Year 9 - Computing
Hacking and brute force attacks
Introduction to cybersecurity
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit takes pupils on a journey of discovery about techniques used by cybercriminals to steal data, disrupt systems and infiltrate networks. They will consider the value of data to organisations and what it is used for. They will look at social engineering techniques and common cybercrimes.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe what illegal attacks on computer systems are.
Key Notes
- Hacking, in the context of cybersecurity, is gaining unauthorised access to, or control of, a computer system.
- The Computer Misuse Act 1990 defines what is considered as unlawful access to computer systems.
- DDOS attacks can be used to disrupt online services.
- A brute force attack is a trial and error process to gain access to protected resources.
Vocabulary To Learn
- hacking: accessing a computer system without permission
- DDoS: Distributed Denial of Service, an attack used to disrupt communication
- brute force attack: accessing a protected resource by repeatedly attempting to guess the key to how it is protected
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Hacking a computer system of someone you know as a joke is considered legal.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Describe the system or process from this lesson in clear steps.
Hacking, in the context of cybersecurity, is gaining unauthorised access to, or control of, a computer system. The Computer Misuse Act 1990 defines what is considered as unlawful access to computer systems.
2. Define this computing term and give one practical example. 'hacking'
accessing a computer system without permission. Add one real device or system example to prove understanding.
3. Correct this common computing misconception.
Mistake: Hacking a computer system of someone you know as a joke is considered legal. Correction: Even if there is no intention to commit a crime by accessing the computer system of someone you know, the fact that the access is unauthorised is considered a crime.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 9 Computing guide library.