Beginning Programming All-in-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 3

Computer Security

IN THIS CHAPTER

Stopping malware and hackers

Understanding secure computing

Computer security is the equivalent of playing cops and robbers with a computer. On one side are the bad guys, trying to destroy, modify, or steal data. On the other side are the good guys, trying to protect that data. (Then again, sometimes the good guys are trying to destroy, modify, or steal data from the bad guys.)

In the early days of computers, the biggest threat to data was losing it through an accident. Then malicious computer hackers emerged. Unlike the original band of computer hackers, responsible for creating operating systems and language compilers, malicious hackers use their programming skills to break into computers and hurt others.

Initially, these computer break-ins were more of a nuisance than a danger. Computer hackers might have tied up resources, but they rarely wrecked anything except by sheer accident. In fact, many computer administrators grudgingly allowed hackers to stay on their computers as long as they didn’t disturb anything, and many hackers returned the favor by warning computer system administrators of flaws in their programs that could allow less honorable hackers to sneak in and destroy files.

As more people picked up hacking skills, inevitably ...