Force Byte
Information Security

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With Information Security being one of the topics for the latest round of Force-wide Training Day, let's do a quick quiz. What is Information Security?

Information is an asset of all individuals and organisations. Information Security refers to protection of information asset in three areas - the first two being confidentiality and integrity, which were discussed in two previous issues of Offbeat. What is the third one?

Yes, it is availability. But what does it mean?

For those who can shout the answer out loud, well done!

Even if you can't, take a look at the familiar password scenario again, which was discussed in earlier issues.

Assume that you are using a default password or a weak password that can easily be guessed, or a password that you have told others already.

Such a password can be easily compromised. As a result, someone else can enter the system using your account, manipulate the system using your identity, or worse still, perform destructive behaviours, such as deleting your data.

As a result, your valuable data will become unavailable for your intended use. Intruders can also make the system unavailable for its normal use. If such system is intended for emergency services, closing down of such is detrimental. Simply locking up a compromised account is also an unavailability issue that may bring inconvenience to you as a user.

Once again, time to change to a strong password only known to you!

Lists of weak passwords can easily be obtained from the Internet for intruders to hack into systems.



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