5.2 Digital Currency and part of 5.3

Digital Currency

Currency which only exists in digital form.

Stored in digital accounts or wallets no bank notes or cash used.

Can be exchanged online to pay for goods and services or to transfer money internationally.

Block chain

Digital Ledger used

Device encrypts data

Device sends data to digital ledger

Digital Ledger records payments including details such as signature time date and stamp

Transaction stored in a block in multiples

Each block has a unique identifier

When the block is executed or full it is added to the block chain on each device

Cyber security Threats

Brute Force attack

Data Interception

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attack

Hacking

Malware

Pharming

Phishing

Social Engineering

Types of Malware

Virus

Worm

Trojan Horse

Spyware

Adware

Ransomware

Brute Force Attack

Trial and combination used to guess a password.

Combinations repeatedly entered until correct password is found.

Carried out manually or automatically by a software.

Data interception

Data is being sent from one device to another

Data is being examined during transmission

Packet sniffer is used

Interception data is reported to third parties during transmission and analysed for anything useful

Connection hacked to spoof destination address

Data interception diagram

What is a DDoS attack?

Malware downloaded to several computers turning it into a bot creating a network of bots.

Hacker initializes the attack

Bots send requests to a web address at the same time

Web server fails due to requests

Legitimate requests can not reach the web server

DDoS attack diagram

What is hacking?

Identifying and exploiting weaknesses in a computer system or network to gain unauthorized access

Done by seeking out opportunities like unpatched software or out of date anti malware.

This is done for various malicious purposes like stealing data, installing malware or disrupting operations

What us malware?

Malicious software.

Any software created with malicious intent to cause harm to a computer.

What is pharming?

User enters website address

User is redirected to fake website

User clicks link that triggers download

Malicious software installs itself onto the users computer

Pharming diagram

Phishing

Sending fraudulent emails to a large number of people claiming to be from a reputable company or trusted source

Attempt to try and gain access to your details by coaxing the user to click on a login button to enter personal details

Social Engineering

Manipulating people to obtain data by making them make an error.

For example leaving not encrypting data.

Virus

Software that replicates when user interacts with it damaging files and taking up storage

Worm

Software the replicated itself on a network without user input

Damages files and takes up storage and bandwidth

Opens backdoor to computers over the network

Used to deposit other malware on networked computers

Trojan Horses

Software disguised as authentic software

When it is installed the other malware it contains is installed

Adware

Code that displays unwanted adverts on a users computer

Some may contain spyware

Some link to virus when clicked

Reduce device performance

Redirects user to fake website

Ransomware

Code which stops the user from accessing their data by encrypting the files

Fee has to be paid to decrypt the data and release it

Spyware

Software which records all key presses and transmits it to a third party.

Data security solutions

Access levels

Anti malware

Authentication

Automating software updated

Checking software updated

Checking spelling and tone of communication

Checking URL attached to a link

Firewalls

Privacy settings

Proxy servers

Secure socket layer (SSL) security protocol

Access Levels

Providing users with different permission for the data

Limiting access to reading data limiting data that can be viewed

Limiting access to editing data

Normally lined to a user name