Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 2
INFORMATION SECURITY
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INFORMATION SECURITY
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Subject: Computing
Class: JHS 2
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 1
Grade code: B8.3.3.1.1
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 3
Content standard code: B8.3.3.1
Indicator code: B8.3.3.1.1
Theme: COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
Subtheme: INFORMATION SECURITY
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In our daily lives, we use computers and phones to send messages on WhatsApp, make payments with Mobile Money (MoMo), and check our school results online. All this information is precious and needs to be kept safe. However, there are dangers online, just like in the real world. These dangers are called "data threats." Today, we will learn about the four major types of threats that can harm our data. Understanding these threats is the first step to protecting our personal information, our money, and our privacy from people who might want to steal or damage it.
A. Foundational Definitions Data: Raw facts and figures. For example, your name, your age, a picture you took, or the amount of money in your MoMo wallet. Information Security: This means protecting information and data from being accessed, used, changed, or destroyed by people who are not allowed to do so. It's like putting a lock on your door to protect the things inside your room. Data Threat: A data threat is any potential danger or event that can harm your data. It is a possible attack on your information's safety. B. The Four Major Data Threats
To understand these threats, let's use a simple analogy: Imagine you are sending a secret letter in the post from Accra to your friend in Kumasi.
Threat 1: Interruption Nature of the Threat: This threat attacks the availability of your data. It means the data or the service is destroyed, becomes unavailable, or is unusable. The information cannot reach its destination. Letter Analogy: Your letter is stolen from the post van and torn into pieces before it ever reaches your friend in Kumasi. Your friend never gets the message because it has been destroyed. Digital Example (Ghanaian Context): A hacker attacks the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) website on the day the BECE results are released. The website crashes, and no student can access their results. The information (results) is still on the server, but it is unavailable to the users. Someone cuts the fibre optic cable that provides internet to your community. Your internet service stops working, and you cannot send or receive emails or WhatsApp messages. What is attacked? Availability (The data cannot be accessed when needed).
Threat 2: Interception Nature of the Threat: This threat attacks the confidentiality of your data. An unauthorized person or program gains access to your private information. They "eavesdrop" or spy on your data. Letter Analogy: A curious postal worker carefully opens your letter, reads your secret message, seals the envelope back perfectly, and puts it back in the mail. Your friend in Kumasi receives the letter and doesn't know someone else has read it. Your secret is no longer a secret. Digital Example (Ghanaian Context): You are at an internet café in Madina, and you log into your email. Someone secretly watches you type your password (this is called "shoulder surfing"). They now have your password and can log into your email later to read all your private messages. A fraudster (a "Sakawa" boy) uses special software to read the messages being sent over an unsecured Wi-Fi network at a public place like a mall. They can see usernames, passwords, and other personal details. What is attacked? Confidentiality (Private information is exposed to the wrong people).