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Computer security software

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Computer security software or cybersecurity software is any computer program designed to influence information security. This is often taken in the context of defending computer systems or data, yet can incorporate programs designed specifically for subverting computer systems due to their significant overlap, and the adage that the best defense is a good offense.

The defense of computers against intrusion and unauthorized use of resources is called computer security. Similarly, the defense of computer networks is called network security.

The subversion of computers or their unauthorized use is referred to using the terms cyberwarfare, cybercrime, or security hacking (later shortened to hacking for further references in this article due to issues with hacker, hacker culture and differences in white/grey/black 'hat' color identification).

Types

Below follow a series of software patterns and groups from the perspective of a host system interacting with users and attempting to secure itself or its assets against their interactions.

Prevent Access

The primary purpose of these types of systems is to restrict and often to completely prevent access to computers or data except to a very limited set of users. The theory is often that if a key, credential, or token is unavailable then access should be impossible. A physical comparison is often made to a fortress, armor, or jamming. A shell that even if abandoned would still present a significant challenge for computer access. This often involves taking valuable information and then either reducing it to apparent noise or hiding it within another source of information in such a way that it is unrecoverable.

Isolate / Regulate Access

The purpose of these types of systems is usually to restrict access to computers or data while still allowing interaction. Often this involves monitoring or checking credential, separating systems from access and view based on importance, and quarantining or isolating perceived dangers. A physical comparison is often made to a shield. A form of protection whose use is heavily dependent on the system owners preferences and perceived threats. Large numbers of users may be allowed relatively low-level access with limited security checks, yet significant opposition will then be applied toward users attempting to move toward critical areas.

Monitor Access

The purpose of these types of software systems is to monitor access to computers systems and data while reporting or logging the behavior. Often this is composed of large quantities of low priority data records / logs, coupled with high priority notices for unusual or suspicious behavior. A physical comparison to eyes, goggles, scanning, or spying is often made. Observing user's behavior, often with the secondary goal of remaining hidden themselves.

Surveillance monitor

These programs use algorithms either stolen from, or provided by, the police and military internet observation organizations to provide the equivalent of a police Radio scanner. Most of these systems are born out of mass surveillance concepts for internet traffic, cell phone communication, and physical systems like CCTV. In a global perspective they are related to the fields of SIGINT and ELINT and approach GEOINT in the global information monitoring perspective. Sources for such information and the organizations that provide them, in the year 2020, within their particular jurisdictions, include (although may not be exclusive to):

Note that several instant messaging programs such as ICQ (founded by "former" members of Unit 8200), or WeChat and QQ (rumored 3PLA/4PLA connections[4][5]) may represent extensions of these observation apparati.

Remove Programs or Malicious Code

The purpose of these types of software is to remove malicious or harmful forms of software that may compromise the security of a computer system. These types of software are often closely linked with software for computer regulation and monitoring. A physical comparison to a doctor, scrubbing, or cleaning ideas is often made, usually with an "anti-" style naming scheme related to a particular threat type. Threats and unusual behavior are identified by a system such as a firewall or an intrusion detection system, and then the following types of software are used to remove them. These types of software often require extensive research into their potential foes to achieve complete success, similar to the way that complete eradication of bacteria or viral threats does in the physical world. Occasionally this also represents defeating an attackers encryption, such as in the case of data tracing, or hardened threat removal.

Software run on computers to secure other systems

These types of software are programs run on computers that are primarily intended to secure systems other than themselves. This is usually achieved by providing interactions with physical world systems or by evaluating data that may not be "directly" related to computer security.

See also

References

  1. ^ "SIRENE cooperation". European Commission, official website. European Commission. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  2. ^ Pike, John (25 July 2002). "Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence". Federation of American Scientists. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  3. ^ "Tipping the scales: Security & surveillance in Pakistan" (PDF). Privacy International. Privacy International. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  4. ^ O'Neill, Patrick Howell (3 May 2017). "Under tough surveillance, China's cybercriminals find creative ways to chat". SNG. cyberscoop. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  5. ^ Dasgupta, Binayak (1 July 2020). "Mass surveillance risk real with Chinese apps: Experts". Hindustan Times, New Delhi. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
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