The spare socket in the meeting room
A visitor sits in the meeting room. On the wall is a socket for cables. They plug in a laptop. Now they are inside the company.
Nobody asked who they were. A weak point like this is called a vulnerability (a weak point that can be used to cause harm). This lesson finds the open doors in a company's computers.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Network | Computers and devices joined together so they can share data. |
| Vulnerability | A weak point that an attacker or an accident can use. |
| Malware | Software made to cause harm. |
| Network infrastructure | The switches, routers, cables and wireless points that carry network traffic. |
| Network port | A socket or connection where a cable or device joins a network. |
| USB port | A small socket for plugging in a stick, a disk or a keyboard. |
| Wireless network | A network that uses radio, such as Wi-Fi. |
| Unauthorised access | Getting in without permission. |
| Default password | The password a device has when it is new. Everyone knows it. |
| Router | A device that sends data between networks. |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can name the weak points that let someone into a network and say how to close each one.
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.
Cycle 1: infrastructure and its ports
Unauthorised access to network infrastructure. Switches and routers have a login. If it is still the factory one, anybody who finds it can change the whole network.
Unauthorised physical access to network ports. A spare socket in a public room is a door. So is an unlocked comms cabinet.
Cycle 2: open ports
An open port is any socket or signal a device accepts without checking.
USB: a stranger plugs in a stick. It can bring malware or take data.
Network ports: a spare wall socket or switch port that is switched on.
Wireless networks: the signal leaves the building. A weak or shared key lets someone outside join.
Open doors and how to close them
| Weak point | Risk | How to close it |
|---|---|---|
| Factory login on a switch | Anybody can change the network | Change the password, limit who can manage it |
| Spare wall socket in a public room | A stranger joins the network | Switch the port off or lock the room |
| Open comms cabinet | Anyone can unplug or plug in | Lock the cabinet |
| USB ports on every PC | Malware or data theft | Block USB storage, or switch the ports off |
| Wireless with a weak key | A stranger joins from the car park | Use a strong key and keep guests on a separate network |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check: close the door
Have a go
Check: close the door
4 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.