The old tablet in the cupboard
A made-up college has a cupboard of old tablets. They still work. They have not been updated for three years. One goes home with a student and joins a café Wi-Fi.
Nothing is wrong with the tablet on the outside. But it is a weak point. This lesson is about where weak points hide, and why.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can say what makes a device, a connection or a person more open to attack.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Vulnerability | a weak point that an attacker could use |
| Network | devices joined so they can share data |
| Malware | software made to cause harm |
| Copyright | the law that stops people copying work without permission |
| Operating system | the main software that runs a device |
| Legacy system | an old system that is still in use |
| Unsupported | no longer given updates by its maker |
| Zero-day | a flaw that nobody has fixed yet |
| Untrusted source | a place you do not know is safe |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Starter: what you already know
Have a go
Starter: what you already know
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Different systems, different weak points
Every kind of system has its own weak points. A phone is easy to lose. A laptop can be stolen from a car. A USB stick is small and easy to drop.
A shared network has many users, so one careless person can let trouble in for everyone. A file server holds many people's work in one place, so it is a big prize. Cloud storage depends on the provider and on your own password.
Types of system and their weak points
| System | Why it can be weak |
|---|---|
| Phone, tablet or laptop | Easy to lose or steal, often used on open Wi-Fi |
| Portable storage | Small, easy to lose, may carry malware between devices |
| Wired network (LAN) | Anyone who plugs in may reach it |
| Wireless network (WLAN) | The signal goes through walls, so outsiders can try to join |
| File server | All the data is in one place |
| Cloud storage | You rely on the provider and on a strong sign-in |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Connections add risk
A device with no connection is hard to attack from far away. Each connection opens a door. The internet connects you to everyone. An internal network connects you to every other device inside.
Wired links need a cable, so an attacker must be close. Wireless links, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile data, need no cable. Open public Wi-Fi is the riskiest. Bluetooth left on can let strangers try to connect.
Check
Have a go
Check
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.