Cybersecurity
Duane C WilsonIt seems that everything we touch is connected to the internet, from mobile phones & wearable technology to home appliances & cyber assistants. The more connected our computer systems, the more exposed they are to cyber attacks--attempts to steal data, corrupt software, disrupt operations, & even physically damage hardware & network infrastructures.
In this volume of the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, cybersecurity expert Duane Wilson offers an accessible guide to cybersecurity issues for everyday users, describing risks associated with internet use, modern methods of defense against cyber attacks, & general principles for safer internet use.
Wilson describes the principles that underlie all cybersecurity defense: confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, authorization, & non-repudiation (validating the source of information). He explains that confidentiality is accomplished by cryptography; examines the different layers of defense; analyzes cyber risks, threats, & vulnerabilities; & breaks down the cyber kill chain & the many forms of malware. He reviews some online applications of cybersecurity, including end-to-end security protection, secure ecommerce transactions, smart devices with built-in protections, & blockchain technology. Finally, Wilson considers the future of cybersecurity, discussing the continuing evolution of cyber defenses as well as research that may alter the overall threat landscape.