Tips for Network Security

Computers, the Internet, and technology at large have become so enmeshed in our daily lives that it is now impossible to imagine life without them. The information age has allowed us to connect with people virtually anywhere on the planet, purchase products & services online, and countless other small conveniences. With these conveniences comes a price: most everyone has a digital footprint, and their data likely exists across various online locations. Despite the myriad technological advances made practically daily and the focus companies place on securing their users' data, no company or individual user is completely immune to security risks. This post will discuss network security and suggest what users can do to protect themselves online. I will also explain how computer malware works and its various forms.

Network security breaches are often caused by security holes in software or an operating system (OS). Technology's malleable, ever-changing nature means that security threats are just as malleable and ever-changing. Thus, expecting all OSes and software to forever protect the user or their network against all threats directly upon installation would be unrealistic. Fixing security issues is one of the primary reasons software manufacturers consistently release updated versions of their products, which typically include patches to account for security holes when they arise. Still, those who create malware or seek to intend harm to users over the Internet tend to be clever and shifty, always finding ways to discover any possible security hole in a network or piece of software.

It is important for network administrators and individual users to understand the dire threats posed by network security issues. Well-publicized major data breaches, such as the 2014 "Sony hack" where a cybercrime group leaked a significant amount of private data on Sony's servers to the public, result from hackers revealing massive security holes. Such data breaches often lead to monetary loss and the exposure of sensitive or otherwise personal information. And while some security threats are overt and incendiary, like the Sony hack, others are more insidious and concealed. Malware, or "malicious software," is software that is either intentionally (and misguidedly) or accidentally downloaded by a user that causes some form of harm to their computer. Examples of malware include viruses (programs that run without the user's permission and are intended to spread & "infect" other computers), trojans (programs that appear legitimate but have a hidden, harmful purpose), and spyware (programs that collect user information without permission). Malware typically forces the receiving computer to do illegal tasks or steal a user's personal information.

Another method hackers and scammers use to antagonize a network or user is a denial of service (DoS) attack. DoS attacks involve sending unreasonable amounts of requests to a server, straining the network and causing it to slow down significantly, if not go down entirely. One of the methods used to administer a DoS attack is a ping flood. "Ping" is a tool available on every standard computer OS that allows the user to confirm connectivity between two networks by manually sending request packets to a receiving server. As the title implies, ping flooding is the act of sending an extreme volume of ping requests to a server – "flooding" the user on the other end – which will eventually cause their network to crash. DoS attacks are typically used for political reasons, to hurt or inconvenience a business, or to prank an individual user. 

Even though the threats I have described are intended to prey on users and the inherent vulnerability of most systems, network administrators and everyday users can do several things to help guard themselves against these issues. A common method is to use antivirus software and a firewall. Antivirus software is designed to actively scan and protect against malware being installed or used, while firewalls block unauthorized network traffic. Antivirus programs can be used to defend against dangerous websites and inadvertently installed software, and firewalls can detect and avert unwanted communications. It is also imperative for users to always ensure their OS and all their software are always up to date. As aforementioned, practically all software is constantly reviewed to look for new security threats and potential holes. Updated software versions intend to fix these issues and protect the user and their system; as an OS or a piece of software becomes more outdated, it becomes exponentially more vulnerable to an attack.

Because we live in an increasingly technological world, using the Internet for practically any use means a user leaves breadcrumbs of personal data just about everywhere they go. For this reason, individuals need to practice common sense when inputting sensitive information online; this need for common sense goes double for network administrators, considering that a deficit in their duties puts countless people at risk. Technology is constantly changing and improving, which means that network security is also continually changing and improving. Unfortunately, this does not mean that software will ever be entirely impervious to a security attack, as the advancement of technology insinuates that bad-faith actors on the Internet are also finding new ways to exploit security issues. This is why network security is essential, and computer users of all stripes have their own roles in protecting themselves and others.