Network Security

1. What is Network Security?

• Network security is a set of rules and configurations designed to protect the usability, integrity, confidentiality, and accessibility of your data or computer network which includes both hardware and software technologies.
• It is to avoid and keep track of unauthorized access, exploitation, modification or denial of the network and network resources. In addition, network security blocks threats, viruses, malware hackers, etc. and stops them from accessing or spreading on your network.

2. The advantages of Network Security

• Protect data
• Prevent cyber attack
• Levels of access
• Centrally controlled
• Centralized updates

3. The disadvantages of Network Security

• Costly setup
• Time-consuming 
• Requires skilled staff
• Careless admin

4. Importance of Network Security

• To prevent serious consequences from the theft of information or loss of privacy.
• To protect the network from threats attack or being hack. 
• Act as an extra security layer to keep the data and information as secured as possible. 
• It can prevent the traffic in the network from being congested (lagging).

5. Example of Network Security Breach

• Facebook
• In September 2018, Facebook announced that an attack on its computer network exposed the personal data of over 50 million users. According to Facebook, the hacker able to gain access to the system by exploiting a vulnerability in the code used for the 'View as' feature.
• Once this feature was exploited, the attackers were able to steal 'access token' which used to take over user's account and gain access to other services. The breach also affected to the third part apps connected to the Facebook (E.g. Applications that connected with Facebook Account - PUBG).
• As a Precautionary measure, the company logged 90 million users out of their accounts and reset the access tokens.

References

• Advantages-disadvantages.co. (2019). Advantages and Disadvantages of Network Security. [online] Available at: https://www.advantages-disadvantages.co/network-security-advantages-and-disadvantages/ [Accessed 8 Oct. 2019].
• http://www.metacompliance.com/, M. (2019). 5 Examples of Security Breaches in 2018. [online] Available at: https://www.metacompliance.com/blog/5-examples-of-security-breaches-in-2018/ [Accessed 15 Oct. 2019].