Introduction to Network Security, 2nd Edition

Preface

People today are increasingly relying on public computer networks to conduct business and take care of household needs. However, public networks may be insecure because data stored in networked computers or transmitted through networks can be stolen, modified, or fabricated by malicious users. Thus, it is important to know what security measures are available and how to use them. Network security practices are designed to prevent these potential problems. Originating from meeting the needs of providing data confidentiality over public networks, network security has grown into a major academic discipline in both computer science and computer engineering, and also an important sector in the information industry.

The goal of network security is to give people the liberty of enjoying computer networks without the fear of compromising their rights and interests. Network security accomplishes this goal by providing confidentiality, integrity, nonrepudiation, and availability of useful data that are transmitted in open networks or stored in networked computers.

Network security will remain an active research area for several reasons. Firstly, security measures that are effective today may no longer be effective tomorrow because of advancements and breakthroughs in computing theory, algorithms, and computer technologies. Secondly, after the known security problems are solved, other security loopholes that were previously unknown may at some point be discovered and exploited ...