SECURITY, PRIVACY AND ONLINE SAFETY

Security, Privacy and Online Safety

Security, Privacy and Online Safety

Introduction

Cyber-attacks, network security and information, are complex issues of a new area for research in the field of national security policy. Most of the studies focus on only one aspect of the problem: the issues of cyber-terrorism and attacks on critical infrastructure and national security. Cyber-terrorism is the use of computer networks as a means to disrupt the functioning of critical national infrastructures (energy, transportation, government), or forcing or intimidating the government or civilian population (Baker, 2004, pp.35-41). Hostile nations or groups can use the vulnerability of computer systems to break into the poorly protected computer networks and cause disruption of critical infrastructure (McQuade, 2006, pp.32).

Discussion

Much of the literature on cyber-terrorism suggests that computer networks are vulnerable as well as providing essential structure of human activity, and the vulnerability are at great risk of national security (Olivier, 1999, pp. 154-209). Given the novelty of computer technology and the speed with which they enter into economic activities, these assumptions are natural. However, a careful consideration of the relationship of computer networks and critical infrastructures and their vulnerability to attacks and attacks the values of national security, leads to the conclusion that the original data on the vulnerability is not quite correct (Allison, 2005, pp. 19-29).

Internet Security at Financial Institution

The financial institutions could not keep up with the recent transformation in technology, which has transformed the global world through the Internet. The banking sector incorporates new information technologies, which can alter the traditional definitions of product, market and customer. In addition, such technologies resulted in the change of global banking, as the Internet banking developed a new means of communication between banks and their clients. Banking customers can access their accounts through the Internet and perform transaction without any additional cost, and time. The Internet banking has significantly reduced barriers to entry, accelerating bank disintermediation (Long, 1999, pp. 215-229).

At first, banks were not confident about the profitability and potential of the Internet banking system, when they opened their web pages in order to align with new technologies (Lombard, 2003, pp. 135-157). These technologies already became common to customers as a result of e-commerce. As a result, the first few pages had a complicated design, which prevented quick navigation and only repeated the same branch advertising. Subsequently, banks invested heavily in technology and marketing, allowing them to offer a high range of free online services, from consultations savings account balances, transfer funds between accounts, to payment services such as electricity, water, telephone, cable etc. Customers can now access these services from the comfort of their homes, business or anywhere else. Furthermore, banks also developed sophisticated structures, which ensure the privacy of transactions and offer maximum security in the identification of their customers through the Internet access (Kshetri, 2010, pp. 56-114).

Although, in the early Internet banking, customers had no confidence in this new medium, which provided ease of use, online service, speed, and reduced costs. The Internet banking provides benefits to customers as ...