Assignment On Information Security Threats

Using proxy software Burp Suite it was discovered that the shopping site contained a hidden form field that could be manipulated.

There are number of different models proposed as framework for information security but one of the best model is McCumber model which was designed by John McCumber. In this model the elements to be studied are organized in a cube structure, in which each axis indicates a dissimilar viewpoint of some information security issue and there are three major modules in each axis. This model with 27 little cubes all organized together looks similar like a Rubik's cube. There are three axes in the cube they are: goals desired, Information states, and measures to be taken. At the intersection of three axes you can research on all angles of an information security problem.

To start off with I chose to go with our banking or financial industry. The banking industry is constantly getting attacked by various methods on a daily basis. I chose this industry because I happen to know someone who works in the security sector at Wells Fargo Bank, he was a good person to get information on what he sees on a daily or weekly basis. This paper is the opinion of myself and with gathered information from various resources.

A threat is defined as a potential cause of an incident that may cause harm of systems and organisation, or data. A potential and obvious threat is someone physically stealing hardware, or data. Physical threats are any incident that could result in the loss or physical damage to a computer system, there are threats that are pretty much unpreventable such as fire, floods, lightening, and earthquakes, and these are all physical threats that are uncontrollable. The humidity in rooms which computers are in does to an extent need to be controlled, if the room is too hot or cold if could have a negative effect on a computer system. There are also human threats such as; vandalism, theft, disruption, accidental or intentional errors.

Threat: An action or event that might compromise security. A threat is a potential violation of security.

- Analyze information threat. Does an adversary have the capability to collect or use the information, and if so, how?

Security protects organisation or properties from an individual without authorisation. Security protects your computer from assault, theft and fraud etc. In business there needs to be a document stating how the company can protect their information technology and the company’s material. This all needs to be written down. The company’s security policy is always updated because of the employee and technology. There are many security threats on the internet, here are a few of them:

There are several different kinds of threats that we should consider and do our best to avoid. A few examples that are on the rise are:

Threat: a category of objects, persons, or other entities that presents a danger to an asset

Prevalent to the current trend now is the dependency of the society on Information technology and communication systems. Every aspect of human life is one way or the other linked and controlled by information technology tools. The importance of information technology cannot be over emphasized as its unavailability could lead to a form of disaster or the other. Pivotal infrastructures like finance, healthcare, education and security are driven by information technology. However, information technology and its benefits are accompanied by vulnerabilities and risks that can be exploited by people with the necessary technical skills. Individuals like ‘Hackers’ and ‘Cyber Terrorist’ can cause disruption to information systems, commit financial fraud and also attack computers and networks. These attacks and disruptions could result to violence against people and properties. In some cases, death, serious injuries and severe economic loss could occur as a result of these attacks.

Data, software, networks and procedure are the most directly affected by the study of information security. Data and software are the most associated with the study of security.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the article Cyber Threats to Mobile Phones, phones are now sharing hardware and software similar to a PC and becoming each time more like a PC. Therefore, the risks of being hacked are increasing, allowing hackers to attack mobile devices the same way as if they were doing it with a regular PC. Personal and professional information are more often stored on mobile devices therefore it is imperative to have our data secure. Security solutions for mobile devices are not as broad or high-tech as those for PCs. The majority of mobile security relies on the proper use and smart choices that the user makes on a daily basis to be protected against cyber attacks. Even the most careful person can be attacked but the possibilities of that happening are less when you are proactive.

Information security professional’s job is to deploy the right safeguards, evaluating risks against critical assets and to mitigate those threats and vulnerabilities. Management can ensure their company’s assets, such as data, remain intact by finding the latest technology and implementing the right policies. Risk management focuses on analyzing risk and mitigating actions to reduce that risk. Successful implementation of security safeguards depends on the knowledge and experience of information security staff. This paper addresses the methods and fundamentals on how to systematically conduct risk assessments on the security risks of information systems.

Safety of information is the most valuable asset in any organization particular those who provide financial service to others. Threats can come from a variety of sources such as human threats, natural disasters and technical threats. By identifying the potential threats to the network, security measure can be taken to combat these threats, eliminate them or reduce the likelihood and impact if they should occur.

A threat agent is the facilitator of an attack however; a threat is a constant danger to an asset.