Unit 4 – Data and Privacy (Exercise Questions)
4.3. Answer the following questions.
Q.1. Define cypher text.
Q.2. Why do we need an installation key whereas a software can be protected with a password?
Q.3. Define Denial of service
Q.4. Give a reason to add CAPTCHA on websites.
Q.5. What is patent and why do we need to register it?
Q.1. Define cypher text.
Answer:
Simple Encryption
Encryption is the process of encoding plain data into an unerodable format. The unreadable format of data is called Ciphertext. The process of converting Ciphertext back to plaintext is called decryption. A secret code is required to convert the encrypted data into plain data in order to read it. The secret code is called key and is just like a password. The encryption is performed to ensure that only authorized persons can read the data. It is an important method of providing data security.
Figure: Encryption & decryption
Importance of Encryption
The importance of encryption for everyday life on the Internet is as follows:
1. Protection from Hackers
The encryption is very important to protect data from hackers. A malicious user that steals data is known as hacker. Nowadays, a large amount of personal data is stored on computer systems. The data is transferred from one computer to another over the Internet. The hacker can steal the data when it travels over the Internet. The
encryption helps the user to protect important data from hackers.
2. Privacy Protection
The encryption helps in protecting sensitive personal data. It ensures that the data is not read by any unauthorized users.
3. Data Protection across Devices
The data is frequently transferred and shared among many devices such as laptops and mobile phones. The encryption protects data when it is transferred from one device to another device.
Q.2. Why do we need an installation key whereas a software can be protected with a password?
Answer:
A software can be protected with a password but installation key is still needed. The installation key is required by many software programs during installation. They help software developers to ensure that each copy of the software is legally purchased.
Q.3. Define Denial of service
Answer:
Denial of Service (DoS)
A Denial of Service (DoS) is a cyber attack that makes a machine or network resource unavailable. It means that the access to that resource is denied to the user. The attack makes the resource too busy by sending many requests for it. The actual user cannot get the resource. It sometimes overloads the system so much that the network is shut down. Suppose a user needs to open a website but another user sends many requests to that website using computer program. The user will not be able to access the website in this situation.
DoS attackers typically target the web servers of big organizations such as banks, media companies or government organizations. These attacks typically may not result in the loss of data but waste a lot of time and money.
Figure: Denial of Service (DoS) Attack
Q.4. Give a reason to add CAPTCHA on websites.
Answer:
CAPTCHA is used to ensure that the user is a human and not a computer. It is possible to write a program that can access a website and fill a form or give it a password CAPTCHA is used to avoid this situation.
Q.5. What is patent and why do we need to register it?
Answer:
Patent
A patent is a right that is granted to the owner for a certain period of time. It is an effective way to protect the idea. It can be for any invention such as device, substance, method or process. A patent must be obtained if someone is doing research in any field and has a new idea. It stops other people to make or sell anything on the basis of that idea. The owner of the idea can exclusively use the idea to make and sell anything. Any other person or organization cannot copy that idea for a certain period of time.
Registering Patent
Suppose someone is doing research in the medical field and finds the cure of a disease. It would be a good idea to register a patent for that idea. The patent would protect it for the creator. The pharmaceutical companies would get permission from the creator to use it to make the medicine. The creator may get a certain amount on the sale of medicine.