Internet Security Systems
From Isopedia
Technical Information
Internet security systems are systems that sustain private resources and information on the Internet. These systems obtain techniques that guarantee that the stored data on the Internet cannot be accessed by any unauthorized users. In addition, internet security systems also allow the users to feel safe accessing the Internet, as well as learning how to prevent viruses and other undesirable software programs from affecting the computer. Businesses are commonly targeted by a number of Internet attacks: unauthorized access, data theft or alteration, worm and virus infiltrations, hackers, automated attacks, and denial-of-service attacks. These attacks create high risk and extreme liability for the owners of the websites. There are many different types of internet security systems that help prevent these attacks: data encryption, passwords, firewalls, and anti-virus protection software.
- Data Encryption is the most effective way to achieve data security. This method consists of simply translating the information into a secret code called cipher text. In order to read the cipher text, the user needs a password in order to decipher it. This method is useful for companies that have their information on the internet because if they have valuable information on the website, a competitor would not be able to see the information. There are two general types of encryption: asymmetric encryption (public-key encryption) and symmetric encryption.
- Asymmetric Encryption is a system that uses two passwords: a public password and a private password. The public password is known to the users that want to send information; the private password is only known to the receiver of the message.
- Symmetric Encryption is when the same password is used to encrypt and decipher the data.
- Passwords are a series of characters that allows a user to have access to the website. The password makes sure that unofficial users do not have admittance. The password is normally something random that no one can guess. If the password is obvious and easy to guess, the website or the internet software can easily get hacked into.
- Firewalls are a security device that controls the communication between computer networks. It is located between the company's internal network and external networks; it prevents unauthorized access to the internal network. The firewall averts unprocessed database information sent over the Internet so it doesn't reach the database management system computer. When the database is processed through the Internet, the firewall permits limited access through techniques such as packet filtering. It is wise for the computer user to have their computer protected by a firewall device to ensure the security.
- Anti-Virus Protection Software is used to detect unwanted software on a computer such as viruses, worms, trojan horses and spyware. It runs a scan on all files of the computer and removes any threats that are found. The viruses they search for are on your computer without your knowledge and are easily replicable. Because new viruses are continually being discovered, anti-virus software is made with an auto-update feature that allows the program to detect the new threats.
History
Internet Security Systems were developed in order to protect networks from unwanted threats. Protection measures began in 1967 when encrypted passwords were developed as the first step to ensure security. By the mid 1970s, data encryption became very popular and was used as a means for government agencies to preserve secrecy from the public. In 1985, the term “hacker” was introduced to the Internet community, reinforcing the idea that more advanced security systems were necessary so that unauthorized individuals could not gain access to private Internet systems. Also in 1985, challenge-response protocols and password tokens were developed. The following year, the first virus called “The Brain” was created in Pakistan. Because of the emergence of virus threats that could potentially destroy entire network systems, more highly developed software was created in order to control and prevent such viruses.
Firewall Technology became well-known in the late 1980s, just as the Internet was beginning to become popular globally. Since then there has been three distinguished generations of firewall technology. The first was in response to the first large scale attack on Internet security in 1988. Jeff Mogul from Digital Equipment Corporatoin developed the original, basic firewall technology called packet filters. The second generation of firewalls is the circuit level, which was created between 1980 and 1990 by Dave Presetto and Howard Trickey (AT&T Bell Laboratory employees). The third generation, known as the application layer or proxy based firewalls, was the first commercial firewall product and was sold starting June 13, 1991. Since then, independent companies have expanded on these firewall systems.
Also in 1991, Antivirus software was created by Peter Tippett, an emergency room doctor who also ran a computer software company. Intrigued by the outbreak of the first computer virus, Tippett began to investigate how these viruses spread through computer systems and he was able to successfully create software to prevent threats. In 1992, Tippett sold his company to Symantec Corporation which led to the creation of Norton Antivirus.
By 1992, the number of distinct strains of computer viruses had grown from 5 in 1988 to over 1000. With the dependency on the Internet today for personal, business and government purposes, it has become very important that networks are protected against any threats. It is because of this that Internet security systems have flourished.
Team Members
- Dominic Cellitti
- Jaime Kalman
- Hannah Kim
- Aytza Pacheco
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