Emily

__Security of data and information__

1. __Basic question: Identify what data/ information was Stuxnet trying to exploit.__ Stuxnet was trying to exploit the information and data of Power Plants, traffic control systems and factories around the world.

2. __Explain what made Stuxnet so successful? Explain using examples.__ Stuxnet could turn off oil pipelines and the ability to turn up the pressure in nuclear reactors, whilst telling the system that everything was normal. Stuxnet doesn’t use forged security clearance of other viruses have, it actually had a real clearance which was stolen by a computer technology company. It used faults in the system that even the creators were unaware existed, called zero days. Stuxnet used 20 zero days to get into a system.

3. __Describe what else could Stuxnet be used to exploit? Who else’s information/data is vulnerable?__ Stuxnet could be used to exploit anyone, as it is now online for anyone to download and tinker with. This means that anyone who downloads the virus’ information could be at risk.

4. __Extension Question: Research what zero days are. Why are zero days so useful to hackers in breaching security?__ Zero days are the penetration of a system through faults that not even the creators are aware of. Normally, people would give notice to the company that owns the software so that they would be able to patch the code and then rerelease in a software update. Although, sometimes hackers find the vulnerability in the system first. They are useful to hackers as they have not been found by the creators, leaving a hole in the security.

__Homework__ __Explain how the Google uses the new storage and retrieval technique of data mining to target advertisements in Gmail.__ Data mining is the extraction of patterns from large data sets. By analysing data from different perspectives, it is summarised into useful information. It is used for analysing data, particularly by Google to target advertisements in Gmail. By finding out this information, Google was able to personify (to a certain extent) the type of advertisements that were shown to their Gmail users, as a way of appealing to their interests, or what they were more likely to click on. This new information can be used in many ways to increase revenue