Beginners Guide to Network Security

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The guide below explains some of the most common issues which everyone faces on internet. Anyhow we all are working on large network directly or indirectly interconnected with each other. The day travels on anonymous mode which only geeks can understand. The guide here is made to explain you in a simple way, how the network works and what are the exploits. You can manage your network security within some tips below, it doesn’t matter either you are an individual or group of large network. Without going in much technical reference, I tried to maintain the quality as simple as I can. Before going for some precaution you must learn why to apply. Some of the precaution is not needed to all of us, but some are really crucial as per our usage. For example for an individual user spending on costly hardware security tools with software packages is not worth. As they mostly deal with mails and social networking. But for a group of enterprise it becomes necessary to keep the network simpler and to implant the best security at any cost. DATA matters here. AS the internet is ever expanding, we are more engaged with the e-commerce, and surfing habits. Social networking gave a boost to user behavior towards webs, where they stated to discuss openly.

I cannot say only a specific term is responsible to boom net, no, before email where the cause, then cames websites and now social networking which has given a vast platform to billions of people to communicate share and stay in touch. Network are becoming common today, doesn’t matter on what you are. Either mobile or web everything are sharing a common platform. Here the matter arises is of privacy. Are you secure enough to keep your discussion private. Who guarantee this. No one I think. Anyhow you preferences are saved by cookies and related ads are served to you via many sources. I hate popups that simply are good for nothing. Why to force a user if he doesn’t wants to buy the stuff. As the companies are aware that a number of users spend a number of specific times on internet and they indulge to go in some practices which gave rise to spam, adware, spyware, etc. Surely this is not a black hat technique, but sponsored by the entities itself. Or else we would never see fashion ads.

Right now it is a matter of concern to figure that you are adequately safe on the web. Especially when you are carrying out banking transactions or sending/receiving important documents. I will also not say that all are safe, but some due to some security exploit you remain unaware about the upcoming attacks. AS the version of security software packages are upgrading, the viruses are too upgrading. It is the not the time, when a worm runs in your land and the old antivirus can do nothing. But virus developers become smarter. What I noticed that today rather than destroying the business has become more on spamming. Capture a number of traffic in less time is what mostly does. To avoid such stuff there are some simple precaution you can carry out. A system can be attack via various modes like removable driver, internet, any personal errors, etc.

Even after some much risk and issues we find internet as one of the faster and safest mode. The reason is the flexibility and support. If there is any kind of network breach, security agencies does not stay behind. They act on the same so that is not repeated again protecting the interest of user. Due to application of more secure networks it has become easier to work safely without much technical knowledge. It is really a pain to go and read first about network security and then surf. More innovative gadgets like smartphones, tablets have given more convenience to users. But that does not mean that you are safe from any kind of security breaches. No they too come in the same line.

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Common threats:

DATA Loss:

This will lie in the top of my list. Whatever may the cause but data loss is the most crucial part which is ignored many time. An individual cannot think or spend like an enterprise to deal the best way to avoid DATA loss. But he might go on web get an antivirus and stay relief. DATA loss affects everyone. Either you are on a public network or private network or internet. Hacker’s tries to create some kind of automated scripts which captures UN protected computers and affects them. Many of us are never aware what is going inside the system. Commercial operating system like Windows is highly targeted while open source community like Linux is complicated and safer. A virus is a malicious code which tends to destroy your system or theft your valuable information. Here DATA doesn’t means any image or video or document, but your user id and password, your banking login information, your credit card details, etc.

All comes under this. That is why it is always recommended never to use your credit card or banking stuff on local computers like Cyber Café’s public hotspot, etc. You can protect yourself with a good antivirus package which can give your internet security with power encryption support. Under such stuff no one can trace your data.

Virus and malicious code

A simple way to describe virus is something which knows your security flaw. An operating system or software has many security flaws. That can be due to improper coding, poor development, bugs, etc. This security flaws are base of virus. They act on this only. The hackers know how to exploit such kind of flaws. They enter your system via automated malicious code which in return causes great damages. This is the reason why updates are released every month. Companies research on various flaws in their tools and send updates so that it can be fixed and a user remains updated. Those who use pirated software lacks this support. Because pirated software’s are not allowed to get free updates. They are more insecure and buggy. If you have a personal computer or a laptop, I will advice you to buy only license copy of software. It is bug free and you are enabling to receive updates.

Many of use torrents to get free software’s. We blindly use cracks and keygens to activate the commercial product illegally. Keygens and cracks are loaded with Trojan, worms, and other more dangerous threats. Much time you might have noticed that antivirus catches the keygen as a security threat. When you allow such stuff on your system, you give a direct address of your system to the hacker. You are blindly accepting to get looted. This is your fault and no one is responsible for this. You cannot blame the software or the operating system for the loss caused to you. Also you will come the legal penalties of software company rights. A virus has a capacity to travel from one system to another and infect it. It keeps on multiplying unless the entire system is down or unless you are completely screwed up. So it is better that you take some precaution before getting into troubles.

Trojans

I want to define this separately. Trojans are carriers. They are specially scripted lightweight programs which can be on the web, can be embedded inside a file or even can come in email attachments. They are carriers of malicious code. The motive of this Trojan is to deliver malicious code in your system. They act as a link between the hacker and your system. Trojans carries capacity to delete data, download other malicious files from internet, etc. So you must understand this and if you get a Trojan indication on your system be alert. Do not go and run suspicious files or open mail attachments directly without scanning. Many Trojans are capable to hide them from antivirus scanning.

There are many more types of attacks, but going in detail and stretching this guide is not worth. It is enough to get understood why you should go for security precaution. Do not buy security packages and load on your system killing the performance. It should be wisely chosen and the correct security package without any extra add-ons should be considered. You surely not needing an advance email encryption service, or remote monitoring, etc.

Some Basic to Eliminate Threats:

Following are some basic tips which can be much better in eliminating threats. There are number of things below which are needed to be concerned and followed.

Firewall

The best and starting procedure. Firewall is a blockage. It is an invisible wall which works in the background and stops unauthorized access from web or network. It is important never to disable this. Many gamers disable firewall to play freely, but they are indirectly opening doors for the intruders. Many operating systems come with inbuilt firewall support to give you basic level security. Firewall is an invisible security support for your system. It acts as a door blocker. It does not allow secure information to go out of your system or any malicious code to connect with others. So if you are on internet never disable this.

Windows operating system has inbuilt Firewall and continuous update support. Keep them on. So that if you face any kind of error or bug then you can run the updates to get it fixed back again. Firewall also allows you to choose access to number of connections. So you must play with the settings to get familiar with it, because sometime it becomes really irritating to configure a Firewall.

Antivirus Package

Today we have number of antivirus programs. They are divided into internet security suite or single desktop packages, single user protection, email protection, etc. It is important to determine the right package you want. Do not go for costly suite with multi user pack and tons of features which you will never use. A simple Antivirus with firewall and internet security support is more than enough for a single user. It also does not put much load on your system also. And if you are a bigger network then you will need to buy a multi user antivirus package with more features which consist of a powerful Firewall, authentication system, etc. Another thing, never go for manual updates. Keep them on automatic mode. Because many time updates are released after a kind of virus attack on web or after some kind of security breach news. Many companies actively work on that and provide support. So if you check only in the end of month, then you stay a big behind from the current updates. Due to regular update, your system stays more secure.

A better antivirus package provides you maximum solution for customization. You have option to keep filters as per the active threats. But there is one more threat which has become successful in by passing the security. That is malware. A malware stays safely in your pc. It is a lighter version. The motive of such security threats are redirecting you to different sites, ads popups, spamming, etc. So updates here play the roles. Updates give power to antivirus to find the hidden threats and deal with the same.