Network Threats

• Computing
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

Unit 4.1 Network Threats

1. Why do we comment our code?
2. Convert 1010 from binary to denary.
3. Explain the programming construct selection.
4. What Python function would we use for selection?

Lesson Objectives

Conquer: Understand forms of attack and threats posed to a network.

​

Aspire: Evaluate methods to defend against these attacks.​

Malware

Malware comes from two words:​

• Malicious – to cause an act of harm.​
  
• Software – programs that run on the computer.​
  

​

Malware – software designed to damage, disrupt, or gain access to a computer system.​

Malware - Viruses

Computer viruses infect computers​. 

• They replicate their code in other programs​.
• They infect other computers​ if sent to them.
• They harm the computer by deleting,​ corrupting, or modifying files​.

Malware - Worms

Computer viruses infect computers​. 

• They replicate their code without needing other programs​ to attach to.

• They might not harm the computer, but they slow everything down as they replicate using up more of the computer/network resources​.

Malware - Trojan Horse

There is ​a story that during the Trojan War, the Greeks made a ​wooden horse and hid men inside.​

Computer Trojans are similar:​

• They have a program, game or cracked​ file which
  is something the user wants​.
• They have negative program code which​ causes
  damage, takes control, or provides​ access to the
  computer​.

Malware - Ransomware

Ransomware is software which:​

• Holds a computer hostage by locking or ​encrypting access to it​.
• If the data is encrypted, not even​ a cyber security professional will ​be able to recover the data unless ​backups are available​.
• Once a ransom is paid to the ​attacker, access is restored (sometimes)​.

Ransomware Article

Why do you think the ransomware attacking key infrastructure is important?

Tyler goes to a website that says that it will supply cracked software that doesn’t need a licence. After installing the software, the user is pleased as it works as expected. They notice later that many adverts display on their computer.

1. Virus
2. Worm
3. Trojan
4. Ransomware

Leila clicked on a file in an email attachment. Today, when she turned on her computer it said that all her files are now encrypted. She has been given 24 hours to pay one bitcoin to unencrypt the files.

1. Virus
2. Worm
3. Trojan
4. Ransomware

Richard has downloaded a file from the Internet and run it. After a short while he has noticed that many of the files on his computer have been deleted or corrupted.

1. Virus
2. Worm
3. Trojan
4. Ransomware

A program has been written that targets computers on the Internet. It automatically replicates itself, and whilst it doesn’t harm any individual computers, it does slow down the network.

1. Virus
2. Worm
3. Trojan
4. Ransomware

1. What two words are combined make the term malware?
2. Name four types of malware.
3. How does ransomware work?

Exploiting Vulnerabilities

1. Unpatched software 
2. Out-of-date anti-malware 
3. Social Engineering - Asking people for the information.

Phishing

Phishing is a type of social engineering technique.

Emails, texts or phone calls are sent to users commonly pretending to be from a bank or website. 

Phishing

Things to look out for:

• The ‘From’ email address may be forged
• These messages will try to getpersonal information such as:
• Usernames
• Passwords
• Credit cards details
• Other personal information

Phishing