Is Your Network Secure?

A greater part of the world’s inhabitants today are on the internet because of different reasons. There are those who understand that social networking can be a helpful tool for persons, organizations, schools, institutions, businesses, governments, etc. Along with this are the billions of devices organized via an array of wired and wireless networks. Internet users can utilize small gadgets that are hand held or they can take advantage of bigger devices that have the capability to get connected to the whole planet. Today, more than ever, it is very easy to communicate with anybody, anywhere else in the world.

In the back of these benefits of internet technology are those corrupt individuals who use the very same technology to carry out their own plans. Currently, there is a very high risk of networks becoming victims of cyber attacks. There is spying, malware, denial-of-service, cyber war, and terrorism that hide behind these interconnected systems. This is one issue that needs to be solved not only by efforts of individual networks but by the cooperation of all.

Network security is becoming increasingly necessary, and researchers in Germany have proposed a new approach to it. They believe that to effectively reduce cyber attacks, rewards should be given to those organizations that support their own network security. Their research showed that organizations who have already applied this approach have greatly reduced the spread of malware and other problems. Internet and computer-based communications today are generally done anonymously. This opens the door for systems to become even more susceptible to cyber attacks and harassment.

The researchers explained that an international or national agreement could start a coordinated rewards system. They also recommend that funding should be given to organizations that are exceedingly exposed to cyber attacks. They added that network security on susceptible sites should be improved in order to deter the spread of malicious software. This is generally what cyber criminals apply to create bot-nets for attacking corporate networks and other desirable sites.

Only very few parties have invested in their own cyber attack protection. This has benefited them, although it has added to their cost. The whole internet community is also in some way benefited. The researchers believe that orchestrating a reward system would encourage both small and large networks to become involved. They suggest a scaled reward system that could motivate networks to make sure that their systems are protected.

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