Computer Security Risk for Home Users
Computer Security Risk for Home Users
BUIS 260
11/7/2011
BUIS 260
November 6, 2012
Computer Security Risk for Home Users This history of computers started long before it emerges in the 20th century. Computer was a man made device that acts as string from mechanical inventions and mathematical theories towards the modern concepts and machines formed a major academic ground and the basis that became a worldwide phenomenon. It is true that any great invention that is created to solve human lives will always have its negative side that will serve as a prey to embellish and cause catastrophic impact in a perfect device. As computer became to replace human brains, business partners, our media devices, our financial advisors, connection to the world and computer has also became our number one security threat. According to the class textbook, “A computer security risk is any event or action that could cause a loss of damage to computer hardware, software, data, information, or processing capability.” (Vermaat, 2010) Some of these security risks have caused users millions of dollars due to identity theft and at the same time computer has helped law enforcement agent captured convicted felons. Computer Security risk can be classified into two main categories which are computer crimes and cybercrimes. Computer crime involves knowingly interfering with computer security which involves a deliberate act against the law and cyber crime is defined as “Traditionally, crime has been defined as an intentional violation of the legal code that is punishable by the state”. (Vermaat, 2010) Cybercrime has become a serious crime and the FBI as include this into their top three priorities. The perpetrator of cybercrime and computer crimes has fall into seven basic categories which are hacker, cracker, Script Kiddie, corporate spy, unethical employee, cyber extortionist, and cyber terrorist. Home users are mostly exposed to security threats today because they do not
BUIS 260
11/7/2011
BUIS 260
November 6, 2012
Computer Security Risk for Home Users This history of computers started long before it emerges in the 20th century. Computer was a man made device that acts as string from mechanical inventions and mathematical theories towards the modern concepts and machines formed a major academic ground and the basis that became a worldwide phenomenon. It is true that any great invention that is created to solve human lives will always have its negative side that will serve as a prey to embellish and cause catastrophic impact in a perfect device. As computer became to replace human brains, business partners, our media devices, our financial advisors, connection to the world and computer has also became our number one security threat. According to the class textbook, “A computer security risk is any event or action that could cause a loss of damage to computer hardware, software, data, information, or processing capability.” (Vermaat, 2010) Some of these security risks have caused users millions of dollars due to identity theft and at the same time computer has helped law enforcement agent captured convicted felons. Computer Security risk can be classified into two main categories which are computer crimes and cybercrimes. Computer crime involves knowingly interfering with computer security which involves a deliberate act against the law and cyber crime is defined as “Traditionally, crime has been defined as an intentional violation of the legal code that is punishable by the state”. (Vermaat, 2010) Cybercrime has become a serious crime and the FBI as include this into their top three priorities. The perpetrator of cybercrime and computer crimes has fall into seven basic categories which are hacker, cracker, Script Kiddie, corporate spy, unethical employee, cyber extortionist, and cyber terrorist. Home users are mostly exposed to security threats today because they do not