Museum of Science Created with Sketch. Defending the Internet The Internet Cyberattacks Cybersecurity Image PLAY The Internet is a network of computer networks around the world. Users access the Internet. Access happens through a computer—a technology that receives input, stores and processes information, and gives output. Many network devices link computers together. Servers are computers that process requests or provide services to users. A cyberattack happens when a person uses the Internet to steal, hurt, or cause damage. Phishing is an attempt to trick a user into revealing information or installing malware. Malware is software that steals information from a computer or lets a hacker infect it with remote-control software. Remote-control software lets an attacker control computers over the network and use them to cause damage. A denial-of-service attack happens when an attacker uses lots of remote-controlled computers to flood a server with many messages to slow it down or break it. Cybersecurity is the protection of computers, data, and identity. A user with security awareness is careful when using the Internet. Encryption changes information into a form attackers can’t easily understand. Antivirus checks for suspicious programs and remote-control software and stops them from working. A firewall lets only certain requests reach a server or other part of a network. This project is made possible by the generous support of the CAREERS There are many careers in cybersecurity. Image Defensive Blue Team careers focus on designing security systems and analyzing attacks. Image Offensive Red Team careers focus on finding weaknesses in security systems so they can be fixed. Download PDF