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Unit-2 (CSCL)

Cyber security and law

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Shagun Dhiman
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
9 views8 pages

Unit-2 (CSCL)

Cyber security and law

Uploaded by

Shagun Dhiman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CYBER SECURITY VULNERABILITIES:

Cybersecurity vulnerabilities are weaknesses or defects in computer


systems, software, or networks that could be exploited by cyber criminals
to gain unauthorized access, steal sensitive information, or cause harm.
Examples include:

 Unpatched software or operating systems


 Weak passwords
 Social engineering attacks
 SQL injection
 Cross-site scripting (XSS)
 Remote code execution
 Insufficient network security
 Malware infections
 Lack of encryption
 Phishing attacks.

It is important to regularly update software, use strong passwords, and


implement proper security measures to mitigate these vulnerabilities and
protect against cyber attacks.

VULNERABILITIES IN SOFTWARE:
Vulnerabilities in software can refer to a number of weaknesses or defects
in software that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized
access, steal sensitive information, or cause harm. Some common types
of software vulnerabilities include:

 Unpatched software or operating systems


 Buffer overflows
 Improper input validation
 Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
 SQL Injection
 Remote code execution
 Code Injection
 Insufficient logging and monitoring
 Use of outdated software libraries
 Lack of encryption

It is important to regularly update software, follow secure coding


practices, and properly test software before deployment to minimize
these vulnerabilities and protect against cyber attacks.

PROXY SERVERS AND ANONYMIZERS:


Proxy servers and anonymizers are tools used to enhance privacy and
security on the internet.

A proxy server acts as a mediator between a client and a server,


forwarding requests from clients to servers and returning responses from
servers to clients. By using a proxy server, the client's IP address and
other sensitive information are hidden from the server and other entities
on the internet. This can be useful for bypassing firewalls or censorship, or
for protecting against eavesdropping and other privacy concerns.

Anonymizers, also known as anonymous proxies, are a type of proxy


server that provide anonymity by hiding the client's IP address and other
identifying information from servers and other entities on the internet.
Anonymizers can be used for a variety of purposes, including protecting
privacy, bypassing censorship, and hiding one's location while accessing
content or services online.

It is important to note that while proxy servers and anonymizers can


provide some level of privacy and security, they may also introduce new
risks. For example, the proxy server or anonymizer itself could be
compromised, or the operator of the service could be collecting and
storing data about users. Therefore, it is important to choose proxy
servers and anonymizers from reputable providers and to carefully
consider the risks and benefits before using them.

PHISHING:
Phishing is a type of cyber attack that aims to trick individuals into giving
up sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or other
personal details, by posing as a trustworthy entity. Phishing attacks are
often carried out through emails or instant messages that appear to come
from a reputable source, such as a bank, an online retailer, or a social
media site. The attacker may use the information obtained from a
phishing attack to steal the victim's identity, access sensitive information,
or steal money.

Phishing attacks can be highly effective, as they often rely on social


engineering techniques to exploit the trust of the victim. To defend
against phishing attacks, it is important to be cautious when receiving
emails or messages that ask for sensitive information, to look for telltale
signs of phishing (such as misspelled words or strange URLs), and to use
strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication whenever
possible.

PASSWORD CRACKING:
Password cracking is a method used by attackers to gain unauthorized
access to sensitive information by cracking or decoding passwords. This
can be done using various techniques, such as:

 Brute force attack: An automated process that tries every possible


combination of characters until the correct password is found.
 Dictionary attack: An automated process that uses a list of
commonly used passwords and their variations to crack the
password.
 Rainbow table attack: A pre-computed table of hashes of all possible
passwords, used to crack hashes of actual passwords in a short
amount of time.
 Social engineering attack: An attacker tricks a user into revealing
their password through pretexting, phishing, or baiting.

To defend against password cracking, it is important to use strong


passwords that are long and contain a mixture of upper and lowercase
letters, numbers, and symbols. It is also recommended to use two-factor
authentication, regularly change passwords, and avoid using the same
password for multiple accounts.

KEYLOGGERS AND SPYWARES:


Keyloggers and spyware are types of malicious software that can be used
to compromise privacy and security on a computer or network.

A keylogger is a type of software that records every keystroke made on a


computer, including passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive
information. Keyloggers can be installed on a computer without the user's
knowledge and can be used to steal sensitive information or monitor a
user's activity.

Spyware is a type of malicious software that is designed to collect data


from a computer and transmit it to a third party without the user's
knowledge or consent. Spyware can be used for a variety of purposes,
such as stealing sensitive information, tracking a user's activity, or
displaying unwanted advertisements.

To defend against keyloggers and spyware, it is important to use a


reputable antivirus and anti-malware software, keep software and
operating systems up to date, be cautious when downloading attachments
or installing software from untrusted sources, and regularly back up
important data.

VIRUS AND WORMS:


A virus and a worm are both types of malicious software (malware) that
can harm computer systems and networks.

A virus is a piece of code that is designed to replicate itself and spread to


other computers. A virus can cause harm to a computer system by
deleting files, stealing sensitive information, or disrupting the normal
operation of the system. A virus typically requires the user to take some
action, such as opening an infected email attachment or running an
infected program, in order for it to spread.

A worm is a type of malware that is designed to spread itself


automatically, without the need for user interaction. A worm can spread
rapidly across a network, consuming bandwidth and slowing down
systems. A worm can also cause harm by deleting files, stealing sensitive
information, or allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to a
network.

To defend against viruses and worms, it is important to use a reputable


antivirus and anti-malware software, keep software and operating
systems up to date, be cautious when downloading attachments or
installing software from untrusted sources, and regularly back up
important data. Additionally, it is important to implement good network
security practices, such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention
systems, and security patches, to prevent worms from spreading across a
network.

TROJAN HORSE AND BACKDOORS:


A Trojan horse and a backdoor are both types of malicious software
(malware) that can harm computer systems and networks.

A Trojan horse is a type of malware that is disguised as a legitimate


software program or file. When the user downloads and runs the disguised
program or file, the Trojan horse is installed on the computer and can
carry out various malicious activities, such as stealing sensitive
information, taking control of the system, or allowing an attacker to gain
unauthorized access to the network.

A backdoor is a type of malware that provides a hidden entry point into a


computer system or network. A backdoor allows an attacker to gain
unauthorized access to the system or network, bypass security measures,
and perform malicious activities, such as stealing sensitive information or
installing additional malware.

To defend against Trojan horses and backdoors, it is important to use a


reputable antivirus and anti-malware software, keep software and
operating systems up to date, be cautious when downloading attachments
or installing software from untrusted sources, and regularly back up
important data. Additionally, it is important to implement good network
security practices, such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention
systems, and security patches, to prevent unauthorized access to the
network.

STEGANOGRAPHY:
Steganography is the practice of concealing information within other, seemingly harmless
information. In the context of cyber security, steganography can be used to hide sensitive
information within digital files, such as images, audio files, or videos, to avoid detection by
security systems. The goal of steganography is to hide the very existence of the embedded
information, making it difficult for unauthorized parties to detect and extract it.

Steganography can be used for both malicious and benign purposes. For example, it can be
used by attackers to hide malicious code within seemingly harmless files, making it difficult
for security systems to detect. On the other hand, it can also be used by journalists, activists,
or military personnel to conceal sensitive information from oppressive governments or
organizations.

To detect and prevent the use of steganography, it is important to use tools and techniques
that are specifically designed to detect hidden information within digital files, such as digital
forensics tools and steganalysis software. Additionally, it is important to implement good
security practices, such as regular monitoring and audit of file systems, to detect any
suspicious activity.
DOS AND DDOS ATTACKS:
A Denial of Service (DoS) and a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
attack are types of cyber attacks that aim to disrupt the normal
functioning of a computer system or network.

A DoS attack is a type of attack that involves overwhelming a single


system with a high volume of traffic or requests, causing it to become
unavailable to legitimate users. This is achieved by exploiting
vulnerabilities in the target system or network, or by sending a high
volume of traffic to the target, effectively saturating its resources and
rendering it unavailable.

A DDoS attack is similar to a DoS attack, but it involves multiple systems


(the "distributed" part of the name) attacking the target simultaneously,
making it even more difficult for the target to defend against the attack. A
DDoS attack can involve thousands or even millions of systems, all
coordinated to attack a single target.

To defend against DoS and DDoS attacks, it is important to implement


good network security practices, such as firewalls, intrusion detection and
prevention systems, and security patches. Additionally, using network
traffic filtering and limiting the amount of incoming traffic that is accepted
by a system can also help to mitigate the impact of DoS and DDoS
attacks. Some organizations also use cloud-based services that provide
protection against DDoS attacks by filtering and mitigating the traffic
before it reaches the target system.

SQL INJECTION:
SQL Injection is a type of security vulnerability that allows attackers to
execute malicious SQL code on a database server through user input. It
occurs when user-supplied data is not properly validated and sanitized
before being used in a SQL query, allowing attackers to inject malicious
SQL code into the query that can be executed by the database server.

SQL injection attacks can be used to steal sensitive information, such as


passwords and credit card numbers, from a database, modify or delete
data, or even take control of the entire database server. The
consequences of a successful SQL injection attack can be severe, ranging
from the theft of sensitive information to the complete compromise of a
system or network.

To prevent SQL injection attacks, it is important to validate and sanitize all


user-supplied data before using it in a SQL query. This can be achieved by
using prepared statements or parameterized queries, which separate the
user-supplied data from the SQL code, and prevent malicious code from
being executed by the database server. Additionally, implementing good
database security practices, such as using strong authentication and
limiting the privileges of the database user, can also help to prevent SQL
injection attacks.

BUFFER OVERFLOW:
A buffer overflow is a type of security vulnerability that occurs when a
program attempts to store more data in a buffer (a temporary storage
area) than it can hold, causing the extra data to overflow into adjacent
memory locations. This can cause the program to crash or behave
unpredictably, and in some cases, can be used by an attacker to execute
malicious code or take control of the system.

A buffer overflow vulnerability can occur when a program does not


properly validate the size of the data being stored in a buffer, allowing an
attacker to send more data than the buffer can hold. This extra data can
overwrite adjacent memory locations, including data structures and
program instructions, causing the program to behave in unexpected ways.
In some cases, the attacker can use this behavior to execute malicious
code, steal sensitive information, or take control of the system.

To prevent buffer overflow attacks, it is important to follow secure coding


practices, such as properly validating the size of data being stored in a
buffer, using safe string functions that limit the size of input data, and
using safe memory management functions, such as those provided by C
Standard Library's "safe" functions. Additionally, implementing data
execution prevention (DEP) or address space layout randomization (ASLR)
can help to prevent the exploitation of buffer overflow vulnerabilities.

ATTACK ON WIRELESS NETWORKS:


Wireless networks are vulnerable to a variety of security threats, including
the following:

1. Unauthorized access: An attacker can gain unauthorized access to a


wireless network by intercepting and decoding the data transmitted
over the airwaves.
2. Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks: An attacker can intercept and
modify the data transmitted between a wireless client and an
access point, allowing the attacker to steal sensitive information or
inject malicious code into the communication.
3. Rogue access points: An attacker can set up a rogue access point
that appears to be legitimate but is actually controlled by the
attacker, allowing the attacker to steal sensitive information or
inject malicious code into the communication.
4. Denial of Service (DoS) attacks: An attacker can flood a wireless
network with traffic, making it unavailable to legitimate users.
5. WPA/WPA2 cracking: An attacker can use cracking tools to break the
encryption on a wireless network, allowing the attacker to steal
sensitive information or inject malicious code into the
communication.

To protect against these and other threats, it is important to implement


strong security measures for wireless networks, such as using strong
encryption (e.g., WPA2), using strong passwords for access points,
regularly changing the passwords, and disabling unused network services.
Additionally, it is important to regularly monitor the network for
unauthorized access and to keep the wireless network and the devices
connected to it up-to-date with security patches and software updates.

IDENTITY THEFT (ID THEFT):


Identity theft is a type of fraud in which an attacker uses someone else's
personal information, such as their name, Social Security number, or
credit card information, to impersonate the victim and commit fraud or
other crimes. The attacker may use the stolen information to open new
credit accounts, make purchases, or apply for loans or other financial
products in the victim's name.

Identity theft can occur through various means, including:


1. Phishing scams: Attackers can trick victims into giving away their
personal information through fake emails, text messages, or
websites.
2. Data breaches: Attackers can steal personal information from
companies or organizations that store sensitive information, such as
credit bureaus, banks, or retailers.
3. Malware: Attackers can install malicious software on a victim's
device to steal personal information, such as login credentials, bank
account numbers, and other sensitive information.

To prevent identity theft, it is important to protect personal information by


using strong passwords and regularly changing them, being cautious
when giving out personal information online, using anti-virus software and
a firewall, and regularly monitoring financial accounts for unauthorized
transactions. Additionally, it is important to be proactive and place a fraud
alert or security freeze on your credit report if you suspect your
information has been compromised.

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