Internet security all about

Internet security is a branch of computer security specifically related to the Internet. Its objective is to establish rules and measures to use against attacks over the Internet. The Internet represents an insecure channel for exchanging information leading to a high risk of intrusion or fraud, such as phishing Different methods have been used to protect the transfer of data, including encryption.

Network layer security

TCP/IP can be made secure with the help of cryptographic methods and protocols that have been developed for securing communications on the Internet. These protocols include SSL and TLS for web traffic, PGP for email, and IPsec for the network layer security.

Types of firewalls

Packet filters

Packet filters are one of several different types of firewalls that process network traffic on a packet-by-packet basis. Their main job is to filter traffic from a remote IP host, so a router is needed to connect the internal network to the Internet. The router is known as a screening router, which screens packets leaving and entering the network.

Circuit-level gateways

The circuit-level gateway is a proxy server that statically defines what traffic will be allowed. Circuit proxies always forward packets containing a given port number, provided the port number is permitted by the rules set. This gateway operates at the network level of an OSI model. The main advantage of a proxy server is its ability to provide Network Address Translation (NAT), which can hide the user's IP address from the Internet, effectively protecting all internal information from the Internet.

Viruses are programs that can replicate their structures or effects by infecting other files or structures on a computer. The common use of a virus is to take over a computer to steal data.

A Trojan horse (commonly known as a Trojan) is a general term for malicious software that pretends to be harmless so that a user willingly allows it to be downloaded onto the computer.

The term spyware refers to programs that surreptitiously monitor activity on a computer system and report that information to others without the user's consent.

Worms are programs that can replicate themselves throughout a computer network, performing malicious tasks throughout.

A botnet is a network of "zombie" computers that have been taken over by a "bot" that performs large-scale malicious acts for the creator of the botnet.

Antivirus programs and Internet security programs are useful in protecting a computer or programmable device from malware.

Such programs are used to detect and usually eliminate viruses; however, it is now common to see security suites, containing also firewalls, anti-spyware, theft protection, and so on to more thoroughly protect users.

Traditionally, a user would pay for antivirus software; however, computer users now can, and do, download from a host of free security applications on the Internet

compiled by: RizPL from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_security