Reflection 2a

Hello, I am Enes Sarıbaş.  Today I am going to be discussing preventative computer security measures that can be taken to protect computers and computer networks. Preventative computer security measures are necessary in order to protect user’s privacy. However, in order to implement these security measures, one needs to be aware of the different sources of possible attacks. The most important ones are malware attacks, hack attacks and port scans on open ports and exploits that take advantage of vulnerabilities in unpatched software.  First of all, malware attacks are the most common form of attack today. These attacks can occur in many ways such as infected removable devices, hacked websites that try to install malware, spam e-mails that contain infected attachments and fake antivirus websites. The second most significant form of attacks are hack attacks and port scans on unprotected networks. A port is like a door between your computer and the Internet.  When ports are open and visible on port scans, hackers can gain access to the computer and install malware using the open ports. The other most significant attack vectors are exploits that take advantage of vulnerabilities in unpatched software. Hackers are constantly searching for vulnerabilities and bugs in software that if successfully exploited, can allow hackers to take complete control of a user’s system. Specially crafted files that are designed specifically to exploit these vulnerabilities are called exploits. All these attacks can be prevented with safe computing practices. Malware attacks can be blocked by using common sense and an antivirus program. Users should not open suspicious e-mail attachments and should stay away from suspicious sights. Hack attacks and port scans can be blocked by closing all ports.  This can be accomplished either with a software or hardware firewall. Exploits can be stopped by always keeping all software up-to-date.  Users should always install security patches for all software installed on their personal computers.