Whether you are looking to protect a small network in your home or one that is the foundation of your business, you will find that it is first important to understand what kind of threats you might be facing. As soon as you have a computer hooked up in order to connect to the network, you will find that there is a chance that it can be exposed to a number of different risks. When you are thinking about what you can do to make a system a great deal more secure, you will find that an understanding of the risks that you are vulnerable to is something that can help a great deal.
First and perhaps most obviously, is the threat of a virus. While the majority of viruses are simply annoying, there are definitely viruses that can damage your network’s hardware, software, or both. For the most part, a virus is an executable file that will be spread by human means and will require someone to open it before it can do its work on the network. When looking at virus threats, it is worth understanding worms as well, which are considered a subset of viruses. Worms do not need human help to propagate themselves, and in fact one example of the way that they work is to turn your computer into an email server that will distribute copies of themselves.
When looking into network security threats, though, it is very important to consider what risks may be present from inside the system. First and foremost, the idea of bad architecture must be considered. If a network is mis-configured in the first place, it can be a very tempting target for people who are looking to get on it. One obvious example of this would be leaving a wireless network unsecured so that anyone with a network card could get onto it. This can certainly happen in a broader and more disastrous scope.
Interestingly enough, one of the most common measures taken to save time is also one that leaves network systems shockingly vulnerable. Consolidating a lot of services to one machine is a common measure for saving time and resources. It is easy to manage and simple to maintain, but if this single machine is compromised, there is a great deal of harm that can happen. While accidental failure is one thing, there is also the concern regarding the ease with which a single machine could be manipulated. In this case, the answer is frequently redundancy.
Computer network security is something that is very important, and if the information that you are safeguarding has anything to do with money or with personal information, it will achieve even a higher priority. Take some time and think about your system and think about whether it is vulnerable to any of the threats above. The more security that you can provide, the better off you will be. The protection of both your company and your customer depend on this aspect of your company’s working, so always consider what network security means to you.
By: Derek Rogers
Posts Tagged ‘Main Computer’
What Are the Main Computer Network Security Threats?
March 2nd, 2010Fast Network Printers For Multipurpose Use
November 19th, 2009
The network printers are the printers installed over the private network such as LAN; these printers are used for printing documents from various computer terminals in the network. The network can be established over the whole department or a building of an organization. These network printers make connection to the network by being installed at some specific USB port of the main computers of the central offices and take commands of printing from the various terminals connected, only if the permission from the main computer is granted.
These Printers are the multifunctional printers that offer many features within a single unit. These printers include scanner, photocopier and sometimes-even Fax machine within it. Such printers find great use in the offices as the need of buying other equipments is prevented. The other equipments, if bought separately, cost even more amount and also occupy more space. For this reason, very high performance, all-in-one printers are being used today.
These printers can be either laser printer or ink jet printers. Laser printers deliver high speed of operation while the ink jet printers are comparatively slow. Today printers are available in many configurations, types, capacity, functionality and style. Printers can be either colored or monochrome. They can be chosen on the basis of user capacity, that is, the connectivity to the terminals. A few manufacturers offer even up to 200 user terminals connectivity.
The multifunctional printers are offered by many manufacturers in the market. Some of the famous manufacturers include Brother, Canon, Copystar, Kyucera, Lexmark, NEC, OKi, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp and Xerox etc. The Copystar CS 1635, NEC NEFAX-805 and Sharp AR-M162 are a few of the best seller printers which are in current trend. The cost of these printers comes in the range of 600-1100$.
The printers can be selected on the basis of printing speed based on their printing requirements. The speed varies as number of pages it can print in a second along with maintaining a good quality print. Few printers come in with networking capability, if the requirement is for the whole department then printer with networking facility should be used. Their network installation is also very easy, many a times the company sends a serviceman for installing the printer.
Today network printers have become a very common device in any office department. Its utility is nowhere hidden; any user from his terminal can use them anytime. By network printer the need of buying several printers is vanished. And when these printers include scanner, copier and Fax machine, then it satisfies all the needs of an office.
Thus the multifunctional network printers are the choice of the time; these should be installed in places such as offices, companies, departments, business houses etc. The easier is the use of technology, the more is speed of operation of the system. So for making an efficient operational system there should be continuous revision in the accessories and equipments used.
By: Keith Reynolds
Setting up a Wireless Network
October 16th, 2009
Some people see the task of setting up a wireless network within their home as a daunting task but it really does not need to be. In our present generation we are surrounded by many wireless possibilities. This is ok as long as we protect ourselves and familiarize ourselves with how it all works.
First of all you need to decide how you want your network setup and what you will need to accomplish this. In most cases a home will have one desktop computer and then one or more other computers located elsewhere within the house. These other computers may be other desktops or mobile laptops which doesn’t really matter except that you will need to find the appropriate wireless adapter for these computers. A desktop will need either a wireless PCI adapter or USB adapter while a laptop can use a PCMCIA adapter card or USB adapter. Most new laptops come with wireless already built into the system so you may want to verify that before buying an adapter. Then you need to also get a wireless router. It is preferrable if you purchase the router and the adapter from the same manufacturer but it is not a necessity. As long as they are both the same technology they should work together. 802.11g is the most commonly used signal. The wireless router works as a base station that transmits your internet signal wirelessly. Your wireless adapters connect your computers to the router with that signal.
First of all you should unplug your broadband modem. This may be DSL, Cable or FIOS. Also your router should be unplugged. Now connect a network cable from the modem to the Internet, WAN or WLAN port on the back of the router. Plug in the modem and turn it on. Wait a few minutes to make sure that it is connected with the internet. Then plug in and turn on the router. The lights on the front of the router should come on after about a minute indicating that the modem is connected. Now turn on the computer if it is not already turned on. Most people will plug the main computer directly into the router and make the others wireless thus eliminating an unneeded wireless adapter.
So now you will plug a network cable from one of the LAN ports on the router directly to the LAN port on the main computer. Windows XP will recognize an internet connection and give you a popup message with this indication. Next you will open your internet browser ( Internet Explorer or Firefox ) and type in the address that came with the documentation with your router. You may be prompted for the default password. The page will show your router’s configuration. From here you can enter in a Wireless Network Name which is called the SSID. Make sure that this name is unique for your own protection. Also set the WPA or WEP which should also be a unique type of word.
This is a passphrase protection which you will not have to remember. Then finally an administrators password. Make sure that you do not forget this password because you will need it if you ever want to change anything. Now that the router is setup we will move on to the adapters. Plug in the adapter appropriately on your other computer or computers and Windows will recognize it and show that there is a wireless connection device. Note that a desktop must be shut off when installing a PCI adapter. At this time Windows may prompt you to install any software that came with the adapter. Once that has been done, right click on the Wireless Network Icon in the bottom right hand corner of your Windows screen. It will say View Available Wireless Networks. Locate your wireless network name and click connect. Your wireless network should now be setup.
By: Randall Martin
