Hacking and Malware

 Hacking and Malware

Hacking

Hacking is the illegal access to a computer system without the owner’s consent or knowledge.

In an age of networks that never sleep, hacking can be done remotely from anywhere.

Hacking poses a real threat to people and organisations, damage can include:

• Loss of personal information, which could lead to identity theft
• Wide scale loss of customer information
• Deleted or corrupted data
• 
  
• Ways to reduce the risk of hacking
• Use anti-hacking software
• Use of strong passwords and none obvious user ids
• Firewalls
• Malware

Malware is any malicious software, but it is more commonly know as viruses and spyware.

Viruses

A program or code that replicates itself; designed to amend, delete or copy data or files on a user’s computer; often causes the computer to crash or run slowly; could stop hardware from being able to communicate; could spread to other devices on a network

Spyware

 Software that secretly gathers information by monitoring (recording) key presses made on a user’s keyboard; the data is sent back to the originator of the software; the data is then analysed to try and reveal log-in details

Malware damage can include:

• Unresponsive or slow computer performance
• Computer stops functioning properly or crashes
• Poor battery life
• Deleted files/data
• Corrupted files/data
• Unauthorised changes to settings
• Additional spyware downloaded
• Pop ups
• Access to all data entered, including passwords
• Ways to reduce the risk of malware
• Use anti-malware/anti-virus software
• Keep all software, including operating system, up to date
• Don’t download from unknown websites
• Be careful when opening email attachments
• Don’t click on pop ups
• Keep web browser security level medium or higher