Post #6 – Network Security

  

Ensuring information security and systems is of utmost importance for individuals and companies. For people, this encompasses personal data such as social security numbers, banking information, and confidential correspondence. It includes consumer data, intellectual property, and financial information for corporations. Effective security protocols mitigate the risk of illegal entry, data breaches, and cyber-attacks, averting substantial financial and reputational harm. This post aims to analyze the many attacks that can be carried out through ping commands, explore how computer systems can be susceptible to phishing and password hacking, and suggest recommendations for safeguarding a computer system against such threats.

Ping Commands

Pinging, short for Packet Internet Groper, involves transmitting tiny data packets to a designated IP address or website and soliciting a response from the intended target (University of Arizona Global Campus, n.d.) Transmitting ping requests can serve as an indication of network issues. By transmitting repeated ping requests, one can determine the presence of packet losses or delays.

Ping commands can be used for different types of assaults, even though they are frequently used for network diagnostics. Using the ping command can result in various kinds of assaults, including a denial of service. A denial of service (DoS) attack occurs when a large volume of access requests are sent simultaneously to a website, overwhelming the web server and preventing it from handling legitimate requests (Vahid, Lysecky, 2019). The ping of death is a denial-of-service (DoS) assault in which an attacker uses large data packets to target computers or services, crashing, destabilizing, or freezing them. Typically, businesses that may have patched legacy holes are the focus of this type of denial-of-service assault (Fortinet, 2024).

 Cyber-Attacks: Phishing and Password Hacking

Cyberattacks happen daily. To know how to stop these attacks, one must comprehend how they can happen. Phishing and password cracking are the two most common cyber-attacks.

Identity thieves employ phishing to get victims' private financial and personal information. The phrase, a play on the word "fishing," describes identity thieves looking for victims (Cooper,2024). Phishing is a kind of cyberattack in which attackers assume the identity of trustworthy organizations to deceive victims into divulging private information, such as credit card numbers, passwords, or personal information. This is frequently accomplished using phony websites, emails, or communications that are from reliable sources. 

Phishing attacks have the potential to do much harm. My own experience has shown that by obtaining usernames and passwords, phishing can provide attackers access to user accounts. The likelihood of being a victim of phishing attacks can be considerably decreased by putting specific procedures into place, such as utilizing security software and being cautious when opening emails. Security awareness training is essential since phishing assaults cannot be stopped by technological means alone. Individuals should receive training that informs them of the dangers of phishing efforts and equips them to recognize and report any suspicious activity (Simister, 2024).

An essential component of network security is passwords. They stop unauthorized users from abusing network resources, which can result in money losses or interruptions to business operations. To obtain access to a network, attackers attempt several methods to obtain credentials. Hacking passwords is a method. Password hacking is a cyberattack that involves cracking passwords intended to prevent unauthorized users from accessing personal or confidential data (Stouffer,2022).

Theft of passwords may result in data theft. Information about finances, businesses, or individuals can be taken and sold on the dark web. If someone manages to breach a secured system, files may also be erased or encrypted, frequently accompanied by a ransom demand. Reducing these risks requires using strong, one-of-a-kind passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and often monitoring accounts for any unexpected activity. A wise first step would be to update passwords and perform a complete security check. In Clare Stouffer's opinion, multi-factor authentication offers the chance to bolster security further and safeguard information. A one-of-a-kind code sent by text or email or pre-formulated security questions that only you know the solution to can be examples of what it can be (Stouffer,2022).

Security of information and systems is essential for both people and businesses. Robust security protocols guarantee confidentiality and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data, including personal identity numbers and financial information. It is impossible to protect a network from attacks. Nonetheless, numerous efficacious tactics exist to mitigate the likelihood and consequences of attacks. Understanding how these assaults can occur is necessary in order to know how to prevent them.