Chapter 8, Problem 1RQ

Program Plan Intro

System vulnerability:

• When huge amount of data is kept in electronic form, it becomes susceptible to many threats.
• The information systems in many locations are been interconnected through communication networks.
• The unauthorized access can occur at many access points in network and is not limited to a single location.
• The data flowing over networks could be accessed; valuable information could be stolen while transmission or data could be altered without authorization.
• The denial-of-service attacks are launched by intruders to disrupt website operations.
• Internets are vulnerable than internal networks as it is open to everyone.

Explanation of Solution

Malware:

• A malware denotes a program that is harmful to a computer user.
• It includes viruses, worms, Trojan horses and spyware programs that gather information without user permission.

Difference between a virus, a worm, and a Trojan horse:

Virus	Worm	Trojan horse
A program that would replicate itself by being copied...

Explanation of Solution

Hacker:

• A hacker denotes an individual who gains unauthorized access to computer system.
• It does so by finding security protection weakness in websites and computer systems...

Explanation of Solution

Computer crime:

• A computer crime denotes any violations of criminal law that involves knowledge of computer technology for perpetration, investigation or prosecution.
• It is defined as commission of illegal acts through use of a computer or against computer system.

Examples of crime in which computers are targets:

The examples with computers as crime targets are shown below:

• Confidentiality breach for protected computerized data.
• Unauthorized access to computer systems.
• Accessing protected computers for committing fraud.
• Accessing protected computers for causing damage intentionally...

Explanation of Solution

Identity theft and phishing:

• Identity theft denotes a crime in which personal information pieces are obtained.
• It includes social security number, license number or credit card number to act as behalf of someone else.
• The information might be used for obtaining credit, merchandise or services in name of victim.
• It is a big problem today as internet has made easy for identity thieves to use stolen information.
• The goods could be purchased online without any personal interaction...

Explanation of Solution

Security and system reliability problems created by the employees:

• The employees create financial threats to business. It includes destruction of e-commerce sites, diversion of credit data and personal information.
• Employees has access to privileged information and in presence of weak security procedures, they can check all personal details.
• The system compromise happens when an employee lets coworker use the system...

Explanation of Solution

Software defects affecting system reliability and security:

• The software could fail to perform well or gives erroneous result because of undetected bugs.
• A control system may fail to carry messages or allow internet access.
• The customers may be wrongly charged due to such failures.
• The business may order more inventory than it requires...