Explain The Basics Of Cybersecurity For Beginners

Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important in today's technologically advanced world. As the threat of cybercrime, such as data theft, financial fraud, and phishing, grows, individuals of all ages need to understand the fundamentals of cybersecurity. However, the need for cybersecurity education is particularly crucial for children, as their technical abilities are increasingly at risk. With the demand for cybersecurity on the rise, individuals need to stay informed and take proactive steps to protect themselves and their information online.

Explain The Basics Of Cybersecurity For Beginners(Photo: https://finsurance401.blogspot.com)

What is Cybersecurity?

It is important to understand the basics of cyber security before delving into the topic at hand. Data protection is a vital aspect of our daily lives, and cybersecurity is the technology used to secure our most important gadgets and websites. The CIA trinity, which stands for Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability, is a useful way to understand the intricacies of cybersecurity. Confidentiality ensures that only authorized individuals have access to certain information, often used by groups like the Indian defence forces. Integrity allows authorized individuals to change, update, or remove information, while availability ensures that systems and databases are easily accessible. Cybersecurity is crucial in ensuring students can use technology safely and protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.

Common types of cyberattacks:

Cyberattacks come in many forms and are often motivated by financial gain or a desire for revenge. These attacks can take the form of military tactics or political ploys and can be costly to defend against. It is therefore essential for students to learn about the different types of cyberattacks and how they can impact their systems. The five main types of attacks are Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), Man-in-the-middle, Email attacks, Password attacks, and Malware attacks. Students need to have a comprehensive understanding of each of these types of attacks to be able to protect themselves and their systems from potential threats.

1. DDoS, or distributed denial of service

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) cyberattack is a type of attack in which a website's traffic is artificially generated by a botnet, which is a group of internet-connected devices that are controlled by a hacker. The botnet controller commands all the bots in the botnet to flood a server or website with traffic, making it difficult or impossible for users to access the website. The hacker considers the attack a success once the website is overwhelmed and becomes inaccessible to users. This type of attack is one of the most common and can cause significant disruptions for both individuals and businesses.

2. Man in the Middle

A "Man in the Middle" (MitM) attack is a type of cyberattack in which a hacker intercepts communication between two parties, such as a user and a website, to steal personal information. In this scenario, when a user is making an online payment and enters their CVV and payment card information, the hacker can impersonate the user and gain access to the information at the same time, allowing them to commit financial fraud. This type of attack is dangerous because it is often difficult to detect and can result in the theft of sensitive information. Users need to be aware of this type of attack and take steps to protect themselves, such as using secure connections and being cautious about entering personal information online.

3. Password attack

A password attack is a type of cyberattack in which a hacker attempts to gain access to an account by breaking the password. There are five different types of password attacks:

• Rainbow table attack: This type of attack uses pre-generated hash values that can be used to decipher passwords, similar to the log tables used in school for calculations in physics and chemistry.

• Keylogger attack: A keylogger is a device or software that records keystrokes made on a keyboard. A hacker can use a keylogger to easily retrieve a user's account information and password.

• Dictionary attack: This technique involves inputting every password into a dictionary.

• Brute force attack: This type of attack does not have a minimum requirement to log in to a profile or start a transaction. It takes a lot of time as it involves trying every possible password through a trial-and-error process.

• Shoulder surfing attack: This technique is commonly used in cyber cafes and other public areas, where a hacker peers over a user's shoulder to see their passwords and account information.

4. Email assault 

Three categories can be used to categorise email attacks,

• Phishing: In this type of attack, the attacker sends an email that appears to be from a reputable company or individual but is actually a trap to get the recipient to reveal personal information. For example, an email that appears to be from a bank and asks for login details is likely a phishing scam.

• Spoofing: This type of attack involves the attacker sending an email that appears to be from a reputable company or person, but is actually from a different source. To protect against spoofing, it is important to verify the identity of the sender before responding to or clicking on any links in the email.

• Attachment-based attacks: In this type of attack, the hacker sends an email with a malicious file attachment. If the recipient downloads the attachment, it can compromise their entire system. It is important to be cautious when downloading attachments from unknown sources and to use updated anti-virus software.

5. Malware Attacks 

Malware, short for malicious software, is a type of cyber attack that can damage or impair computers. There are three main types of malware: Trojan horses, worms, and viruses. These can enter a system through various means, such as documents, online downloads, unsecured network connections, email attachments and malicious advertisements. They can also enter through removable media like USB drives or CDs. To protect your system from malware, it is important to avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading dubious attachments or advertisements. Additionally, using a firewall and antivirus software can help to block potential threats and detect viruses. It is also important to be cautious when browsing the internet and to keep your system updated with the latest security patches. These are the fundamental knowledge students should have about cyber security to protect themselves and their devices from potential attacks.

CONCLUSION ( Specially Parents)

As a parent, it is important to take steps to ensure your child's online presence is as safe as possible. Traditional methods of discussing internet safety, such as having a sit-down conversation, may not be as effective when it comes to children. Instead, it is recommended to adopt a more engaging and interactive approach that appeals to children. By communicating in a way that is relatable and easy for them to understand, children are more likely to listen and pay attention to your advice on online safety. This may include using age-appropriate resources, such as interactive games, videos, or activities to educate children about cyber security threats, and how to protect themselves online.