Cyber Security

Cyber security refers to protecting ones hardware, and personal information from theft and breaches to their integrity.

With many things such as spyware, big data, and information leaks , cyber security is an important concern among every internet user. Whether it is a social media account or email, most people that use the internet have at least one account on the web that contains personal information such as identity information, credit or bank cards, and other sensitive data. As mentioned in the Malware wiki, there are precautions internet users can take to prevent their information from being released, such as antivirus software, or being able to determine if software is misleading.

## Importance of Cyber Security

Many people don't realize just how much personal information is stored in datasets on the web. Most social media websites force the user to enter some kind of personal information such as a telephone number, birthday, or bank card before creating an account. Medical records, bank information, and other personally identifiable information can be reached by people with malicious intent if proper security precautions aren't taken. Behind every account password and authorization token, there is a way for an unauthorized person to gain access to your information.

## Protecting from Malware

There are many antivirus software available that can protect a user's computer and online assets from malicious software, otherwise known as *malware*. Some of the most popular softwares include Norton, McAfee, and Kaspersky. These will protect your computers from many forms of malware, though even these do not guarantee that your computer and information is completely safe. Some types of malware include rootkits, which will give an unauthorized user access to a computer and remain undetected by antivirus softwares. Along with that, sometimes personal data is kept on servers, instead of a personal computer. At that point, it is up to whoever owns the servers to protect it.

## Data Breaches

Most information stored on the web is stored on thousands of servers in complex data sets, which can be coined to the term big data. These datasets can contain millions of user's personal information, and can be vulnerable if the person or company who owns them is not responsible.

Companies have many ways that they can protect from unauthorized people gaining access to information. While most commercial datasets are stored in the cloud, precautions are still taken such as encryption to make it difficult to hack. Along with that, there are security incident and event management (SIEM) systems that detect unauthorized file modifications by malicious agents.

Even with those precautions, data breaches still happen annually. As more users depend on corporations to protect their personal information, it us up to the company to improve it's cyber security features.

## References

1. “How Big Data Is Improving Cyber Security.” *CSO Online*, 10 Nov. 2016, www.csoonline.com/article/3139923/security/how-big-data-is-improving-cyber-security.html.
2. “Common Malware Types: Cybersecurity 101.” *Veracode*, 21 July 2017, www.veracode.com/blog/2012/10/common-malware-types-cybersecurity-101.
3. “Cybersecurity.” *Department of Homeland Security*, 27 Mar. 2018, www.dhs.gov/topic/cybersecurity.
4. “What Is Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)?  *SearchSecurity*, searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/security-information-and-event-management-SIEM.