BTEC

2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: iyobel kibreab

Lesson 12 Possible Threats to Data

(Student Book C Pg 1 - 4)

Starter What is malware?

A hostile, intrusive or annoying piece of software or program code.
Malicious Threats

Opportunist Threat

Virus

Threats to data

Trojan horse

Phishing

1. Explain what each of the following threats are:

a. Opportunist
People, who find unattended computer which has been left logged in to a system may view, steal or
damage information, programs or even hardware.
b. Viruses
A computer virus is a malware program that, when executed, replicates by inserting copies of itself
(possibly modified) into other computer programs, data files, or the boot sector of the hard drive.
c. Phishing
The fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce
individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, online.
2. What is considered accidental damage?
An act that accidentally or non-intentionally causes damage
Computer security is an important aspect of online communication however all computer systems are
under continuous threat of attack and the threats are ever changing. It is impossible to provide 100%
protection to a computer system.
3. What are the possible consequences of an attack?
a. Identity theft could cause problems with obtaining loans and other contractual agreements.
b. Organizations which trade online have to build up a reputation for being a secure organization with
secure network access. If this reputation is damaged, potential customers might be put off, costing the
business money.

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BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: iyobel kibreab

c. When an organisations secrets are spread to competitors or to the wider public, any particular
advantage the organisation has will be lost.
d. Disclosure of information could cause legal problems. A company can be sued by its customers if it
sells their personal information or fails to protect it properly. The obligations of organisations to protect
customers data are covered by the Data Protection Act (1998)
4. It is important to protect computer systems and their data. Match the following preventative actions to
the correct description.
Physical Barrier
Passwords

Access Levels

Anti-virus Software

Firewall

Encryption

This is set up to intercept computer viruses before they can

become resident on the computer. The software can isolate
the virus, remove it and sometimes repair any damage.
These can be set up to allow individuals to have access to
only specific levels of an application and to prevent
unauthorized users from accessing particular data.
This is used to codify data so that it cannot be read by
anyone who does not have the key to the code. An
algorithm, sometimes known as a cipher, is applied to the
data at the transmission end and the reverse is applied at
the reception end.
This is a piece of software that monitors all data arriving at
your computer from the internet and all data leaving your
computer. It stops anything that it thinks is harmful or
unwanted (such as viruses, spam, Trojan horses and
hackers).
These include turning off computers and locking offices
when the systems are unattended to prevent damage by
people, the environment (e.g. fire, flooding, electrical
interference) or theft.
Sequences of characters, known only to the computer user
allow access to a computer, network or application

Backup and recovery.

Making a backup of data is the only way of recovering from a total data disaster. Many
individuals and organizations back up data to flash solid state storage devices or magnetic tape
at night. The tapes are stored safely in a separate place, so that they are not destroyed by any
disaster, which could destroy the master system (fire, earthquake, etc.).
5. What are the different types of backups available?
1. Fully system buck up
2. Incremental backups of files
3. Backups to removable media
The dangers of identity theft and of revealing too much personal information on
Social networks and via instant messaging are often reported in the news.
These threats can affect both your security and your reputation. Think about who has access
to the information you put online. Before you put photos on your social networking profile,
think about who might see them and whether you would mind. You might not want your
employer or teacher to see something that might be embarrassing or harmful to your
reputation.
Use security settings to protect your privacy and identity. Remember that not everyone is who

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BTEC 2012
Unit 1 The Online World

Name: iyobel kibreab

they claim to be. Criminals access social networking sites trying to find out information about
people. This may put you at risk of identity theft and password theft if you have revealed too
much information about yourself. Be careful not to reveal information that you might use in a
password, such as your pets name.
6. What is identity theft?
When someone steals your personal details in order to use them to open bank accounts and get credit
cards, loans, a passport or a driving license in your name.
7. How can you help prevent identify theft?
Use security settings to protect your privacy and identity.

Plenary What is the Data Protection Act?

The Data Protection Act is a piece of legislation which makes people data secure if some company has
their personal information.

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