Broadband is a telecommunications signal with a broader bandwidth. For the Internet, Broadband can supply a much higher data rate than dial-up modems, usually more than double the 56 kbit/s rate. A major issue for Broadband uses is the issue of computer security. There are many viruses, malwares, spywares, and other threats on the Internet. Here’s a comprehensive computer security resource guide for broadband users, covering cryptography, wireless security, social engineering, hacking, cracking, and more.
Security Links
- Home Network Security: The page provides information on computer security, technology, computer security risks, and more.
- Broadband Security Concerns: Norton outlines some of the issues regarding computer security for broadband users.
- National Broadband Plan: The official website with information on the plan, consumer resources, and more.
- Broadband Awareness: The State of Michigan provides help, tips, tools, updates, and more for broadband users.
- Broadband Security: The page offers tips, tools, and action procedures for Internet users.
- Keeping Broadband Internet Secure: The Multi State Information Sharing and Analysis Center provides information on how to keep broadband connection secure.
- Wi-Fi Security Tips: The page provides tips to protect wireless network from hackers.
- Wireless Security: The State University of New Jersey Rutgers provides recommendations on wireless security.
Cryptography
Cryptography is basically the conversion of digital data into a scrambled code. The code is sent across to a different computer in a network. The scrambled data is subsequently deciphered by the other computer. Cryptography can be of two forms: symmetric and asymmetric. Computer cryptography uses different types of binary formats to scramble data.
- Cryptography: The page offers information on cryptography history, cryptography components, government involvement, and more.
- Cryptography’s Role in Securing the Information Society: A place to read the entire text for free.
- About Cryptography: The University of Rhode Island provides a comprehensive overview of cryptography.
- Cryptography & Network Security: The page provides information cryptography and related security issues.
Wireless Security
The use of wireless networks for preventing unauthorized access to a computer or computers in a network is called wireless network security. Wireless networks are prone to security vulnerabilities. Experienced hackers can break into wireless networks very easily. To counter the threat, wireless security policies have been made to enforce the installation of wireless intrusion prevention systems. The original wireless encryption standard was called WEP or Wired Equivalent Privacy. WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access, an improved version of WEP. SSID stands for Service Set Identifier, which is a unique identifier attached to WLAN packets.
- Setting Tips: Follow these settings to enhance wireless security in the home.
- Wireless Technology: The U.S. CERT provides information on how to use wireless technology in a secure way.
- WPA: The Wi-Fi Alliance provides information on Wi-Fi Protected Access.
- WEP SSID: The Idaho State University provides instructions on configuring WEP and SSID.
Social Engineering
Social engineering can be described as an act to trick people into disclosing confidential information. Social engineering has a similar objective to technical cracking where confidential data such as banking passwords is stolen by means of gaining trust from individuals. Phishing is one such social engineering technique which uses fake websites or emails of genuine financial institutions, in order to acquire the victim’s username and password.
- Social Engineering: The site presents comprehensive information on social engineering.
- Prevent Social Engineering: UCLA offers some suggestions to help prevent social engineering.
- Phishing: The University of Arizona provides essential information on phishing.
- Stop Phishing: The Indiana University page is dedicated to the prevention of phishing.
- Phishing Fraud: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission provides tips to avoid getting phished.
Virus Malware Spyware
Malware is malicious software which helps in giving secret access to a computer system without the owner’s awareness. Malware is a hostile computer program which generally gets installed in a computer without the knowledge of the user. Virus, adware, and spyware are different types of malware.
- What is a Computer Virus?: The U.S. Department of Energy provides an overview of computer viruses.
- Viruses, Spyware & Malware: M.I.T. offers some information on these computer security threats.
- How to Prevent Virus: The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology provides some tips to help prevent viruses.
- Remove Malware: The Information Network Security Agency offers instructions on how to remove malware.
Hacking/Cracking
A hacker is a proficient computer programmer who is aware of the intricacies and loopholes of certain computer programs. Hackers are sometimes deployed by large IT companies to test the vulnerability of new software so it’s legal to be hacker. On the other hand, a cracker is a hacker who uses his or her programming knowledge to perform activities which are outside the law. Programmers who design and distribute computer virus or steal sensitive data are called crackers.
- Computer Hacking: The article by David M. Stone offers a good overview and analysis on the subject.
- Prevent Hacking: The Greater Manchester Police provides some suggestions to prevent Internet hacking.
- Hacking Techniques: IBM offers a rundown on hacking techniques as well as a prevention checklist.
- How to Be a Hacker: Eric Steven Raymond shows how anybody can be a hacker.
VPN
VPN or virtual private network is a type of computer network which offer users secure access to an organization’s data with the help of public telecommunication infrastructure. In comparison to leased lines, it’s an inexpensive system. Tunneling protocol is the basis of the virtual private network technology. Tunneling technology facilitates a secure data path through networks which are not trusted.
- VPN: The page provides basic information on virtual private networking.
- VPN How To: The site provides instructions on setting up a virtual private network for Linux users.
- VPN Tunneling Protocols: MSN provides comprehensive information on the subject.
- VPN Client FAQ: The University of Arizona offers a list of frequently asked questions to help users to set up Cisco VPN 5.0 client.
Access Control
Access control is a system which allows the user to gain access to particular areas in a computer based information system. From the perspective of computer security, access control serves as a second layer of security. Access control also acts as security of physical structures.
- Role-Based Access Control: The paper discusses some aspects of the approach for the Internet.
- Web Page Access Control: Dartmouth Computing offers information on the process using PKI.
- Proof Carrying Authorization: The paper by Ljudevit Bauer examines the viability of web access control by proof carrying authorization.
DoS Attacks
A denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) and a distributed denial-of-service attack (DdoS attack) are attacks which prevent the users of a particular computer resource from accessing the data in the resource. The objective of denial-of-service attack and distributed denial-of-service attack is to hinder the smooth functioning of an Internet site or web based service. DoS attacks are common in web servers which handle credit card payment gateways or online banking.
- DoS: The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team provides information on denial-of-service attack.
- Strategies: CISCO provides a number of ways to prevent TCP SYN DoS attacks.
- Defenses Against DDoS: The article by Gary C. Kessler provides some solutions against DDoS attacks.
- Scans & DDoS Attacks: The page presents an overview of DDoS scan activity.