Home > Articles

This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Computer Security Fundamentals, 4th EditionComputer Security Fundamentals, 4th Edition

Learn More Buy

This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Computer Security Fundamentals, 4th EditionComputer Security Fundamentals, 4th Edition

Learn More Buy

Test Your Skills

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. You are trying to explain security to a nontechnical manager. She has taken a rather extreme view of computer security. Which of the following is one of the extreme viewpoints about computer security discussed in this chapter?

    1. The federal government will handle security.

    2. Microsoft will handle security.

    3. There are no imminent dangers to your system.

    4. There is no danger if you use Linux.

  2. You have just taken over as network security administrator for a small community college. You want to take steps to secure your network. Before you can formulate a defense for a network, what do you need?

    1. Appropriate security certifications

    2. A clear picture of the dangers to be defended against

    3. To finish this textbook

    4. The help of an outside consultant

  3. Mary is teaching an introductory cybersecurity course to freshmen. She is explaining to them the major threats. Which of the following is not one of the three major classes of threats?

    1. Attempts to intrude on the system

    2. Online auction fraud

    3. Denial of service attacks

    4. A computer virus

  4. Being able to define attack terms is an important skill for a cybersecurity professional. What is a computer virus?

    1. Any program that is downloaded to your system without your permission

    2. Any program that self-replicates

    3. Any program that causes harm to your system

    4. Any program that can change your Windows Registry

  5. Being able to define attack terms is an important skill for a cybersecurity professional. What is spyware?

    1. Any software that monitors your system

    2. Only software that logs keystrokes

    3. Any software used to gather intelligence

    4. Only software that monitors what websites you visit

  6. What is a penetration tester?

    1. A person who hacks a system without being caught

    2. A person who hacks a system by faking a legitimate password

    3. A person who hacks a system to test its vulnerabilities

    4. A person who is an amateur hacker

  7. Elizabeth is explaining various hacking terms to a class. She is in the process of discussing the history of phone system hacking. What is the term for hacking a phone system?

    1. Telco-hacking

    2. Hacking

    3. Cracking

    4. Phreaking

  8. What is malware?

    1. Software that has some malicious purpose

    2. Software that is not functioning properly

    3. Software that damages your system

    4. Software that is not properly configured for your system

  9. What is war-driving?

    1. Driving and seeking a computer job

    2. Driving while using a wireless connection for hacking

    3. Driving looking for wireless networks to hack

    4. Driving and seeking rival hackers

  10. What is the name for the hacking technique that involves using persuasion and deception to get a person to provide information to help compromise security?

    1. Social engineering

    2. Conning

    3. Human intel

    4. Soft hacking

  11. There are many threats on the Internet. Which one is currently the most common may change over time, but certain threats have always been more common than others. Which of the following is the most common threat on the Internet?

    1. Auction fraud

    2. Phreaking

    3. Computer viruses

    4. Illegal software

  12. What are the three approaches to security?

    1. Perimeter, layered, hybrid

    2. High security, medium security, low security

    3. Internal, external, and hybrid

    4. Perimeter, complete, none

  13. Defining your security strategy is an important step in securing a network. You are trying to classify devices based on the approach they take to security. An intrusion detection system is an example of which of the following?

    1. Proactive security

    2. Perimeter security

    3. Hybrid security

    4. Good security practices

  14. Which of the following is the most basic security activity?

    1. Authentication

    2. Firewalls

    3. Password protection

    4. Auditing

  15. The most desirable approach to security is one that is which of the following?

    1. Perimeter and dynamic

    2. Layered and dynamic

    3. Perimeter and static

    4. Layered and static

  16. According to a survey of 223 computer professionals prepared by the Computer Security Institute, which of the following was most often cited as an issue by respondents?

    1. Internal systems

    2. Employee abuse

    3. Routers

    4. Internet connection

  17. Which of the following types of privacy law affects computer security?

    1. Any state privacy law

    2. Any privacy law applicable to your organization

    3. Any privacy law

    4. Any federal privacy law

  18. The first computer incident-response team is affiliated with what university?

    1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    2. Carnegie-Mellon University

    3. Harvard University

    4. California Technical University

  19. Which of the following is the best definition of the term sensitive information?

    1. Any information that has an impact on national security

    2. Any information that is worth more than $1,000

    3. Any information that if accessed by unauthorized personnel could damage your organization in any way

    4. Any information that is protected by privacy laws

  20. Which of the following is a major resource for detailed information on a computer virus?

    1. The MIT Virus Library

    2. The Microsoft Virus Library

    3. The F-Secure Virus Library

    4. The National Virus Repository

Exercises

Exercise 1.1: How Many Virus Attacks Have Occurred This Month?

  1. Using some website resource, such as www.f-secure.com, look up recent computer virus outbreaks.

  2. How many virus outbreaks have occurred in the past 7 days?

  3. Write down how many outbreaks have occurred in the past 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year.

  4. Are virus attacks increasing in frequency?

Exercise 1.2: Learning About Cookies as Spyware

  1. Get an idea of what kind of information cookies store. You might find the following websites helpful:

    www.allaboutcookies.org

    www.howstuffworks.com/cookie1.htm

  2. Write a brief essay explaining in what way cookies can invade privacy.

Exercise 1.3: Hacker Terminology

  1. Use the Hacker’s Dictionary at http://www.outpost9.com/reference/jargon/jargon_toc.html to define the following hacker terms:

    1. Alpha geek

    2. Grok

    3. Red Book

    4. Wank

Exercise 1.4: Using Security Resources

  1. Using one of the preferred web resources listed in this chapter, find three policy or procedure documents from that resource.

  2. List the documents you selected.

  3. Write a brief essay explaining why those particular documents are important to your organization’s security.

Exercise 1.5: Learning About the Law

  1. Using the Web, journals, books, or other resources, find out if your state or territory has any laws specific to computer security. You might find the following websites helpful:

    www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/hackers/blame/crimelaws.html

    www.cybercrime.gov

  2. List three laws that you find for your region and provide a brief one- or two-sentence description of each.

Projects

Project 1.1: Learning About a Virus

  1. Using web resources from Appendix A and sites such as www.f-secure.com, find a virus that has been released in the past 6 months.

  2. Research how the virus spread and what damage it caused.

  3. Write a brief (half to one page) paper on this virus. Explain how the virus worked, how it spread, and any other essential information you can find.

Project 1.2: Considering the Law (a Group Project)

Write a description of a computer law that you would like to have passed, along with specifics related to its implementation, enforcement, and justification.

Project 1.3: Recommending Security

  1. Using the Web, journals, or books, locate security recommendations from any reputable source, such as the SANS Institute. Any of the sites mentioned in the “Online Security Resources” section of this chapter would be a good choice.

  2. List five of those recommendations.

  3. Explain why you agree or disagree with each of these five recommendations.

CASE STUDY

In this case study we will consider a network administrator for a small, family-oriented video store. The store is not part of a chain of stores and has a very limited security budget. It has five machines for employees to use to check out movies and one server on which to keep centralized records. That server is in the manager’s office. The administrator takes the following security precautions:

  • Each machine is upgraded to Windows 10, with the personal firewall turned on.

  • Antivirus software has been installed on all machines.

  • A tape backup is added to the server, and tapes are kept in a file cabinet in the manager’s office.

  • Internet access to employee machines is removed.

Now consider these questions:

  1. What have these actions accomplished?

  2. What additional actions might you recommend?

Pearson IT Certification Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Pearson IT Certification and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Pearson IT Certification products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Adobe Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.pearsonitcertification.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020