Information Security Threats and Policies In Europe

1. What is a botnet?

- Botnet is a network of autonomous malicious software agents that are under the control of a bot commander.

2. Describe some of the main points of Digital Agenda for Europe.

i)   Define the key role that information and communication technologies will play in 2020.

ii)  Calls for a single, open European digital market.

iii) To achieve broadband speed up to 30Mbps to all European citizens by 2020.

iv) To protect privacy and the establishment of a well-functioning network of CERT to prevent cyber crime and respond effectively to cyber attacks.

3. Explain how a cyber attack can be carried out.

- By using the botnet. Botnet is already been described on question 1. The network is created by installing malware that exploits the vulnerabilities of web servers, operating systems, or applications to take control of the infected computers. Once a computer is infected, it becomes part of a network of the thousands of “zombies’, machines that are commanded to carry out the attack.

4. Describe some of the weaknesses exploited by malware.

- Once successfully installed on a computer, it is able to download and install other malware from controlled web sites, thus infected computer could be under full control of the hackers.

- It can steal industrial secrets and control software system.