ocation or object. Computer security uses much of the same utilities. Passwords take the place of keys, security analysts take the place of guards, and firewalls take the place of physical barriers. Passwords and firewalls are the two most common ways to secure a computer system. The organizations in this century more increasingly depend on data communication for the daily business communication, database information retrieval and the internetworking of LAN’s. This led the management into more consideration on converting manual operations into computerized systems and relay on them. In fact, organizations then considered that “….many potential hazards such as fraud, errors, lost data, breaches of privacy and the disastrous events that can occur in a data communication” (Fitzgerald, 1984, pp620). The above consideration statement was considered about fifteen years ago but still holds valid reasons.Passwords are the most common forms of computer and network security. They are the most common because of three main reasons. First of all, passwords are cheap to implement. Virtually all computers have a password system built into it already. Every home computer can have a password to lock out certain programs from users other than yourself. Even networked computers and systems can have an elaborate password system at a minimal cost to the company. Passwords are also fast. When a computer prompts you for a user identification and password, you simply type it in and away you go. There is usually very little else that needs to be done. The third benefit to passwords is that they are easy to remember. A user usually chooses a password that is close to them; therefore, it cuts down on the amount of people having problems with getting into the programs they need. Another way to offer security is to build walls around what you want secured. In the computer industry, these are called firewalls. A firewall is...
