COMP10001 Foundations of Computing

Introduction 

In this generation, the companies are accessing computing networks and emerging technologies that are capable to perform business operations and activities significantly. The uses of computing networks and communication channels reduce business problems in less time but also increase security risks and a threat that impact on organizational privacy and performance. The presence of security risks increases hacking and data breach problems in the workplace. As a junior ICT worker, it is important to review security threats from the organization and computing networks. Mainly, three types of cyber-attacks occur for example malware, phishing and social engineering. The aim of the research is to critically review such security threats along with their working operations and suggest effective plans in order to reduce environmental impacts and safety problems.

Task 1: Security threats and attacks

Definitions of malware, phishing and social engineering attacks 

The uses of computing networks and systems are growing rapidly in Shady Pastures where computing devices and communication channels are used in order to perform daily activities. The hackers are capable to target computing networks and produce cyber-attacks.

Malware is defined as a security attack that is implemented in computer networks using malicious tools and programs. Using malicious codes, hackers are capable to perform unauthorized activities on computer systems and networks (Bin, et al., 2019). It is one of the common cyber-attacks that have the potential to access computing devices used by the users and produce security risks and unwanted signals. Mainly, virus and worms are common malware threats linked with the computer networks that enable the hackers to target connectivity and spread malware signals from one server to another. In terms of security, the connected computer networks and servers by the residents are not secured and effective where the hackers can perform malware-related activities and decrease the privacy of the communication channels and phone calls.

Phishing refers to the security threat which is mainly implemented by hackers in order to access and gain personal details and login credentials of the users and their computer systems. It occurs when the hackers transfer spam or fraud signals to the victims over the communication channels and networks so that accessibility can be reduced (Ghazi-Tehrani, and Pontell, 2021). In the case of Shady Pastures, the communication networks like emails, webservers and phone calls can be hacked using phishing attack.

Social engineering is a security term where cyber-criminals transfer malicious codes and unwanted signals to computer systems that impact on privacy and produce hacking problems. With the help of social engineering networks, the residents of Shady Pastures can be suffered from hacking problems and connected servers and networks with computer systems can be affected easily. Therefore, all these are major cyber-attacks and threats associated with the computer networks and systems used by residents in Shady Pastures.

Phishing attack 

Phishing refers to the fraudulent attempt to the computer systems and communication networks in order to gain accessibility and login credentials of the devices. In the case of Shady Pastures, the users access computing networks, mobile devices and communication channels for data transmission where phishing threats can be performed for obtaining sensitive information. In this attack, the hackers require to connect malicious networks with the computer servers through remote access and transfer spam signals that reduce confidentiality of the connected systems easily (Gupta, Arachchilage, and Psannis, 2018). Personal details including contact numbers, addresses, login credentials of the computing devices and financial details can be accessed by hackers using phishing threats.

Types of phishing 

Spear phishing

It is a type of phishing attack where the cyber-criminals targets a particular group or individuals including administrators and departments of the companies. Such kind of attack is mainly performed and implemented in the companies in order to affect the privacy and connectivity of the computer networks (Lohani, 2019). In order to perform such an attack, the hackers need to develop third party networks using malicious codes so that remote accessibility against users' networks can be provided and privacy can be affected.

Smishing phishing

It is another phishing technique used by hackers for gaining the personal details of users and companies. In this cyber-attack, the hackers' use spam messages and SMS which are developed based on the phishing programs and transfer to the employees or users by which the privacy of the databases can be reduced (Mokoena, Zuva, and Appiah, 2020). The transferred messages contain the hacking programs by which the cyber-criminals can perform unauthorized activities in less time.

Email phishing

It is one of the common phishing techniques used by hackers where spam mails and fraud signals are transferred to the victims over the email servers and communication channels. Due to improper knowledge, the users access spam emails and provided links in their computer systems that enable the hackers to gain login credentials. Using email phishing, the hackers can access communication channels and databases of the companies and users easily.

Type of phishing more likely to be used 

It is demonstrated that email and smishing both phishing attacks are more likely to be used by the hackers for accessing personal details of the residents in Shady Pastures as these techniques enable the hackers to transfer spam signals to the communication channels. Most of the residents access to email and mobile devices for communication where hackers can perform these types of cyber-incidents easily.

Type of phishing least likely to be used

Spear type of phishing is least likely to be used against residents as it is less capable and effective for the residents and can be applied to companies only. Using this attack, the private details of the residents cannot be hacked and communication channels cannot be accessed by the hackers.

Difference between malware and social engineering attacks

The major difference is that malware uses malicious codes in order to perform unauthorized activities over the computer networks while social engineering attack transfers spam signals that impact on the privacy (Qbeitah, and Aldwairi, 2018). In terms of effectiveness, malware is more effective from the viewpoint of hacking as compared to the social engineering attack due to which the hackers mainly develop malware threats and increase data breach problems. Unlike social engineering attack, malware threats do not have to rely on trickery to harm or affect the computer networks used by the victims.

Relation between phishing and social engineering attacks

A phishing attack is completely related to the social engineering attack where both these attacks transfer spam signals to the computing networks and communication channels used by the victims. With the help of social engineering and phishing attacks, hackers can affect the privacy of the residents and their computing systems easily. However, the major difference is that social engineering attack requires downloading malicious codes into the computer networks of the residents but phishing attack transfer fraud emails that contain hacking activities by which login credentials can be gained without knowledge of the users. In the case of Shady Pastures, phishing is a major cyber-attack that can be implemented by the hackers over the websites and email servers used by the residents by which messages, personal details can be explored.

Task 2: Safety and environmental issues

Reduce environmental impacts

There are the following ways that can be used by Shady Pastures and residents in order to reduce environmental impacts of networks and ICT technologies:

Re-use devices and networks 

It is demonstrated that the uses of computing devices and networks are growing quickly and residents are accessing communication networks based on computer systems, hardware and networks. E-waste is a major environmental problem that can be produced due to the uses of computer networks and devices. It is recommended that residents of Shady Pastures should re-utilize the computer networks and devices in order to manage e-wastage related problems and reduce environmental impacts. There are numerous computing devices that can be used by the residents for developing effective systems and networks where previous routers, mobile devices and communication channels can be used.

Use renewable energy sources

The uses of computing devices and database systems require more energy for performing operations that can produce pollution and environmental problems in the workplace. In Shady Pastures, the residents’ access computer networks and internet servers where larger data storage systems are used that consume more power as compared to the computing devices. In order to manage and reduce such problems, it is recommended that Shady Pastures should use renewable energy sources in order to access database systems and storage elements so that power consumption problems can be managed. The renewable energy source like solar energy is more effective and reliable by which the energy can be generated and distributed over the larger computer networks and database systems.

Be reasonable with the cloud and online storage 

The residents mainly access mobile devices and social media networks in order to perform online streaming related activities where cloud-based servers are used for storing data and details of the users. It is important for Shady Pastures to focuses on cloud storage and online storage where limited databases and cloud storages should be used so that data storing and larger power distribution networks can be reduced (Salahdine, and Kaabouch, 2019). Therefore, all these are major ways and steps that can be followed by Shady Pastures in order to reduce the environmental impacts of networks and ICT technologies.

Increase the safety of the data and devices 

There are the following security techniques and strategies that can be implemented by Shady Pastures and users in order to improve the safety of the data and computing devices:

Develop risk assessment plans 

It is recommended that companies and residents in Shady Pastures should develop proper risk assessment plans while accessing ICT and computer networks so that the internal risks and threats can be identified. A NIST security framework should be followed as it is capable to focuses on the identification, monitoring, recovery and response against cyber-attacks from computer networks. With the help of this strategy, the safety of the collected data and computing networks or devices can be improved in a significant manner.

Update software/systems regularly and include strong passwords 

The included computer systems and software should be updated regularly as the oldest systems are not capable to defend against security bugs and errors (Simoiu, et al., 2019). Moreover, the residents should ensure that the connected communication channels and systems are updated in a secured manner so that insider threats can be managed. It is suggested that simple passwords applied to the computer systems should be changed and strong or complex passwords should be applied to the computer systems so that residents can handle malware and phishing threats effectively.

Apply anti-phishing tools and firewalls

It is recommended that Shady Pastures and residents should apply anti-phishing tools to the web servers and communication channels so that the spam and unwanted signals shared by the hackers can be managed. Moreover, firewall filters should be implemented to the websites and computing networks in order to detect and address the traffic signals related to the internet servers (Thomas, 2018). Therefore, all these are effective and reliable methods and measures by which the safety of the personal details and computer systems used by residents can be improved.

Conclusion

From the above identification, it may be summarized that the computer networks and servers should be connected with the secured systems so that residents of Shady Pastures can protect data and personal details from hackers. It is found that in terms of security, the connected computer networks and servers by the residents are not secured and effective where the hackers can perform malware-related activities and decrease privacy of the communication channels and phone calls. Using email phishing, the hackers can access communication channels and databases of the companies and users easily. It is suggested that simple passwords applied to the computer systems should be changed and strong or complex passwords should be applied to the computer systems so that residents can handle malware and phishing threats effectively.

References

Bin Othman Mustafa, M.S., Kabir, M.N., Ernawan, F. and Jing, W., (2019) An enhanced model for increasing awareness of vocational students against phishing attacks. In 2019 IEEE international conference on automatic control and intelligent systems (I2CACIS), pp. 10-14.

Ghazi-Tehrani, A.K. and Pontell, H.N., (2021) Phishing Evolves: Analyzing the Enduring Cybercrime. Victims & Offenders, 16(3), pp.316-342.

Gupta, B.B., Arachchilage, N.A. and Psannis, K.E., (2018) Defending against phishing attacks: taxonomy of methods, current issues and future directions. Telecommunication Systems, 67(2), pp.247-267.

Lohani, S., (2019) Social engineering: Hacking into humans. International Journal of Advanced Studies of Scientific Research, 4(1).

Mokoena, T., Zuva, T. and Appiah, M., (2020) Analysis of Social Engineering Attacks Using Exploit Kits. In Computer Science On-line Conference, pp. 189-204.

Qbeitah, M.A. and Aldwairi, M., (2018) Dynamic malware analysis of phishing emails. In 2018 9th International Conference on Information and Communication Systems (ICICS), pp. 18-24.

Salahdine, F. and Kaabouch, N., (2019) Social engineering attacks: a survey. Future Internet, 11(4), p.89.

Simoiu, C., Zand, A., Thomas, K. and Bursztein, E., (2020) Who is targeted by email-based phishing and malware? Measuring factors that differentiate risk. In Proceedings of the ACM Internet Measurement Conference, pp. 567-576.

Thomas, J., (2018) Individual cybersecurity: Empowering employees to resist spear phishing to prevent identity theft and ransomware attacks. Thomas, JE (2018). Individual cybersecurity: Empowering employees to resist spear phishing to prevent identity theft and ransomware attacks. International Journal of Business Management, 12(3), pp.1-23.

Online exams can be a pain in the head. But, you needn’t worry since our online exam help is here at your disposal. No matter how tough the questions are, we have the right team of experts to help you out. The team guides you through all the questions are you struggling to find an answer to. We will provide you with credible study and research material as well, depending on the question. Besides online exam help, we also provide unmatched quality essay writing services and custom writing assistance. You can also hire qualified ghostwriters from our team and get rid of all academic burdens easily.