Network Security Research Paper

INTRODUCTION TO NETWORK SECURITY

ABSTRACT

Network security is protection of the files and directories in a computer network against hacking, misuse and unauthorized changes to the system. Network security involves the authorization of access to data in a network which is controlled by the network administrator. Users are assigned an ID and password or other authenticating information that allows them access to information and programs within their authority. Today almost anyone can become a hacker by downloading tools from the internet. Nowadays security is becoming vital in case of networking because everyday a new kind of attack is generated which leads to compromise our network and have security in network is decreasing because

In this security issue is that which to protect data which can be stored into computer. A specialized field in computer networking that involves securing a computer network infrastructure. Network security is typically handled by a network administrator or system administrator who implements the security policy, network software and hardware needed to protect a network and the resources accessed through the network from unauthorized access. Many network security threats today are spread over the Internet. The most common include: Viruses, worms, and Trojan horses, Eavesdropping, Data Modification, IP Spoofing, Password Based Attacks, Denial of service Attack, Man in the Middle Attack, Compromised Key Attack, Phishing, Trojans, Sniffer Attack, Hijack Attack. There are different kinds of attacks in the network security which can be discussed below:

Attacks in network security

Two types of attacks in network security which are as following:-

1. Active

Passive attacks include traffic analysis, monitoring of unprotected communications, decrypting weakly encrypted traffic, and capturing authentication information such as passwords. Passive attacks result in the disclosure of information or data files to an attacker without the knowledge of the user. Goal of this attack is to obtain information that is being transmitted. This attack can be difficult to detect, because attacks don’t alter data; can be prevented, rather than detected, use of encryption.

Types of Passive Attacks

(a) Eavesdropping

Network Eavesdropping or network sniffing is a network layer attack consisting of capturing packets from the network transmitted by others' computers and reading the data content in search of sensitive information like passwords, session tokens, or any kind of confidential information.

(b) Traffic Analysis

If information is encrypted, it will be more difficult to read the information being sent and received, but the attacker simply observers the information, and tries to make sense out of it; or to simply determine the identity and location of the two communicating parties.

(c) Network Analysis

To simply monitor the transmission between two parties and to capture information that is sent and received. The attacker does not intend to interrupt the service, or cause an effect, but to only