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What is network security ? How can social engineering attacks compromise network security ?

Network security refers to a set of practices, technologies, and policies designed to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of computer networks and the data transmitted over them. It encompasses various measures to safeguard networks from unauthorized access, misuse, malfunction, modification, destruction, or improper disclosure.

Key Objectives of Network Security:

Integrity: Ensuring that data is accurate and has not been altered during transmission.

Confidentiality: Protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access and ensuring that only authorized users can view or use it.

Availability: Ensuring that network resources and data are accessible to authorized users when needed.

Key Components of Network Security:

Firewalls:

Devices or software that monitor and filter incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules.

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS):

Tools that monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and alert administrators to potential threats.

Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS):

Systems that not only detect threats but also take action to block them in real-time.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs):

Secure connections over the internet that encrypt data, providing privacy for users, especially on public networks.

Access Control:

Mechanisms that define who can access specific resources within the network, often enforced through user permissions and authentication.

Encryption:

The process of converting data into a coded format to prevent unauthorized access.

Security Policies:

Guidelines and procedures that define how to protect the organization's network and data.

Monitoring and Logging:

Continuous observation of network activity to detect and respond to security incidents.

Importance of Network Security

In an increasingly digital world, network security is critical for organizations to protect sensitive data, maintain customer trust, comply with regulations, and ensure business continuity. A robust network security framework helps prevent data breaches, cyberattacks, and other security incidents that can have significant financial and reputational impacts.

How can social engineering attacks compromise network security?

Social engineering attacks can compromise network security by manipulating people into giving away sensitive information or taiking acition that break security practices. Social engineering attacks can take many forms, including: 

Phishing: The attacker uses personal communication tools like email, SMS, or social media to trick the victim into clicking on a malicious link or downloading a dangerous file. 

Spear phishing: The attacker impersonates a trusted individual, like a friend or co-worker, to steal sensitive information from specific individuals. 

Tailgating: The attacker follows an authorized staff member into a restricted area. They may use social courtesy to convince the victim to hold the door open for them. 

Scareware: The attacker bombards the victim with fake threats or false alarms. 

Quid pro quo: The attacker offers a service or benefit in exchange for information. For example, they may pose as a representative of the Social Security Administration and request confirmation of the victim's Social Security Number. 

Smishing: The attacker sends a malicious link to the victim through an SMS message. 

Social engineering attacks are dangerous because they rely on human error, which is harder to identify and thwart than malware-based intrusions. 

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Types Of Cyber Security:

Here are the main types of cybersecurity, each focusing on different aspects of protecting systems, networks, and data:

1. Network Security

Focus: Protecting the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of computer networks.

Key Components: Firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and virtual private networks (VPNs).

2. Application Security

Focus: Ensuring software applications are secure throughout their lifecycle.

Key Components: Secure coding practices, application testing, and patch management.

3. Endpoint Security

Focus: Securing individual devices (endpoints) like computers, smartphones, and servers.

Key Components: Antivirus software, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and device management.

4. Data Security

Focus: Protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access and breaches.

Key Components: Encryption, data masking, and access controls.

5. Cloud Security

Focus: Protecting data, applications, and services hosted in cloud environments.

Key Components: Identity and access management (IAM), secure configurations, and compliance controls.

6. Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Focus: Ensuring that only authorized users have access to specific resources.

Key Components: Multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and role-based access control (RBAC).

7. Operational Security (OpSec)

Focus: Protecting sensitive information and processes within an organization.

Key Components: Risk assessment, incident response planning, and policy development.

8. Incident Response and Management

Focus: Preparing for and responding to cybersecurity incidents.

Key Components: Incident response plans, forensic analysis, and post-incident reviews.

9. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity

Focus: Ensuring organizational resilience during and after a cybersecurity incident.

Key Components: Disaster recovery plans, business impact analysis, and data backup solutions.

10. Physical Security

Focus: Protecting physical assets such as data centers and hardware from physical threats.

Key Components: Surveillance systems, access controls, and environmental controls.

11. Compliance and Governance

Focus: Ensuring adherence to regulatory and industry standards.

Key Components: Policies, audits, and risk management frameworks (like NIST, ISO 27001).

These types of cybersecurity collectively contribute to a comprehensive security strategy, helping organizations mitigate risks and protect against a variety of cyber threats. If you have questions about any specific type or need further details, feel free to ask!

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What is phishing ? What is the importance of fishing?

Phishing is a tactic used by cybercriminals to trick people into providing personal information, like passwords or credit card numbers, by pretending to be a trustworthy source, often through emails or fake websites

Importance of Phishing Awareness: Phishing is significant because it’s one of the most common cyber threats that can lead to identity theft, financial loss, and data breaches. Awareness helps individuals and organizations recognize and avoid these attacks, protecting sensitive information and maintaining security.

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Cyber security is the application of technologies, processes, and controls to protect systems, networks, programs, devices and data from cyber attacks. It aims to reduce the risk of cyber attacks and protect against the unauthorised exploitation of systems, networks, and technologies.

Cybersecurity is important because

it protects sensitive data from theft, prevents financial losses from breaches, maintains trust and reputation, ensures compliance with regulations, supports business continuity, and mitigates evolving cyber threats. It's essential for safeguarding both personal information and critical infrastructure. Cybersecurity encompasses the practices, technologies, and processes designed to protect systems, networks, and data from cyber threats. Here's a deeper dive into its main aspects:

Cyber Security Importance points -

1- Protection of Sensitive Data: Safeguards personal, financial, and confidential business information from unauthorized access and breaches.

2- Prevention of Cyber Attacks: Helps defend against threats like malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks that can compromise systems and data. 3- Maintaining Trust: Builds customer and stakeholder trust by ensuring that their information is secure, which is vital for business reputation.

4- Regulatory Compliance: Ensures adherence to laws and regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and others, avoiding legal penalties and fines.

5- Operational Continuity: Minimizes downtime and disruptions caused by cyber incidents, ensuring that business operations run smoothly.

6- Cost Savings: Preventing data breaches and cyber incidents can save organizations significant costs related to recovery, legal fees, and lost revenue.

idk if people on tumblr know about this but a cybersecurity software called crowdstrike just did what is probably the single biggest fuck up in any sector in the past 10 years. it's monumentally bad. literally the most horror-inducing nightmare scenario for a tech company.

some info, crowdstrike is essentially an antivirus software for enterprises. which means normal laypeople cant really get it, they're for businesses and organisations and important stuff.

so, on a friday evening (it of course wasnt friday everywhere but it was friday evening in oceania which is where it first started causing damage due to europe and na being asleep), crowdstrike pushed out an update to their windows users that caused a bug.

before i get into what the bug is, know that friday evening is the worst possible time to do this because people are going home. the weekend is starting. offices dont have people in them. this is just one of many perfectly placed failures in the rube goldburg machine of crowdstrike. there's a reason friday is called 'dont push to live friday' or more to the point 'dont fuck it up friday'

so, at 3pm at friday, an update comes rolling into crowdstrike users which is automatically implemented. this update immediately causes the computer to blue screen of death. very very bad. but it's not simply a 'you need to restart' crash, because the computer then gets stuck into a boot loop.

this is the worst possible thing because, in a boot loop state, a computer is never really able to get to a point where it can do anything. like download a fix. so there is nothing crowdstrike can do to remedy this death update anymore. it is now left to the end users.

it was pretty quickly identified what the problem was. you had to boot it in safe mode, and a very small file needed to be deleted. or you could just rename crowdstrike to something else so windows never attempts to use it.

it's a fairly easy fix in the grand scheme of things, but the issue is that it is effecting enterprises. which can have a looooot of computers. in many different locations. so an IT person would need to manually fix hundreds of computers, sometimes in whole other cities and perhaps even other countries if theyre big enough.

another fuck up crowdstrike did was they did not stagger the update, so they could catch any mistakes before they wrecked havoc. (and also how how HOW do you not catch this before deploying it. this isn't a code oopsie this is a complete failure of quality ensurance that probably permeates the whole company to not realise their update was an instant kill). they rolled it out to everyone of their clients in the world at the same time.

and this seems pretty hilarious on the surface. i was havin a good chuckle as eftpos went down in the store i was working at, chaos was definitely ensuring lmao. im in aus, and banking was literally down nationwide.

but then you start hearing about the entire country's planes being grounded because the airport's computers are bricked. and hospitals having no computers anymore. emergency call centres crashing. and you realised that, wow. crowdstrike just killed people probably. this is literally the worst thing possible for a company like this to do.

crowdstrike was kinda on the come up too, they were starting to become a big name in the tech world as a new face. but that has definitely vanished now. to fuck up at this many places, is almost extremely impressive. its hard to even think of a comparable fuckup.

a friday evening simultaneous rollout boot loop is a phrase that haunts IT people in their darkest hours. it's the monster that drags people down into the swamp. it's the big bag in the horror movie. it's the end of the road. and for crowdstrike, that reaper of souls just knocked on their doorstep.