Access

Different user can have different levels of access to different areas on the network. For example, students have read and write access to their own area, while they only have read access to the resources area (you can open the files but you cannot edit and save them in this area).

Malware

Mal (Latin for bad) software is any software that is installed on a computer for a malicious purpose such as corrupting files or spying on users. Examples include viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware and adware (may not be destructive but can be incredibly annoying).

Viruses

These are a specific type of malware that replicate themselves on a computer or spread to other computers on a network.

Antivirus

This software is designed to protect the computer from viruses in the following ways:

• Checking emails and attachments
• Checking downloads
• Scanning the hard drive
• Warning the user of any suspicious files
• Providing an option to delete or quarantine viruses
• Maintaining an up to date database of all know viruses
• Identifying unclassified viruses based on virus-like behaviour

Firewall

Is usually a piece of software (but hardware can be used on networks like in school) that monitors packets entering and leaving the computer (or network). A firewall carries out the following functions:

• Filters certain data packets
• Blocks certain ports
• Blocks access to specified web sites
• Blocks specific programs on computer accessing the internet
• Blocks certain downloads / ask for confirmation when downloading a file
• Enforces additional authentication from outside
• Prevents users on network accessing specified data/files