Computer Science (2210)
Malware: Malicious software Virus: Attaches to files, spreads when file is shared Worm: Self-replicating, spreads through networks automatically Trojan: Disguises as legitimate software Ransomware: Encrypts your files, demands payment Spyware: Secretly monitors your activity
Phishing: Fake emails/websites that trick you into giving personal info Social engineering: Manipulating people into revealing confidential information Brute force attack: Trying every possible password combination DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service): Flooding a server with requests to crash it SQL injection: Inserting malicious code into a website's database queries
Firewalls: Monitor and filter network traffic Encryption: Scrambling data so only authorized users can read it Strong passwords: Long, mix of characters, unique for each account Two-factor authentication (2FA): Something you know + something you have Regular updates: Patches fix security vulnerabilities Backups: Keep copies of data in case of ransomware or data loss Anti-malware software: Detects and removes malicious programs
Topic 4 of 5Cambridge O Levels
Cybersecurity
Threats, attacks, and how to stay safe online
As more of our lives go online, cybersecurity becomes crucial.
Common Threats:
Protection Methods:
Key Points to Remember
- 1Malware types: virus, worm, trojan, ransomware, spyware
- 2Phishing uses fake emails/sites to steal personal info
- 3Protection: firewalls, encryption, strong passwords, 2FA, backups
- 4Encryption scrambles data — only authorized users can decrypt it
Pakistan Example
Online Banking Safety in Pakistan
With HBL, Meezan, and other banks offering online banking, cybersecurity is critical. In 2018, almost all Pakistani banks were hit by a data breach — thousands of credit card details were leaked. How to protect yourself: Use 2FA (the OTP that HBL sends to your phone is the second factor). Never click links in SMS saying 'your account is blocked' — that's phishing. Use unique passwords for each bank app. Enable transaction alerts so you know immediately if someone uses your card. The bank encrypts your data using HTTPS, but YOU are often the weakest link in security!