Network Security

 Network security is a very important thing when it comes to the world of Information Technology. Without it we would all be at the mercy of hackers and others. In this paper, I will discuss different types of ways that a network can be vulnerable; this includes Dos attacks, phishing, and computer viruses. 

Let’s start by discussing a DoS attack and how it can affect your network and/or computer. DoS stands for denial of service. “A Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack is an attack meant to shut down a machine or network, making it inaccessible to its intended users” (What is a denial of service attack, 2022). These attacks utilize a massive amount of information and traffic sent to a specific network IP address. These then overflow the network causing it to shut down. The damage done by this can be huge to a company if it cannot function without its network. Take, for example, I play video games on a well-known platform ran by Blizzard. Blizzard is often hit with DoS attacks, and we cannot access their servers. A way to minimize this would be to ensure you include a firewall in your network and monitor traffic. 

Phishing is a common thing in email nowadays. You get random emails that look suspicious, wanting you to claim a prize only to want your information. That’s why they call it phishing; they set the bait and hope you bite. A way to prevent this would simply be to monitor your emails and verify who you are receiving them from. If it looks suspicious, it probably is. In this case, utilize the report feature and let someone know. 

Next, we have the classic computer viruses. “A computer virus is a type of malware that attaches to another program (like a document), which can replicate and spread after a person first runs it on their system” (Computer virus: What are computer viruses? , 2022). These have been around for a long time. Once infected, your computer can run slow or even do things on its own, like open programs. The way to prevent this is to get anti-virus and monitor what you are clicking on. If it looks like it’s the wrong thing, it probably is. 

Without network security, we are left as an open threat to the world. Hopefully, by utilizing these tips, you can protect yourself from vulnerability and attacks. In this paper, I discussed different types of ways that a network can be vulnerable; this includes Dos attacks, phishing, and computer viruses.