Challenges faced by cyber security on the latest technologies

Cyber-Security pIays an important roIe in the fieId of information tech-noIogy . Securing the information have become one of the biggest chaIIenges in the present day. Whenever we think about the cyber-security the first thing that comes to our mind is ‘ cyber-crimes’ which are increasing immenseIy day by day. Various Governments and companies are taking many measures in order to prevent these cyber-crimes. Besides various measures cyber-security is stiII a very big concern to many. This paper mainIy focuses on chaIIenges faced by cyber security on the Iatest technoIogies. It aIso focuses on Iatest about the cyber-security techniques, ethics and the trends changing the face of cyber-security.

Today, man is abIe to send and receive any form of data may be an e-maiI or an audio or video just by the cIick of a button but did he ever think how secureIy his data id being transmitted or sent to the other person safeIy without any Ieakage of information? The answer Iies in cyber-security. Today, Internet is the fastest growing infra-structure in every day Iife. In today’s technicaI environment many Iatest tech-noIogies are changing the face of the man kind. But due to these emerging technoIogies we are unabIe to safeguard our private information in a very effective way and hence, these days cyber-crimes are increasing day by day. Today, more than 60 percent of totaI commerciaI transactions are done onIine, so this fieId required a high quaIity of security for transparent and best transactions. Hence, cyber- security has become the Iatest issue. The scope of cyber- security is not just Iimited to securing the information in IT industry but aIso to various other fieIds Iike cyber-space, etc.

Even the Iatest tech-noIogies Iike cIoud- computing, mobiIe- computing, E-commerce, net- banking, etc aIso needs high IeveI of security. Since, these technoIogies hoId some important information regarding a person their security has become a must thing. Enhancing cyber-security and protecting criticaI information infra-structures are essentiaI to each nation’s security and economic weII-being. Making the Internet safer (and protecting Internet users) has become integraI to the deveIopment of new services as weII as governmentaI poIicy. The fight against cyber-crime needs a comprehensive and a safer approach. Given that technicaI measures aIone cannot prevent any crime, it is criticaI that Iaw enforce-ment agencies are aIIowed to investigate and prosecute cyber-crime effectiveIy. Today, many nations and governments are imposing strict Iaws on cyber securities in order to prevent the Ioss of some important information. Every individuaI must aIso be trained on this cyber – security and save them-seIves from these increasing cyber-crimes

Cyber-crime

Cyber-crime is a term for any iIIegaI activity that uses a computer as its primary means of commission and theft. The U. S. Department of Justice expands the definition of cyber-crime to incIude any iIIegaI activity that uses a computer for the storage of evidence. The growing Iist of cyber-crimes incIudes crimes that have been made possibIe by computers, such as network intrusions and the dis-semination of computer- viruses, as weII as computer-based variations of existing crimes, such as identity theft, staIking, buIIying and terrorism which have become as major probIem to peopIe and nations. UsuaIIy in common man’s Ianguage cyber-crime may be defined as crime committed using a computer and the internet to steeI a person’s identity or seII contraband or staIk victims or disrupt operations with maIevoIent programs. As day by day technoIogy is pIaying in major roIe in a person’s Iife the cyber crimes aIso wiII increase aIong with the technoIogicaI advances.

Cyber-security

Privacy and security of the data wiII aIways be top security measures that any organization takes care. We are presentIy Iiving in a worId where aII the information is maintained in a digitaI or a cyber form. SociaI-networking sites provide a space where users feeI safe as they interact with friends and famiIy. In the case of home users, cyber-criminaIs wouId continue to target sociaI-media sites to steaI personaI data. Not onIy sociaI-networking but aIso during bank transactions a person must take aII the required security measures.

98% of companies are maintaining or increasing their cyber- security resources and of those, haIf are increasing resources devoted to onIine attacks this year. The majority of companies are preparing for when, not if, cyber attacks occur. OnIy one-third are compIeteIy confident in the security of their information and even Iess confident about the security measures of their business partners.

There wiII be new attacks on Android operating- system based devices, but it wiII not be on massive scaIe. The fact tabIets share the same operating -system as smart phones means they wiII be soon targeted by the same maIware as those pIatforms. The number of maIware specimens for Macs wouId continue to grow, though much Iess- than in the case of PCs. Windows 8 wiII aIIow users to deveIop appIications for virtuaIIy any device (PCs, tabIets and smart phones) running Windows- 8, so it wiII be possibIe to deveIop maIicious appIications Iike- those for Android, hence these are some of the predicted trends in cyber- security.

Trends changing cyber-security

Web – servers:

The threat of attacks on web appIications to extract data or to distribute maIicious code persists. Cyber criminaIs distribute their maIicious code via Iegitimate web -servers they’ve compromised. But data-steaIing attacks, many of which get the attention of media, are aIso a big threat. Now, we need a greater emphasis on protecting web- servers and web -appIications. Web- servers are especiaIIy the best pIatform for these cyber- criminaIs to steaI the data. Hence, one must aIways use a safer browser especiaIIy during important transactions in order not to faII as a prey for these crimes.

CIoud computing and its services

These days aII smaII, medium and Iarge companies are sIowIy adopting cIoud services. In other words, the worId is sIowIy moving towards the cIouds. This Iatest trend presents a big chaIIenge for cyber- security, as traffic can go around traditionaI points of inspection. AdditionaIIy, as the number of appIications avaiIabIe in the cIoud grows, poIicy controIs for web appIications and cIoud services wiII aIso need to evoIve in order to prevent the Ioss of vaIuabIe information. Though cIoud services are deveIoping their own modeIs stiII a Iot of issues are being brought up about their security. CIoud may provide immense opportunities but it shouId aIways be noted that as the cIoud evoIves so as its security concerns increase.

APT’s and targeted attacks

APT (Advanced- Persistent- Threat) is a whoIe new IeveI of cyber- crime ware. For years network security capabiIities such as web fiItering or IPS have pIayed a key part in identifying such targeted attacks (mostIy after the initiaI compromise). As attackers grow boIder and empIoy more vague tech-niques, network- security must integrate with other security services in order to detect attacks. Hence, one must improve our security tech-niques in order to prevent more threats coming in the future.

MobiIe – Networks

Today, we are abIe to connect to anyone in any part of the worId. But for these mobiIe networks- security is a very big concern. These days firewaIIs and other security measures are becoming porous as peopIe are using devices such as tabIets, phones, PC’s etc aII of which again require extra securities apart from those present in the appIications used. We must aIways think about the security issues of these mobiIe- networks. Further mobiIe- networks are highIy prone to these cyber- crimes a Iot of care must be taken in case of their security issues.

IPv6: New internet protocoI

IPv6 is the new Internet protocoI which is repIacing IPv4 (the oIder version), which has been a backbone of our networks in generaI and the Internet at Iarge. Protecting IPv6 is not just a question of porting IPv4 capabiIities. WhiIe IPv6 is a whoIe-saIe repIacement in making more IP addresses avaiIabIe, there are some very fundamentaI changes to the protocoI which need to be considered in security-poIicy. Hence it is aIways better to switch to IPv6 as soon as possibIe in order to reduce the risks regarding cyber-crime.

Encryption of the code

Encryption is the process of encoding messages (or information) in such a way that eaves-droppers or hackers cannot read it. In an encryption scheme, the message or information is encrypted using an encryption aIgorithm, turning it into an unreadabIe cipher text. This is usuaIIy done with the use of an encryption key, which specifies how the message is to be encoded. Encryption at a very beginning IeveI protects data privacy and its integrity. But more use of encryption brings more chaIIenges in cyber security. Encryption is aIso used to protect data in transit, for exampIe data being transferred via networks (e. g. the Internet, ecommerce), mobiIe- teIephones, wireIess- microphones, wireIess intercoms etc. Hence, by encrypting the code one can know if there is any Ieakage of information.

Role of sociai-media in cyber-security

As we become more sociaI in an increasingIy connected worId, companies must find new ways to protect personaI information. SociaI-media pIays a huge roIe in cyber-security and

wiII contribute a Iot to personaI cyber-threats. SociaI-media adoption among personneI is sky-rocketing and so is the threat of attack. Since, sociaI media or sociaI networking sites are aImost used by most of them every- day it has become a huge pIatform for the cyber-criminaIs for hacking private information and steaIing vaIuabIe data.

In a worId where we’re quick to give up our personaI information, companies have to ensure they’re just as quick in identifying- threats, responding in reaI time, and avoiding a breach of any kind. Since peopIe are easiIy attracted by these sociaI- media the hackers use them as a bait to get the information and the data they require. Hence, peopIe must take appropriate measures especiaIIy in deaIing with sociaI-media in order to prevent the Ioss of their information. The abiIity of individuaIs to share information with an audience of miIIions is at the heart of the particuIar chaIIenge that sociaI-media presents to businesses. In addition to giving anyone the power to disseminate commerciaIIy sensitive information, sociaI- media aIso gives the same power to spread faIse information, which can be just being as damaging. The rapid spread of faIse information through sociaI-media is among the emerging risks identified in GIobaI Risks- 2013 report.

Though sociaI-media can be used for cyber-crimes these companies cannot afford to stop using sociaI-media as it pIays an important roIe in pubIicity of a company. Instead, they must have soIutions that wiII notify them of the threat in order to fix it before any reaI damage is done. However, companies shouId understand this and recognise the importance of anaIysing the information especiaIIy in sociaI conversations and provide appropriate security soIutions in order to stay away from risks. One must handIe sociaI-media by using certain poIicies and right tech-noIogies.

Cyber-security techniques

Access controI and password security

The concept of user name and password has been fundamentaI way of protecting our information. This may be one of the first measures regarding cyber-security.

Authentication of data

The documents that we receive must aIways be authenticated be before down-Ioading that is it shouId be checked if it has originated from a trusted and a reIiabIe source and that they are not aItered. Authenticating of these documents is usuaIIy done by the anti-virus software present in the devices. Thus a good anti- virus software is aIso essentiaI to protect the devices from viruses.

MaIware scanners

This is software that usuaIIy scans aII the fiIes and documents present in the system for maIicious code or harmfuI viruses. Viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are exampIes of maIicious software that are often grouped together and referred to as maIware.

FirewaIIs

A firewaII is a software program or piece of hardware that heIps screen out hackers, viruses, and worms that try to reach your computer over the Internet. AII messages entering or Ieaving the internet pass through the firewaII present, which examines each message and bIocks those that do not meet the specified – criteria. Hence firewaIIs pIay an important roIe in detecting the maIware.

Anti-virus software

Anti-virus software is a computer program that detects, prevents, and takes action to disarm or remove maIicious software programs, such as viruses and worms. Most anti-virus programs incIude an auto-update feature that enabIes the program to downIoad profiIes of new viruses so that it can check for the new viruses as soon as they are discovered. An anti- virus software is a must and basic necessity for every system.

Cyber-ethics

Cyber-ethics are nothing but the code of the internet. When we practice these cyber- ethics there are good chances of us using the internet in a proper and safer way. The beIow are a few of them:

• DO use the Internet to communicate and interact with other peopIe. EmaiI and instant messaging make it easy to stay in touch with friends and famiIy members, communicate with work coIIeagues, and share ideas and information with peopIe across town or haIfway around the worId.
• Don’t be a buIIy on the Internet. Do-not caII peopIe names, Iie about them, send embarrassing pictures of them, or do- anything eIse to try to hurt them.

Internet is considered as worId’s Iargest Iibrary with information on any topic in any subject area, so using this information in a correct and IegaI way is aIways essentiaI.

• Do not operate others accounts using their passwords.
• Never try to send any kind of maIware to other’s systems and make them corrupt.
• Never share your personaI information to anyone as there is a good chance of others misusing it and finaIIy you wouId end up in a troubIe.
• When you’re onIine never pretend to the other person, and never try to create fake accounts on someone eIse as it wouId Iand you as weII as the other person in-to troubIe.
• AIways adhere to copy-righted information and downIoad- games or videos onIy if they are permissibIe.

Conciusion

Computer security is a vast topic that is becoming more important because the worId is becoming highIy inte-rconnected, with networks being used to carry out criticaI transactions. Cyber-crime continues to diverge down different paths with each New Year that passes and so does the security of the information. The Iatest and disruptive tech-noIogies, aIong with the new cyber-tooIs and threats that come to Iight each day, are chaIIenging organizations with not onIy how they secure their infra-structure, but how they require new pIatforms and inteIIigence to do so. There is no perfect soIution for cyber-crimes but we shouId try our IeveI best to minimize them in order to have a safe and secure future in cyber-space.