Tuesday 23 August 2016

The protection of computing devices, networks, programs and information from unauthorized access and usage is known as cyber security. There are benefits and disadvantages of introducing and following cyber security. • One of the major advantages of cyber security is that it protects the systems against harmful viruses, malware, worms and spyware. It also acts a shield against unwanted programs that disrupt the system functionality or slows them down. • Data theft is an important crisis in the modern world. It effectively prevents such activities. • It reduces the chances of the system being hacked by unauthorized people. • It helps in preventing computer and system freeze and crashes. There are certain systems which performs program testing and critical analysis from time to time. If the system crashes in the middle of such a testing process, it might result in heavy loss of data as well as the program might get corrupted. Cyber security is a preventive wall against such a scenario. • It increases the level of privacy in terms of information sharing between the users. • It is an active defender of cyberspace. It aids in increasing cyber defence and enhances the speed of the systems. With all the benefits, there are certain limitations associated with the cyber security as well. • It can be price sensitive for average users. This user group may find cyber security initiatives a bit costly. • The firewalls are not always user and system friendly. They are quite difficult to configure. • As the technologies have advanced, the hackers and unethical users have formulated new programs and methods for unwanted breaches. Hence the cyber security programs need to be updated on a regular basis to prevent the situation. • Lastly, systems tend to slow down with the installation of such security programs. But above all, it is a necessary element in the global business arena. There are certain measures which need to be followed towards its successful implementation. • First up, the attitude of the user needs to positive. It might seem that he or she can never become a victim of cyber crime. But that is not true. It has to be understood that every user is an active target. • Password management is a good practice and an active defence tool against cyber crime. Complex passwords are more difficult to be predicted by the stealth programs. • Unattended devices are one of the easiest and common targets for cyber crime. It is better to lock the systems and phone while not using it. Even flash drives and external hard disks should be locked. • Now days we all receive huge amount of junk mails in our mail box. There are certain emails which contain an element of urgency and instruct the user to click on certain links and download attachments. If not sure, these actions should be avoided. • Sensitive browsing which involves payment details, personal details and banking information should be done on personal systems. • Data backup should be performed at regular intervals. • One should keep a close eye on the information shared over social media platforms. • The online accounts should be monitored closely in order to detect any suspicious activities.