Security, Internet Safety- two sides of the same coin
Deepak Maheshwari
When we open our windows for sunshine, some dust can
also come in and so can someone peep in too. So, we
use screens & curtains, etc. Same is the case with
the cyber world too
BANGALORE: Absolute security exists neither in
physical world nor in the virtual world. However, if
we take care of some basics, the protection would
become better and the harm curtailed but first, let us
understand these terms.
Cyber security of one of its variant is often used in
the enterprise context or by the governments where the
notion is about the processes and technologies
to protect a computer network and other critical
information in a digital form.
On the other hand, Internet Safety denotes similar
notions when we think of an individual using a
computer to connect to other computers through the
Internet
at home, in a school or college or for that matter,
in a cyber café.
Outside a factory, there may be security gate manned
by guards who are tasked with verifying the identity
of those entering but once inside, the level
of security often dips significantly except for some
specific locations like treasury or facilities housing
the Research & Development activities.
Now, if an intruder somehow makes it past the main
gate, roaming within may become easy.
On the way out, inspections are rare and often limited
to the physical search. An intruder could comes in
with a stolen ID card, destroys or alter something
within the premises and walks out undetected or could
just observe the prototype of a new product without
touching anything.
Isnt it similar to the case where someone uses a
password stolen or even shared at times and act as
impostor who enters your online account and siphons
off money to his account or just pores over your
transaction records?
When your friend returns the key to your vehicle after
a joy ride, you feel that the vehicle is in your
control but when we share the password, we may think
that the key is still with us but the fact is that the
friend not only still retains the key but might have
even changed the lock and therefore, the
key in the form of a changed password and by the time
we realize this, it may be too late.
Just like we use keys to lock our houses, cupboards,
rooms and vehicles to avoid theft and trespassing, we
use the passwords in the cyber space. While
we do find it a little burdensome to carry multiple
keys of different shapes & sizes each to fit its own
respective lock, we find it difficult to remember
different passwords and more often than not, do not
even bother to change the password that the service
providers send or settle for just password
the most popular password in the world.
Simple to remember? Definitely yes, but also simple
enough for a miscreant to crack easily!
Security & safety are necessitated not just from other
persons and organizations but also within the
organization and the family. Numerous research reports
have established that when it comes to cyber security,
the internal attacks are more dangerous and prevalent.
It is due to two reasons firstly, the security
system inside are much weaker and often non-existent
and secondly, the insiders are more likely to know the
points of laxity in the system.
There are also occasions where the security personnel
could also be party to such activities thereby defying
the very trust for which they would have been
put in place!
Security of storage is often taken as fait accompli
while not bothering to secure the entry and exit
pathways and chinks in the bolt of a crack in the
door or a window. Same is true about information as
well.
So, what should one do about it? First, we need to be
aware of the usual ploys used and focus on identifying
the weakest links in the chain and strengthening
those rather than just thickening the strongest link.
If we just take care to change the supplied &
default passwords or PINs, use special characters like
- % # and numerals as well as local language
terms within the passwords, this itself would rid us
of much trouble.
Besides, the passwords should be changed once in a
while and it is not to be shared with others.
Internet Safety can be easily thought of in 3 easy
dimensions, viz. Protect Your PC, Protect Your
Information & Protect Your Family. Obviously,
enterprise
security is useless if there is no safety at
individual level and vice versa. This is why it is
said that these are two sides of the same coin!
(The author is director of corporate affairs at
Microsoft India)
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