UNIT-I

Introduction to Cyber Security

Cyber Security is referred to the security offered through online services to protect the online
information.
With an increasing amount of people getting connected to the Internet, the security threats are also
massively increasing.

Cyber Security:
It is the body of technologies, processes and practices designed to protect networks, devices,
programs and data from attack, theft, damage, modification or unauthorized access. It is also called as
Information Technology Security.
OR
Cyber Security is the setoff principles and practices designed to protect the computing resources
and online information against threats.
Understanding Cyber Security:

CYBER SECURITY Page 4

Security Problems & Maintaining Security in Cyber field:

Viruses & Worms:

A virus is a program that is loaded into the computer without user’s knowledge and runs against
the user’s wish.

Maintenance:
Install a security suite that protects the computer against threats such as viruses and worms. (eg.,
Antivirus)

Hackers:
A hacker is a person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data.

Types of Hackers:
• Black Hat Hackers: (Unethical Hacker or Security Cracker)
These people hack the system illegally to steal money or to achieve their own illegal goals.
They find the banks or organization with weak security and steal money or credit card
information, they can also modify or destroy confidential data.
• White Hat Hackers: (Ethical Hacker or Penetration Tester)
These people use the same technique used by the black hat hackers, but they can only hack
the system that they have permission to hack inorder to test the security of the system.
They focus on securing and protecting IT System. White Hat Hacker is legal.
• Grey Hat Hackers:
Grey Hat Hackers are hybrid of Black hat hackers & White hat hackers
They can hack any system even if they don’t have permission to test the security of the
system but they will never steal money or damage the system.
Maintenance:
It may be impossible to prevent computer hacking, however effective security controls including
strong passwords and the use of firewalls.

Malware: (MALicious softWARE)

Malware is any software that infects and damages a computer system without the owner’s knowledge
or permission.

Maintenance:
Download an anti-malware program that also helps prevent infection. Activate network protection
firewall, antivirus.

Trojan Horse:
Trojan horse are email viruses that can duplicate themselves, steal information or harm the computer
system. These viruses are the most serious threats to computers.

Maintenance:
Security suits such as Avast Internet Security, which will prevent from downloading Trojan Horses.

Password Cracking:
Password attacks are attacks by hackers that are able to determine passwords or find passwords to
different protected electronic areas and social network sites.

Maintenance:
Use always strong password. Never use same password for two different sites.
CYBER SECURITY Page 5
LAYERS OF SECURITY

The 7 layers of cyber security should center on the mission critical assests.

1. Mission Critical Assets: This is the data which need to be protected.

2. Data Security: It protect the storage and transfer of data.
3. Application Security: It protect access to an application which handles the mission critical
assets and internal security of the application.
4. Endpoint Security: It protect the connection between devices and the network.
5. Network Security: It protect an organization’s network to prevent unauthorized access of the
network.
6. Perimeter Security: It include both the physical and digital security methodologies that protect
the overall business.
7. The Human Layer: Humans are the weakest link in any cyber security posture. Human
security control includes phishing simulations and access management control that protect
mission critical assets from a wide variety of human threats, including cyber criminals,
malicious insiders and negligent users.

Vulnerabilities, Threats and Harmful Acts:

Vulnerabilities are the gaps or weaknesses in a system that make threats possible and tempt
threat actors to exploit them.

Types of vulnerabilities in network security:

SQL injections,
Server misconfigurations,
Cross-site scripting, and
Transmitting sensitive data in a non- encrypted plain text format.

CYBER SECURITY Page 6

Cyber threats are security incidents or circumstances with the potential to have a negative
outcome for your network or other data management systems.
Examples:
Phishing attacks that result in the installation of malware that infects your data, failure of a staff
member to follow data protection protocols that cause a data breach, or even a tornado that takes
down yourcompany’s data headquarters, disrupting access.

Vulnerabilities is not risk without a threat exploiting it.

Threat is not a risk without a vulnerability to be exploited.

Internet Governance – Challenges and Constraints:

Internet Governance is defined as the development and application by Government. The private
sector and civil sector in their respective roles of shared principles, norms, rules, decision making
procedures and programs that shape the evolution and use of the Internet.
The definition developed by the Working Group of Internet Governance (WGIG) dates back to
2005, and has remained unchanged ever since then and is now a complex system involving a
multitude of issues, actors, mechanisms, procedures and instruments.

Internet Governance Actors:

According to the definition, there is no single organization incharge of the Internet but various
stakeholders – Governments, Inter Governmental Organizations, the private sector, the technical
community and Civil Society share roles and responsibilities in shaping the evolution and use of this
network.
There are multiple actors which are involved in one way or another in the governance of Internet.
1. Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
2. Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
3. International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
4. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
5. Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

Computer Criminals:
Computer crimes have quickly become on of the fastest rising forms of modern crime. According to
cyber experts, approx., 1 million potential cyber attacks are attempted per day.
Types of Cyber Criminals:
Cyber criminals are also known as hackers. Hackers are extremely difficult to identify on both
individual and group level, due to their various security measures.
Cyber Security expert assert that Cyber Criminals are using more ruthless methods to achieve their
objectives and the proficiency of attacks are expected to advance as they continue to develop new
methods of cyber attacks.

Identity Thieves:
Identity thieves are cyber criminals who try to gain access to their victim’s personal
information. They use their information to make financial transaction while impersonating their
victims. Identity theft is one of the oldest cyber crime.

CYBER SECURITY Page 7

Internet Stalkers:
Internet Stalkers are individuals who maliciously monitor the online activity of their victims
to acquire personal information.
This form of cyber crime is conducted through the use of social networking platforms and
malware, which are able to track an individual’s computer activity with very little detection.
Businesses should be aware of Internet Stalkers.

Phishing Scammers:
Phishing are cyber criminals who attempt to get hold of personal or sensitive information
through victim’s computer.
This is often done via phishing websites that are designed to copycat small business,
corporate or government websites.
Once such information is obtained, phishers either use the information themselves for
identity fraud scams or sell it in the dark web.

Cyber Terrorists:
Cyber Terrorism is a well-developed politically inspired cyber attack in which the cyber
criminal attempts to steal data or corrupt corporate or Government computer systems and networks
resulting in harm to countries, business, organizations and even individuals.
The key difference between an act of cyber terrorism and a regular cyber attack is that
within an attack of cyber terrorism, hackers are politically motivated as opposed to just seeking
financial gain.

CIA Triad
The CIA Triad is actually a security model that has been developed to help people think about
various parts of IT security.
CIA triad broken down:

Confidentiality:

Protecting confidentiality is dependent on being able to define and enforce certain access levels for
information. This process involves separating information into various collections that are
organized by authorized user, who needs to access the information and how sensitive that
information actually is - i.e. the amount of damage suffered if the confidentiality was breached.

Standard measures to establish confidentiality include:

Data Encryption
Two-factor authentication
Biometric Verification
Security Tokens.

Integrity

This is an essential component of the CIA Triad and designed to protect data from deletion or
modification from any unauthorized party, and it ensures that when an authorized person makes a
change that should not have been made the damage can be reversed.
CYBER SECURITY Page 8
Standard measures to guarantee Integrity include:
Cryptography checksums
Using file permissions
Uninterrupted power supplies
Data backups.

Availability

This is the final component of the CIA Triad and refers to the actual availability of your data.
Authentication mechanisms, access channels and systems all have to work properly for the
information they protect and ensure it's available when it is needed.

Standard measures to guarantee Availability include:

Backing up data to external drives
Implementing firewalls
Having backup power supplies
Data redundancy
Assets and Threat

An asset is any data, device or other component of an organization’s systems that is

valuable – often because it contains sensitive data or can be used to access such information.

For example: An employee’s desktop computer, laptop or company phone would be considered
an asset, as would applications on those devices. Likewise, critical infrastructure, such as
servers and support systems, are assets. An organization’s most common assets are information
assets. These are things such as databases and physical files – i.e. the sensitive data that you
store

A threat is any incident that could negatively affect an asset – for example, if it’s lost, knocked
offline or accessed by an unauthorized party.

Threats can be categorized as circumstances that compromise the confidentiality, integrity or

availability of an asset, and can either be intentional or accidental.

Intentional threats include things such as criminal hacking or a malicious insider stealing
information, whereas accidental threats generally involve employee error, a technical
malfunction or an event that causes physical damage, such as a fire or natural disaster.

Motive of Attackers

The categories of cyber-attackers enable us to better understand the attackers' motivations and
the actions they take. As shown in Figure, operational cyber security risks arise from three
types of actions:
i) inadvertent actions (generally by insiders) that are taken without malicious or harmful
intent;
ii) deliberate actions (by insiders or outsiders) that are taken intentionally and are meant
to do harm; and
iii) inaction (generally by insiders), such as a failure to act in a given situation, either
because of a lack of appropriate skills, knowledge, guidance, or availability of the
CYBER SECURITY Page 9
 correct person to take action
Of primary concern here are deliberate actions, of which there are three categories of
motivation.

1. Political motivations: examples include destroying, disrupting, or taking control of

targets; espionage; and making political statements, protests, or retaliatory actions.
2. Economic motivations: examples include theft of intellectual property or other
economically valuable assets (e.g., funds, credit card information); fraud; industrial
espionage and sabotage; and blackmail.
3. Socio-cultural motivations: examples include attacks with philosophical, theological,
political, and even humanitarian goals. Socio-cultural motivations also include fun,
curiosity, and a desire for publicity or ego gratification.

CYBER SECURITY Page 10

Types of Cyber Attacks

A cyber-attack is an exploitation of computer systems and networks. It uses malicious code to

alter computer code, logic or data and lead to cybercrimes, such as information and identity
theft.

Cyber-attacks can be classified into the following categories:

1) Web-based attacks
2) System-based attacks

Web-based attacks

These are the attacks which occur on a website or web applications. Some of the important
web-based attacks are as follows-

1. Injection attacks

It is the attack in which some data will be injected into a web application to manipulate the
application and fetch the required information.

Example- SQL Injection, code Injection, log Injection, XML Injection etc.

2. DNS Spoofing

DNS Spoofing is a type of computer security hacking. Whereby a data is introduced into a DNS
resolver's cache causing the name server to return an incorrect IP address, diverting traffic to
the attackers computer or any other computer. The DNS spoofing attacks can go on for a long
period of time without being detected and can cause serious security issues.

3. Session Hijacking

It is a security attack on a user session over a protected network. Web applications create
cookies to store the state and user sessions. By stealing the cookies, an attacker can have access
to all of the user data.

4. Phishing

Phishing is a type of attack which attempts to steal sensitive information like user login
credentials and credit card number. It occurs when an attacker is masquerading as a trustworthy
entity in electronic communication.

5. Brute force

It is a type of attack which uses a trial and error method. This attack generates a large number
of guesses and validates them to obtain actual data like user password and personal
identification number. This attack may be used by criminals to crack encrypted data, or by
security, analysts to test an organization's network security.

CYBER SECURITY Page 11

6. Denial of Service

It is an attack which meant to make a server or network resource unavailable to the users. It
accomplishes this by flooding the target with traffic or sending it information that triggers a
crash. It uses the single system and single internet connection to attack a server. It can be
classified into the following-

Volume-based attacks- Its goal is to saturate the bandwidth of the attacked site, and is
measured in bit per second.

Protocol attacks- It consumes actual server resources, and is measured in a packet.

Application layer attacks- Its goal is to crash the web server and is measured in request per
second.

7. Dictionary attacks

This type of attack stored the list of a commonly used password and validated them to get
original password.

8. URL Interpretation

It is a type of attack where we can change the certain parts of a URL, and one can make a
web server to deliver web pages for which he is not authorized to browse.

9. File Inclusion attacks

It is a type of attack that allows an attacker to access unauthorized or essential files which is
available on the web server or to execute malicious files on the web server by making use of
the include functionality.

10. Man in the middle attacks

It is a type of attack that allows an attacker to intercepts the connection between client and
server and acts as a bridge between them. Due to this, an attacker will be able to read, insert
and modify the data in the intercepted connection.

System-based attacks

These are the attacks which are intended to compromise a computer or a computer network.
Some of the important system-based attacks are as follows-

2. Virus

It is a type of malicious software program that spread throughout the computer files without
the knowledge of a user. It is a self-replicating malicious computer program that replicates by
inserting copies of itself into other computer programs when executed. It can also execute
instructions that cause harm to the system.

CYBER SECURITY Page 12

3. Worm

It is a type of malware whose primary function is to replicate itself to spread to uninfected

computers. It works same as the computer virus. Worms often originate from email attachments
that appear to be from trusted senders.

4. Trojan horse

It is a malicious program that occurs unexpected changes to computer setting and unusual
activity, even when the computer should be idle. It misleads the user of its true intent. It appears
to be a normal application but when opened/executed some malicious code will run in the
background.

5. Backdoors

It is a method that bypasses the normal authentication process. A developer may create a
backdoor so that an application or operating system can be accessed for troubleshooting or
other purposes.

6. Bots

A bot (short for "robot") is an automated process that interacts with other network services.
Some bots program run automatically, while others only execute commands when they receive
specific input. Common examples of bots program are the crawler, chatroom bots, and
malicious bots.

Active attacks: An active attack is a network exploit in which a hacker attempts to make
changes to data on the target or data en route to the target.

Types of Active attacks:

Masquerade: in this attack, the intruder pretends to be a particular user of a system to gain
access or to gain greater privileges than they are authorized for. A masquerade may be
attempted through the use of stolen login IDs and passwords, through finding security gaps in
programs or through bypassing the authentication mechanism.

Session replay: In this type of attack, a hacker steals an authorized user’s log in information
by stealing the session ID. The intruder gains access and the ability to do anything the
authorized user can do on the website.

Message modification: In this attack, an intruder alters packet header addresses to direct a
message to a different destination or modify the data on a target machine.

In a denial of service (DoS) attack, users are deprived of access to a network or web resource.
This is generally accomplished by overwhelming the target with more traffic than it can handle.

In a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) exploit, large numbers of compromised systems

CYBER SECURITY Page 13

(sometimes called a botnet or zombie army) attack a single target.

Passive Attacks:Passive attacks are relatively scarce from a classification perspective, but can
be carried out with relative ease, particularly if the traffic is not encrypted.

Types of Passive attacks:

Eavesdropping (tapping): the attacker simply listens to messages exchanged by two entities.
For the attack to be useful, the traffic must not be encrypted. Any unencrypted information,
such as a password sent in response to an HTTP request, may be retrieved by the attacker.

Traffic analysis: the attacker looks at the metadata transmitted in traffic in order to deduce
information relating to the exchange and the participating entities, e.g. the form of the
exchanged traffic (rate, duration, etc.). In the cases where encrypted data are used, traffic
analysis can also lead to attacks by cryptanalysis, whereby the attacker may obtain information
or succeed in unencrypting the traffic.

Software Attacks: Malicious code (sometimes called malware) is a type of software

designed to take over or damage a computer user's operating system, without the user's
knowledge or approval. It can be very difficult to remove and very damaging. Common
malware examples are listed in the following table:

Attack Characteristics
Virus A virus is a program that attempts to damage a computer system and replicate itself
to other computer systems. A virus:

• Requires a host to replicate and usually attaches itself to a host file or a

hard drive sector.
• Replicates each time the host is used.
• Often focuses on destruction or corruption of data.
• Usually attaches to files with execution capabilities such as .doc, .exe, and
.bat extensions.
• Often distributes via e-mail. Many viruses can e-mail themselves to
everyone in your address book.
• Examples: Stoned, Michelangelo, Melissa, I Love You.

Worm A worm is a self-replicating program that can be designed to do any number of

things, such as delete files or send documents via e-mail. A worm can negatively
impact network traffic just in the process of replicating itself. A worm:

• Can install a backdoor in the infected computer.

• Is usually introduced into the system through a vulnerability.
• Infects one system and spreads to other systems on the network.
• Example: Code Red.

CYBER SECURITY Page 14

 Trojan A Trojan horse is a malicious program that is disguised as legitimate software.
horse Discretionary environments are often more vulnerable and susceptible to Trojan
horse attacks because security is user focused and user directed. Thus the
compromise of a user account could lead to the compromise of the entire
environment. A Trojan horse:

• Cannot replicate itself.

• Often contains spying functions (such as a packet sniffer) or backdoor
functions that allow a computer to be remotely controlled from the
network.
• Often is hidden in useful software such as screen savers or games.
• Example: Back Orifice, Net Bus, Whack-a-Mole.

Logic A Logic Bomb is malware that lies dormant until triggered. A logic bomb is a
Bomb specific example of an asynchronous attack.

• A trigger activity may be a specific date and time, the launching of a

specific program, or the processing of a specific type of activity.
• Logic bombs do not self-replicate.

Hardware Attacks:
Common hardware attacks include:

• Manufacturing backdoors, for malware or other penetrative purposes; backdoors

aren’t limited to software and hardware, but they also affect embedded radio-
frequency identification (RFID) chips and memory
• Eavesdropping by gaining access to protected memory without opening other
hardware
• Inducing faults, causing the interruption of normal behaviour

• Hardware modification tampering with invasive operations

• Backdoor creation; the presence of hidden methods for bypassing normal computer
authentication systems
• Counterfeiting product assets that can produce extraordinary operations and those
made to gain malicious access to systems.
Cyber Threats:
Cyber Warfare: Cyber warfare refers to the use of digital attacks -- like computer viruses
and hacking -- by one country to disrupt the vital computer systems of another, with the
aim of creating damage, death and destruction. Future wars will see hackers using computer
code to attack an enemy's infrastructure, fighting alongside troops using conventional
weapons like guns and missiles.
Cyber warfare involves the actions by a nation-state or international organization to attack
and attempt to damage another nation's computers or information networks through, for
example, computer viruses or denial-of-service attacks.
Cyber Crime:
Cybercrime is criminal activity that either targets or uses a computer, a computer network
CYBER SECURITY Page 15
 or a networked device. Cybercrime is committed by cybercriminals or hackers who want
to make money. Cybercrime is carried out by individuals or organizations.
Some cybercriminals are organized, use advanced techniques and are highly technically
skilled. Others are novice hackers.
Cyber Terrorism:
Cyber terrorism is the convergence of cyberspace and terrorism. It refers to unlawful
attacks and threats of attacks against computers, networks and the information stored
therein when done to intimidate or coerce a government or its people in furtherance of
political or social objectives.
Examples are hacking into computer systems, introducing viruses to vulnerable networks,
web site defacing, Denial-of-service attacks, or terroristic threats made via electronic
communication.
Cyber Espionage:
Cyber spying, or cyber espionage, is the act or practice of obtaining secrets and
information without the permission and knowledge of the holder of the information from
individuals, competitors, rivals, groups, governments and enemies for personal,
economic, political or military advantage using methods on the Internet.

Security Policies:

Security policies are a formal set of rules which is issued by an organization to ensure that the
user who are authorized to access company technology and information assets comply with
rules and guidelines related to the security of information.

A security policy also considered to be a "living document" which means that the document is
never finished, but it is continuously updated as requirements of the technology and employee
changes.

We use security policies to manage our network security. Most types of security policies are
automatically created during the installation. We can also customize policies to suit our specific
environment.

Need of Security policies-

1) It increases efficiency.

2) It upholds discipline and accountability

3) It can make or break a business deal

4) It helps to educate employees on security literacy

CYBER SECURITY Page 16

There are some important cyber security policies recommendations describe below-

Virus and Spyware Protection policy:

• It helps to detect threads in files, to detect applications that exhibits suspicious

behavior.
• Removes, and repairs the side effects of viruses and security risks by using signatures.

Firewall Policy:

• It blocks the unauthorized users from accessing the systems and networks that connect
to the Internet.
• It detects the attacks by cybercriminals and removes the unwanted sources of network
traffic.

Intrusion Prevention policy:

• This policy automatically detects and blocks the network attacks and browser attacks.
• It also protects applications from vulnerabilities and checks the contents of one or
more data packages and detects malware which is coming through legal ways.

Application and Device Control:

• This policy protects a system's resources from applications and manages the
peripheral devices that can attach to a system.
• The device control policy applies to both Windows and Mac computers whereas
application control policy can be applied only to Windows clients.

CYBER SECURITY Page 17