1. How would you define cybersecurity and its significance?
Ans:
The technique of preventing unwanted access, attacks or damage to computers, networks and sensitive data is known as cybersecurity. It guarantees users' and organizations' safety and confidence while assisting in the prevention of data breaches and financial losses.
2. How do IDS and IPS differ from one another?
Ans:
- IDS (Intrusion Detection System): Monitors network activity and alerts administrators about suspicious behavior.
- IPS (Intrusion Prevention System): Detects and automatically blocks malicious activities to stop threats in real-time.
3. What are the most common types of cyber attacks?
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Cyber attacks include phishing, malware, ransomware, DDoS, SQL injection and man-in-the-middle attacks. For example, phishing uses fake emails to trick users into revealing passwords or sensitive information.
4. What measures can secure a network effectively?
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Network security can be maintained using firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, antivirus software, strong access controls, regular system updates and continuous monitoring to prevent unauthorized access or breaches.
5. How does encryption work and what are its main types?
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In order to prevent unwanted access, encryption transforms readable data into an unreadable format. With symmetric encryption, like AES, the same key is used for both encryption and decryption. With asymmetric encryption, such as RSA, a private key is used for decryption and a public key is used for encryption.
6. What is the difference between vulnerability assessment and penetration testing?
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Vulnerability assessment identifies weaknesses in systems without exploiting them, while penetration testing actively exploits those weaknesses to simulate real-world attacks. Both approaches help improve overall security posture.
7. How can professionals stay informed about cybersecurity threats?
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Regularly following security blogs, threat intelligence feeds, webinars, professional communities, certifications and research reports helps to stay updated on new vulnerabilities and emerging cyber threats.
8. What is multi-factor authentication (MFA) and why is it useful?
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- MFA confirms identification using two or more verification techniques.
- Common methods include passwords, one-time codes (OTP) and biometrics like fingerprint or facial recognition.
- provides an additional degree of security even in the event that passwords are stolen.
9. How should a ransomware attack be handled?
Ans:
Affected systems should be isolated immediately to stop malware spread. Data should be restored from secure backups, attack methods analyzed, defenses updated, monitoring deployed and employees trained to prevent future incidents.
10. Can you provide an example of a recent cybersecurity incident?
Ans:
A notable incident is the SolarWinds attack, where hackers exploited software vulnerabilities to access multiple organizations. Exploited weaknesses included supply chain software flaws and mitigation measures like timely patching, monitoring and threat detection could reduce risks in similar cases.
