Computer security software

Computer security software or cybersecurity software is any computer program designed to influence information security. This is often taken in the context of defending computer systems or data, yet can incorporate programs designed specifically for subverting computer systems due to their significant overlap, and the adage that the best defense is a good offense.

The defense of computers against intrusion and unauthorized use of resources is called computer security. Similarly, the defense of computer networks is called network security.

The subversion of computers or their unauthorized use is referred to using the terms cyberwarfare, cybercrime, or security hacking (later shortened to hacking for further references in this article due to issues with hacker, hacker culture and differences in white/grey/black 'hat' color identification).

The computer security software products industry was launched in the second half of the 1970s when computer firms and new IT startups chose alternative paths to offer commercial access control systems to organizational mainframe computer users. These developments were led by IBM's Resource Access Control Facility and SKK's Access Control Facility 2.^[1]

Types

Below, various software implementations of Cybersecurity patterns and groups outlining ways a host system attempts to secure itself and its assets from malicious interactions, this includes tools to deter both passive and active security threats. Although both security and usability are desired, today it is widely considered in computer security software that with higher security comes decreased usability, and with higher usability comes decreased security.^[2]

Prevent access

The primary purpose of these types of systems is to restrict and often to completely prevent access to computers or data except to a very limited set of users. The theory is often that if a key, credential, or token is unavailable then access should be impossible. This often involves taking valuable information and then either reducing it to apparent noise or hiding it within another source of information in such a way that it is unrecoverable.

Cryptography and Encryption software
Steganography and Steganography tools

A critical tool used in developing software that prevents malicious access is Threat Modeling.^[3] Threat modeling is the process of creating and applying mock situations where an attacker could be trying to maliciously access data in cyberspace. By doing this, various profiles of potential attackers are created, including their intentions, and a catalog of potential vulnerabilities are created for the respective organization to fix before a real threat arises.^[4] Threat modeling covers a wide aspect of cyberspace, including devices, applications, systems, networks, or enterprises. Cyber threat modeling can inform organizations with their efforts pertaining to cybersecurity in the following ways:^[5]

Risk Management
Profiling of current cybersecurity applications
Considerations for future security implementations

Regulate access

The purpose of these types of systems is usually to restrict access to computers or data while still allowing interaction. Often this involves monitoring or checking credential, separating systems from access and view based on importance, and quarantining or isolating perceived dangers. A physical comparison is often made to a shield. A form of protection whose use is heavily dependent on the system owners preferences and perceived threats. Large numbers of users may be allowed relatively low-level access with limited security checks, yet significant opposition will then be applied toward users attempting to move toward critical areas.

Monitor access

The purpose of these types of software systems is to monitor access to computers systems and data while reporting or logging the behavior. Often this is composed of large quantities of low priority data records / logs, coupled with high priority notices for unusual or suspicious behavior.

Surveillance monitor

These programs use algorithms either stolen from, or provided by, the police and military internet observation organizations to provide the equivalent of a police Radio scanner. Most of these systems are born out of mass surveillance concepts for internet traffic, cell phone communication, and physical systems like CCTV. In a global perspective they are related to the fields of SIGINT and ELINT and approach GEOINT in the global information monitoring perspective. Several instant messaging programs such as ICQ (founded by "former" members of Unit 8200), or WeChat and QQ (rumored 3PLA/4PLA connections^[6]^[7]) may represent extensions of these observation apparati.

Block or remove malware

The purpose of these types of software is to remove malicious or harmful forms of software that may compromise the security of a computer system. These types of software are often closely linked with software for computer regulation and monitoring. A physical comparison to a doctor, scrubbing, or cleaning ideas is often made, usually with an "anti-" style naming scheme related to a particular threat type. Threats and unusual behavior are identified by a system such as a firewall or an intrusion detection system, and then the following types of software are used to remove them. These types of software often require extensive research into their potential foes to achieve complete success, similar to the way that complete eradication of bacteria or viral threats does in the physical world. Occasionally this also represents defeating an attackers encryption, such as in the case of data tracing, or hardened threat removal.

References

^ Yost, Jeffrey R. (2015). "The Origin and Early History of the Computer Security Software Products Industry". IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 37 (2): 46–58. doi:10.1109/MAHC.2015.21. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
^ Barragán, Claudio Casado (2017). Information Technology - New Generations. Springer International Publishing. pp. 395–398. ISBN 9783319549774.
^ Bodeau, Deborah J.; McCollum, Catherine D.; Fox, David B. (2018-04-07). "Cyber Threat Modeling: Survey, Assessment, and Representative Framework". Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ "Threat Modeling: 12 Available Methods". SEI Blog. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
^ Jones, Andy (2005). Risk management for computer security : Protecting your network and information assets. Debi Ashenden. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-08-049155-4. OCLC 159937634.
^ O'Neill, Patrick Howell (3 May 2017). "Under tough surveillance, China's cybercriminals find creative ways to chat". SNG. cyberscoop. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
^ Dasgupta, Binayak (1 July 2020). "Mass surveillance risk real with Chinese apps: Experts". Hindustan Times, New Delhi. Retrieved 22 October 2020.

[1] Yost, Jeffrey R. (2015). "The Origin and Early History of the Computer Security Software Products Industry". IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 37 (2): 46–58. doi:10.1109/MAHC.2015.21. Retrieved 2023-12-13.

[2] Barragán, Claudio Casado (2017). Information Technology - New Generations. Springer International Publishing. pp. 395–398. ISBN 9783319549774.

[3] Bodeau, Deborah J.; McCollum, Catherine D.; Fox, David B. (2018-04-07). "Cyber Threat Modeling: Survey, Assessment, and Representative Framework". Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[4] "Threat Modeling: 12 Available Methods". SEI Blog. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 2021-10-04.

[5] Jones, Andy (2005). Risk management for computer security : Protecting your network and information assets. Debi Ashenden. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-08-049155-4. OCLC 159937634.

[6] O'Neill, Patrick Howell (3 May 2017). "Under tough surveillance, China's cybercriminals find creative ways to chat". SNG. cyberscoop. Retrieved 22 October 2020.

[7] Dasgupta, Binayak (1 July 2020). "Mass surveillance risk real with Chinese apps: Experts". Hindustan Times, New Delhi. Retrieved 22 October 2020.

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v t e Information security
Related security categories	Computer security Automotive security Cybercrime Cybersex trafficking Computer fraud Cybergeddon Cyberterrorism Cyberwarfare Electromagnetic warfare Information warfare Internet security Mobile security Network security Copy protection Digital rights management	vectorial version
Threats	Adware Advanced persistent threat Arbitrary code execution Backdoors Bombs Fork Logic Time Zip Hardware backdoors Code injection Crimeware Cross-site scripting Cross-site leaks DOM clobbering History sniffing Cryptojacking Botnets Data breach Drive-by download Browser Helper Objects Viruses Data scraping Denial-of-service attack Eavesdropping Email fraud Email spoofing Exploits Fraudulent dialers Hacktivism Infostealer Insecure direct object reference Keystroke loggers Malware Payload Phishing Voice Polymorphic engine Privilege escalation Ransomware Rootkits Scareware Shellcode Spamming Social engineering Spyware Software bugs Trojan horses Hardware Trojans Remote access trojans Vulnerability Web shells Wiper Worms SQL injection Rogue security software Zombie
Defenses	Application security Secure coding Secure by default Secure by design Misuse case Computer access control Authentication Multi-factor authentication Authorization Computer security software Antivirus software Security-focused operating system Data-centric security Obfuscation (software) Data masking Encryption Firewall Intrusion detection system Host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) Anomaly detection Information security management Information risk management Security information and event management (SIEM) Runtime application self-protection Site isolation