Safeguards for preventing the unethical use of computers

What is a Safeguard?

A computer safeguard is very valuable, it is what protects your computer from others accessing it's data and information. Without them anyone could look at or steal the information on your computer, and even if you do have safeguards if they aren't strong enough they might not be able to protect agains't malware devices. (1)

Types of Safeguards

Pictures of Safeguard

Brief Description of Safeguard

Effective Passwords
Passwords are a combination of letters, numbers and symbols used to prevent access to unauthorized users.
Firewalls
"A firewall is a network security system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network." (2)
Biometric Data
"Biometric data is a general term used to refer to any computer data that is created during a biometric process. This includes samples, models, fingerprints, similarity scores and all verification or identification data excluding the individual's name and demographics." (3)

Explanation of each safeguard's use and when they are used.

Effective Passwords

Passwords are used to block others from entering your accounts. Passwords are the most commonly used safeguard they are used on almost any account. To be successful you have to creat strong passwords. A strong password is at least 12 characters long with many different symbols and characters. Also, it shouldn't use words from the dictionary. Another precaution that should be taken when making passwords is to use different passwords for different accounts, this must be done because if one of your accounts is hacked then if you use the same passwords for all of your accounts then they are hacked too. (4)

Firewalls

A firewall is either hardware or software based and protects networks by controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic. They act as a barrier between trusted and untrusted networks. This means only traffic that is permitted can go through the firewall any other traffic is denied. They are called firewalls because a computer virus is like a fire it catches in the program and spreads, the firewall acts as a block to the fire. Over time the internet has increased in size and complexity, therefore firewalls have had to be updated and have increased in efficiency. (5)

Biometric Data

Biometric data is used to lock systems and accounts by using DNA as the password. As of right now the best example of this is Iphones they use finger prints as passwords, although in the future there will be a lot more precise versions of this technology. For example eye scans or body temperature are possible ways of securing data. Biometric data is one of the best ways to secure data as it is virtually impossiblee for unauthorized users to gain acces. Also, out of all the safeguards biometric data is the most complex and expensive, as it is brand new and keeps getting updated. It is the highest demanded safeguard right now as it is the safest and most secure. Systems that rely on biometric data have very complex algorithms, because for biometric data to be successful the pass-key has to be unique for every person. (6)

Questions

1. What steps can you follow to create a strong password?

2. what does biometric data use to safeguard your devices?

3. Which of the three safeguards is the most complex?

Answers

Bibliography

1. Ways to Safeguard Computers. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2018, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/ways-safeguard-computers-45589.html

2. Beal, V. (n.d.). Firewall. Retrieved February 06, 2018, from https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/firewall.html

3. Beal, V. (n.d.). Biometric data. Retrieved February 06, 2018, from https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/B/biometric_data.html

4. Hoffman, C. (2017, November 06). How to Create a Strong Password (and Remember It). Retrieved February 06, 2018, from https://www.howtogeek.com/195430/how-to-create-a-strong-password-and-remember-it/

5. What is firewall? - Definition from WhatIs.com. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2018, from http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/firewall

6. What is Biometric Data? - Definition from Techopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2018, from https://www.techopedia.com/definition/26991/biometric-data

Types of Safeguards	Pictures of Safeguard	Brief Description of Safeguard
Effective Passwords		Passwords are a combination of letters, numbers and symbols used to prevent access to unauthorized users.
Firewalls		"A firewall is a network security system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network." (2)
Biometric Data		"Biometric data is a general term used to refer to any computer data that is created during a biometric process. This includes samples, models, fingerprints, similarity scores and all verification or identification data excluding the individual's name and demographics." (3)