Essay/Term paper: Is your information safe?

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Information Technology

Is Your Information Safe?


He doesn't wear a stocking mask over his face, and he doesn't break a
window to get into your house. He doesn't hold a gun to your head, nor does he
ransack your personal possessions. Just the same he's a thief. Although this
thief is one you'll not only never see, but you may not even realize right away
that he's robbed you. The thief is a computer hacker and he "enters" your home
via your computer, accessing personal information -- such as credit card numbers
-- which he could then use without your knowledge -- at least until you get that
next credit card statement. Richard Bernes, supervisor of the FBI's Hi-Tech
squad in San Jose, California, calls the Internet "the unlocked window in
cyberspace through which thieves crawl" (Erickson 1). There seems to be an
unlimited potential for theft of credit card numbers, bank statements and other
financial and personal information transmitted over the Internet.
It's hard to imagine that anyone in today's technologically oriented
world could function without computers. Personal computers are linked to
business computers and financial networks, and all are linked together via the
Internet or other networks. More than a hundred million electronic messages
travel through cyberspace every day, and every piece of information stored in a
computer is vulnerable to attack (Icove-Seger-VonStorch 1). Yesterday's bank
robbers have become today's computer hackers. They can walk away from a computer
crime with millions of virtual dollars (in the form of information they can use
or sell for an enormous profit). Walking away is precisely what they do. The
National Computer Crimes Squad estimates that 85-97 % of the time, theft of
information from computers is not even detected (Icove-Seger-VonStorch 1).
Home computer users are vulnerable, not only for credit card information
and login IDs, but also their files, disks, and other computer equipment and
data, which are subject to attack. Even if this information is not confidential,
having to reconstruct what has been destroyed by a hacker can take days (Icove-
Seger-VonStorch 1). William Cheswick, a network-security specialist at AT&T Bell
Labs, says the home computers that use the Internet are singularly vulnerable to
attack. "The Internet is like a vault with a screen door on the back," says
Cheswick. "I don't need jackhammers and atom bombs to get in when I can walk in
through the door" (Quittner 44).
The use of the Internet has become one of the most popular ways to
communicate. It's easy, fun, and you don't have to leave your home to do it. For
example, the advantage of not having to take the time to drive to the bank is so
great that they never consider the fact that the information they store or
transmit might not be safe. Many computer security professionals continue to
speak out on how the lack of Internet security will result in a significant
increase in computer fraud, and easier access to information previously
considered private and confidential (Regan 26).
Gregory Regan, writing for Credit World, says that only certain types of
tasks and features can be performed securely. Electronic banking is not one of
them. "I would not recommend performing commercial business transactions," he
advises "or sending confidential information across networks attached to the
Internet" (26).
In the business world, computer security can be just as easily
compromised. More than a third of major U.S. corporations reported doing
business over the Internet -- up from 26 percent a year ago -- but a quarter of
them say they've suffered attempted break-ins and losses, either in stolen data
or cash (Denning 08A).
Dr. Gregory E. Shannon, president of InfoStructure Services and
Technologies Inc., says the need to improve computer security is essential.
There are newly released computer tools intended to help keep the security of
your PC information, but which can just as easily be accessed by computer
hackers, as this information will be released as freeware (available, and free,
to anyone) on the Internet (Cambridge 1). These freely distributed tools could
make it far easier for hackers to break into systems. Presently, if a hacker is
trying to break into a system, he has to keep probing a network for weaknesses.
Before long, hackers will be able to point one of these freeware tools at a
network and let it automatically probe for security holes, without any
interaction from themselves (Cambridge 1). Hackers, it seems, have no trouble
staying ahead of the computer security experts.
Online service providers, such as America Online, CompuServe and Prodigy,
are effective in providing additional protection for computer information. First
of all, you need to use a "secret password" -- a customer ID that is typed in
when you log on to the network. Then you can only send information, and retrieve
your own e-mail, through your own user access. Sometimes the service itself is
even locked out of certain information. CompuServe, for example, with its 800-
-plus private bulletin boards, can't even read what's on them without gaining
prior permission from the company paying for the service (Flanagan 34).
Perhaps in an attempt to show how secure they are, these information
services will give out very little information about security itself. They all
take measures to protect private information, and give frequent warnings to new
users about the danger in giving out a password, but there is also danger in
making the service easy to use for the general public -- anything that is made
easy enough for the novice computer user would not present much of a challenge
for a computer hacker. Still, there is a certain amount of protection in using a
service provider -- doing so is roughly euqivalent to locking what might be an
open door (Flanagan 34).
The latest weak spot that has been discovered is a flaw in the World
Wide Web. The Web is the fastest-growing zone within the Internet, the area
where most home computer users travel, as it's attractive and easy to use.
According to an advisory issued on the Internet by a programmer in Germany,
there is a "hole" in the software that runs most Web sites (Quittner 44). This
entry point will provide an an intruder with access to any and all information,
allowing him to do anything the owners of the site can do. Network-security
specialist Cheswick points out that most of the Web sites use software that puts
them at risk. With more and more home computer uses setting up their own home
pages and Web sites, this is just one more way a hacker can gain access to
personal information (Quittner 44).
Credit bureaus are aware of how financial information can be used or
changed by computer hackers, which has a serious impact on their customers.
Loans can be made with false information (obtained by the hackers from an
unsuspecting computer user's data base); and information can be changed for
purposes of deceit, harassment or even blackmail. These occur daily in the
financial services industry, and the use of Internet has only complicated how an
organization or private individual keeps information private, confidential and,
most importantly, correct (Regan 26).
Still, there are some measures that can be taken to help protect your
information. If you use a virus protection program before downloading any files
from the Internet, there is less of a chance a hacker can crack your system.
Login passwords should be changed frequently (write it down so you don't forget,
but store it in a secure place), and they should never contain words or names
that are easily guessed. It may be easier for you to remember your password if
you use your son's name, but it's also easier for the hacker to detect it.
Passwords should always be strictly private -- never tell anyone else what it is
(Regan 26).
Evaluate products for their security features before you buy any tool to
access the Internet or service providers. Remember, to change the default system
password -- the one you are initially given to set up the network on your
computer (Regan 26).
Finally, and most importantly, it's best to realize that a computer system,
regardless of the amount of precaution and protection you take, is never
completely protected from outsiders. As protection software becomes more
sophisticated, so do the hackers who want to break into your system. It's a good
idea not to leave the silver on the dining table when you don't know for sure
that a thief can't crawl through your window.

Works Cited

Cambridge Publishing Inc. "PC Security: Internet Security Tool to Deter
Hackers." Cambridge Work-Group, (1995): Jan, pp 1.

Denning, Dorothy E. "Privacy takes another hit from new computer rules" USA
Today, (1996): Dec 12, pp 08A.

Erickson, Jim. "Crime on the Internet A Growing Concern." Seattle Post
Intelligencer, (1995): Nov 15,
http://technoculture.mira.net.au/hypermail/0032.html

Flanagan, Patrick. "Demystifying the information highway." Management Review,
(1994): May 1, pp 34.

Icove, David; Seger, Karl; VonStorch, William. "Fighting Computer Crime."
http://www.pilgrim.umass.edu/pub/security/crime1.html

Quittner, Joshua. "Technology Cracks in the Net." Time, (1995): Feb 27, pp 44.

Regan, Gregory. "Securely accessing the Internet & the World Wide Web: Good or
evil?", Credit World, v. 85, (1996): Oct 1, pp 26.