Chapter 12 Computers and Society: Security and Privacy

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Chapter 12Computers and Society Security and
Privacy
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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• What is a computer security risk?

• Any event or action that could cause a loss of or
  damage to computer hardware, software, data,
  information, or processing capability
• May be accidental or planned
• Intentional breach of computer security often
  involves a deliberate act that is against the law

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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• What is a computer virus?

• A potentially damaging computer program that
  affects, or infects, your computer negatively by
  altering the way the computer works without your
  knowledge or permission
• A segment of program code from some outside
  source that implants itself in a computer
• Once in the computer it can spread throughout and
  may damage your files and operating system

Click to view video
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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• What are the ways viruses can be activated?

• Opening an infected file
• Running an infected program
• Booting the computer with an infected floppy disk
  in the disk drive

Click to view Web Link then click Computer Viruses
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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• What is the most common way computers become
  infected with a virus?

• Through e-mail attachments

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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• What is the source of a virus?

• Written by a programmer, known as a virus author
• Some write viruses as a challenge
• Others write viruses to cause destruction

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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• What are signs of a virus infection?

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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• What are the three main types of virus?

Click to view animation
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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• How do viruses activate?

Click to view animation
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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• What is a malicious-logic program?

• A program that acts without a users knowledge
• Deliberately alters the computer's operations
• Also called malware
• Several types
• virus
• worm
• Trojan horse

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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• How can you reduce infection risk from a boot
  sector virus?

• Never start your computer with a floppy disk in
  drive A unless you are certain the disk is an
  uninfected boot disk
• All floppy disks contain a boot sector

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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• How can you protect your system from a macro
  virus?

• You can set a macros security level in all
  applications that allow you to write macros
• At the medium security level, a warning displays
  when you attempt to open a document that contains
  a macro

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Computer Security Risks and Safeguards

• How can you safeguard your computer from virus
  attacks?

• Install an antivirus program and upgrade it
  frequently
• An antivirus program identifies and removes any
  computer viruses found in memory, on storage
  media, or on incoming files
• Most antivirus programs also protect against
  worms and Trojan horses

Popular antivirus software packages
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