Introduction
To Network Security
Introduction
As more and more people and businesses have begun to use
computer networks and the Internet, the need for a secure computing
environment has never been greater. Right now, information security
professionals are in great demand and the importance of the field is
growing every day. All the industry leaders have been placing their
bets on security in the last few years.
Just recently Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer of Microsoft
have been quoted as saying that secure computing is no longer an optional
component, it is something that should be integrated into every system
rather than being thrown in as an afterthought. Usually programmers
would concentrate on getting a program working, and then (if there was
time) try and weed out possible security holes.
Now, applications must be coded from the ground up with
security in mind, as these applications will be used by people who expect
the security and privacy of their data to be maintained.
This article intends to serve as a very brief introduction to information
security with an emphasis on networking.
The reasons for this are twofold:
Firstly, in case you did not notice.. this is a networking website,
Secondly, the time a system is most vulnerable is when it is connected
to the Internet.
For an understanding of what lies in the following pages, you should
have decent knowledge of how the Internet works. You don't need to know
the ins and outs of every protocol under the sun, but a basic understanding
of network (and obviously computer) fundamentals is essential.
If you're a complete newbie however, do not despair. We would recommend
you look under the Networking menu at the top of the site.. there you
will find our accolade winning material on pretty much everything in
networking.
Hacker or Cracker?
There is a very well worn out arguement against using the incorrect
use of the word 'hacker' to denote a computer criminal -- the correct
term is a 'cracker' or when referring to people who have automated tools
and very little real knowledge, 'script kiddie'. Hackers are actually
just very adept programmers (the term came from 'hacking the code' where
a programmer would quickly program fixes to problems he faced).
While many feel that this distinction has been lost due to the media
portraying hackers as computer criminals, we will stick to the original
definitions through these articles more than anything to avoid the inevitable
flame mail we will get if we don't !
On to the Cool Stuff!
This introduction is broadly broken down into the following parts :
• The Threat
to Home Users
• The Threat to
the Enterprise
• Common Security
Measures Explained
• Intrusion Detection
Systems
• Tools an Attacker
Uses
• What is Penetration-Testing?
• A Brief Walk-through
of an Attack
• Where Can I
Find More Information?
• Conclusion
Next
- The Threat to Home Users
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