verify a user's identity, making it harder for unauthorized users to access an account or device.
5. What are some examples of different types of verification used in multifactor authentication?
- Examples include something you know (password), something you have (bank card or key fob), and something unique about you (fingerprint or retina scan).
6. What is the purpose of authorization in a system?
- Authorization controls what actions a user can perform within a system and limits access to specific areas or data.
7. How does symmetric encryption work and what is the importance of keeping the shared key secret?
- Symmetric encryption uses a shared secret key to both encrypt and decrypt data. It is important to keep the shared key secret to maintain the security of the encrypted data.
8. How does asymmetric encryption (public-key cryptography) differ from symmetric encryption?
- Asymmetric encryption uses two different keys (public and private) for encryption and decryption, providing a higher level of security as the private key is kept secret.
9. What are some common types of malware mentioned in the lesson?
- Some common types of malware include viruses, spyware, ransomware, adware, and others that can damage files, steal information, display unwanted ads, or cause other kinds of damage.
10. Why is it important to have anti-virus software installed on your computer?
- Anti-virus software helps to prevent viruses and malware from infecting your computer, protecting your private information and ensuring the security of your system.
- The three "A"'s are authentication, authorization, and accounting.
2. What is the purpose of authentication in a system?
- The purpose of authentication is to identify a valid user for a system and verify their identity.
3. What are some characteristics of a strong password and why is it important to avoid weak passwords?
- A strong password includes a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. It is important to avoid weak passwords because they are easy to guess and can compromise the security of your accounts.
4. What is multifactor authentication and how does it enhance security?
- Multifactor authentication requires multiple steps to verify a user's identity, making it harder for unauthorized users to access an account or device.
5. What are some examples of different types of verification used in multifactor authentication?
- Examples include something you know (password), something you have (bank card or key fob), and something unique about you (fingerprint or retina scan).
6. What is the purpose of authorization in a system?
- Authorization controls what actions a user can perform within a system and limits access to specific areas or data.
7. How does symmetric encryption work and what is the importance of keeping the shared key secret?
- Symmetric encryption uses a shared secret key to both encrypt and decrypt data. It is important to keep the shared key secret to maintain the security of the encrypted data.
8. How does asymmetric encryption (public-key cryptography) differ from symmetric encryption?
- Asymmetric encryption uses two different keys (public and private) for encryption and decryption, providing a higher level of security as the private key is kept secret.
9. What are some common types of malware mentioned in the lesson?
- Some common types of malware include viruses, spyware, ransomware, adware, and others that can damage files, steal information, display unwanted ads, or cause other kinds of damage.
10. Why is it important to have anti-virus software installed on your computer?
- Anti-virus software helps to prevent viruses and malware from infecting your computer, protecting your private information and ensuring the security of your system.
1 answer