Why is Internet Security Important?

Communications through the use of the Internet has become a normal day-to-day operation.  The data sent over the Internet and private networks includes passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers and other private and personal information.  When sending this data crucial information, one wants to ensure that no third party manipulates or accesses this data.  With the advancement and vast growth of networks whether they are apart of the large scale Internet or of a small local network; security issues will always arise.

The Internet Protocol (IP) has enormous advantages in the use of packets. Each packet contains data that is small, easily handled and maintained. However with these advantages of IP come the disadvantages.  The routing of these packets through the Internet as well as other large networks makes them open to security risks such as:

Spoofing: a machine on the network acts as another

Sniffing: another person is listening in on another's activity

Session Hijacking: an attacker completely takes over another users activities

Current Internet protocols do not protect data sufficiently enough during transfer.  In order to ensure the integrity and security of the data, a set of standard security Internet Protocols knows as IP Security (IPSec) have been developed. The link to "What is the Purpose of IPSec" goes into further detail of why IPSec is needed.

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