3/23/2021 IGCSE ICT - Security of Data Online

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Section 8.4:
Security while sending emails and bank details online
Modern technology allows us to carry out many day-to-day tasks
online. Shopping, banking and messaging etc. can all be done on Key Concepts of this section:
the internet.
# Understand what is meant by e-commerce
While this makes our lives much easier, there are security risks that # Know how online data can be secured.
you have to be aware of. We discuss some of these risks in this section # Be able to describe the features of website that has been
and also ways in which we can protect our online data. secured using a secure socket layer.

Securing our online data Key Words:

Digital certificate, Secure
# Before the internet was available to the public, our day-to-day lives were very different. socket layer (SSL).

For example: Examples:

If you wanted to buy an item, you had to travel to a store and pay for it with cash. If
you wanted to carry out banking tasks, you had to go to the bank. If you wanted to
write to someone in a different city, you had to write a letter and post it.

# These days, many of these tasks can be carried out online.

For example:
We can purchase items on Amazon using a credit card. We can log onto a bank's
website and check account balances or transfer money digitally. We can send
emails digitally instead of using the postal service. We can even buy our groceries
online and have them delivered to our door. Products can be purchased online .

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# As a result of this, we often have to send data such as bank account / credit card
numbers over the internet.

# This data is very attractive to cyber criminals who are always trying to steal and use it in
order to access our cash or to commit fraud.

How can we protect our data online?

# Fortunately there are a couple of protection methods that are very effective at
preventing the theft of our online data. These are:
Banking can be carried out online.
Digital certificates
Secure socket layer (SSL).

# Each of these online data protection methods will be discussed in detail below:

Online data must be protected.

Digital certificates
# A digital certificate can be attached to electronic mails (emails) and websites in order
to prove who has sent the message. Examples:

# A digital certificate consists of the following:

Sender's email address

Name of the sender
A serial number
Certificate expiry date.

# When the recipient of the email opens it, they can view the digital certificate to make sure
that it has come from a trusted source.

Digital cer ficates prove that emails or websites are

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from trusted sources.

Secure socket layer (SSL)

# SSL is used on websites where we use bank or credit card details in order to make
purchases. Examples:

# Buying products over the internet is known as e-commerce. Examples of e-commerce

websites include Amazon, Ebay and Walmart.

Any website that allows you to purchase something with a bank card/credit card is an
e-commerce site.

It doesn't have to be a product that you purchase. You can also purchase services
such as airline or rail tickets.

# SSL encrypts the connection between your computer and the e-commerce website and
ensure that all transactions are secure.
Secure websites start with h ps.
# This stops your bank/credit card details being stolen by hackers.

How can you tell if a website is secure?

# You can tell if a website is protected by SSL by looking at it's URL (web address).

The web address should start with 'https' and there should be an icon of a padlock.

You should never make online purchases on websites that start with only 'http'
(without the s).

These sites are not encrypted with SSL and your bank/credit card details will be at
risk of being stolen and used. Non-secure websites start with h p.

Activity!
Securing Online Data - Research Sheet

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Click the above task and answer the questions about Online Data
Security.

Secure websites have an icon of a padlock.

Previous - Security of Data Next - Phishing, Pharming and

(against hacking) Smishing

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Links to Theory Units:

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3/23/2021 IGCSE ICT - Security of Data Online

Section 1: Types and Components of Computer Systems Section 2: Input and Output Devices Section 3: Storage Devices and Media
Section 4: Networks and the Effects of using them Section 5: The Effects of using ICT Section 6: ICT Applications
Section 7: The Systems Life Cycle Section 8: Safety and Security Section 9: Audience
Section 10: Communication

Links to Practical Units:

Section 11: File Management Section 12: Images Section 13: layout
Section 14: Styles Section 15: Proofing Section 16: Graphs and Charts
Section 17: Document Production Section 18: Data Manipulation Section 19: Presentations
Section 20: Data Analysis Section 21: Website Authoring

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