Internet Security
Internet security, and network security in general, is becoming increasingly important. As more and more information is stored and accessed via networks, and more and more devices become network enabled (and dependent), the realm of internet security becomes more broadly applicable. It also becomes more of a target for malicious activity. We need to be more aware of the dangers, and more familiar with the security measures available to protect us.
The internet is built on a system of trust. I trust that the content I want will be provided in a way that I can access and understand it. You, the content provider, trust that I won’t take advantage of you for providing that content. We both trust that our ISPs will respect our right to communicate with each other privately, and so forth. The problem with a system of trust is that it can often be easy to violate. A malicious hacker takes advantage of my trust by providing what appears to be valid content, but turns out to be something invasive or destructive. He violates your trust by pretending to be an average visitor to your site, then uses his connection to your server to forward his own schemes. When trust is violated, it is harder to trust again.
An attacker could be almost anyone. Many hackers are young people who find it exhilarating to make something that spreads and infects other computers. Others are trying to steal your personal information so they can make money off you. Still others are interested in spreading chaos and panic, for personal enjoyment or perhaps profit. They employ various tricks to scope out your network, observe your activity, record sensitive information, and shut you down.
Internet security devices–such as firewalls, antivirus software, spyware removal utilities, and others–help to maintain and restore our trust because these devices help secure us against those who would abuse that trust. However, these devices are only as useful as we let them be. Antivirus software only protects the person who uses it regularly to scan his system. A firewall can only protect the devices behind it. We therefore must learn how to use these devices, and not only learn, but do.
Even more important than security devices is simple common sense. Just as you shouldn’t leave copies of the keys to your house and car lying around, so also you should take care with your passwords and other sensitive digital information. Choose passwords that are difficult to guess: that aren’t in the dictionary; use numbers, letters, and special characters; and are changed regularly and uniquely. Be sure that you have a secure connection to an internet site before providing a password. Password protect your computer login, and encrypt any sensitive information with another password. Following these guidelines makes it harder for somebody else to gain access to your data without your permission.
By securing ourselves against internet attacks, we preserve the trust-based nature of the internet. We depend on that trust to do our work and have our fun. As long as that trust still stands, the internet will flourish as a medium for communication and collaboration. If that trust is lost, we stand to lose much of the advances the digital revolution has brought us.