The document discusses components of communication networks and dealing with computer network intrusion. It describes the purpose of networks being to facilitate communication, share resources and data. The key components that enable communication between connected devices include communication media, wired and wireless transmission methods, and specific hardware like network interface cards, switches, routers and firewalls. It also discusses how network intrusion detection systems play an important role in monitoring networks for security threats and detecting unauthorized access or attacks.
The document discusses components of communication networks and dealing with computer network intrusion. It describes the purpose of networks being to facilitate communication, share resources and data. The key components that enable communication between connected devices include communication media, wired and wireless transmission methods, and specific hardware like network interface cards, switches, routers and firewalls. It also discusses how network intrusion detection systems play an important role in monitoring networks for security threats and detecting unauthorized access or attacks.
The document discusses components of communication networks and dealing with computer network intrusion. It describes the purpose of networks being to facilitate communication, share resources and data. The key components that enable communication between connected devices include communication media, wired and wireless transmission methods, and specific hardware like network interface cards, switches, routers and firewalls. It also discusses how network intrusion detection systems play an important role in monitoring networks for security threats and detecting unauthorized access or attacks.
The document discusses components of communication networks and dealing with computer network intrusion. It describes the purpose of networks being to facilitate communication, share resources and data. The key components that enable communication between connected devices include communication media, wired and wireless transmission methods, and specific hardware like network interface cards, switches, routers and firewalls. It also discusses how network intrusion detection systems play an important role in monitoring networks for security threats and detecting unauthorized access or attacks.
1 Introduction A computer network, also referred to as a network, consists of two or more computers or devices linked to one another by communication media, which facilitate communication among these connected computers or devices. The purpose of networks is to allow users to share resources, data and information, and to facilitate communication. In this study unit, we will be looking at why computer networks are used, as well as the various components of communication networks that enable communication between the devices connected to the network (Booyse et al, 2017, Unisa study guide).
2 Purpose of Communication Networks
Computer networks are used for various purposes: ➢ Facilitating communication: Networks enable people to communicate efficiently and easily via e-mail, instant messaging, telephone, video telephone calls, and video conferencing
➢ Sharing hardware: Networks enable computers connected to the network
to access and use hardware resources on the network, such as printing a document on a shared network printer.
➢ Sharing files, data, and information: Networks enable authorised users to
access data and information stored on other computers in the network. The ability to provide access to data and information on shared storage devices is an important feature of many networks.
➢ Sharing software: Networks enable users to run application programs on
remote computers (Booyse et al, 2017, Unisa study guide). Information preservation: Backups of information are shared and stored in multiple locations for easy recovery if information is lost or corrupted in the case of a system failure or as part of disaster recovery.
3 Components of Communication Networks
Components of communication networks include both the hardware and the software needed to enable computer systems to communicate with one another. Refer to study unit 4 to revise your understanding. In communication networks, a node is a connection point. A physical network node is an active electronic device that is connected to a network, which is capable of sending, receiving or forwarding information over a communication medium (Booyse et al, 2017, Unisa study guide).
3.1 Communication media or channels
Communication media enable signals to move from one point to another. These communication media or channels are either cables or antennae that transmit signals from one location to another. Communication media can also be split between wired and wireless transmission (Booyse et al, 2017, Unisa study guide).
3.2 Wired transmission
Wires and cabIes are media through which information can move from one network device to another. The type of cable chosen for a network is related to the network’s configuration (topology), protocol and size. Common wired mediums include
With wireless transmission, signals are broadcast as electromagnetic waves through
free air space. Wireless signals are transmitted by a transmitter and received by a receiver. Wireless systems may be inexpensive because no wires need to be installed to transmit the signal. Wireless transmissions are, however, susceptible to both electromagnetic interference and physical interference. Common wireless media include the following
❖ Microwave transmission Microwave transmissions are high-frequency signals sent through the air using earth-based transmitters and receivers.
❖ Satellite transmission
Satellites use microwave radio to transmit
information and are capable of transmitting voice, data and TV signals.
❖ Radio transmission
Radio transmissions are signals of electromagnetic waves,
which can travel through certain obstructions such as walls. Radio transmissions can be used to transmit voice and data, with both wireless LANs and cellular phones using radio technology (Booyse et al, 2017, Unisa study guide).
❖ Infrared transmission
Signals in the form of light waves are transmitted through the air between devices, requiring line of sight for transmitting within short distances of less than a few hundred metres (Booyse et al, 2017, Unisa study guide).
3.4 Specific hardware needed for communication
Networking hardware includes network interface cards, network cables or
communication mediums, switches and hubs, routers, modems, firewalls and other related hardware needed for communication within a network. ➢ A network interface card (or network adapter) provides a physical connection between the computer and the network cable or communication medium.
➢ The communication medium or channel, as described in the previous
section, enables signals to move between locations.
➢ A switch or hub is a device that provides a central connection point for
cables from workstations, servers and peripherals. Switches are usually active, which means that they electrically amplify the signal as it moves from one device to another.
➢ A router translates information and allows communication from one
network to another. Routers choose the best path to transmit a signal, based on the destination address and origin.
➢ Firewalls are the most important part of a network with respect to security. Firewalls can be either hardware or software. A network system implementing a firewall does not need human interaction for data transfer monitoring, as automated processes to reject access requests from unsafe sources and to allow actions from recognised sources, can be set up. With the increase in cyberattacks to steal data, plant viruses,and so on, firewalls play a very important role in network security (Booyse et al, 2017, Unisa study guide).
Owing to improvements in wireless technology performance and technology becoming
more cost effective, current trends are to move from a wired to a wireless networking environment. As discussed above, a wireless router is a router that includes the functions of a wireless access point and a network switch. Such devices allow access to the internet or a computer network without the need for a wired connection (Booyse et al, 2017, Unisa study guide). 4 Dealing with Computer Network Intrusion
In this era of digital revolution, and the Internet of Things (IoT), technologies have removed the digital barriers and accentuate the seamless exchange of data and information among ubiquitous systems. Therefore, the challenge of information theft, privacy, and confidentiality of data and information on the internet has become a major dilemma for many users of several online platforms (Sarumi, Adetunmbi, & Adetoye, 2020). The wireless technologies that are used to carry out public and personal communication are vulnerable to various types of attacks, where attackers can access signal to listen in or to cause damage on wireless networks (Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems in Wireless Networks, 2017). Network intrusion detection systems are a viable approach to curb the menace of information theft and other data security threats on the internet (Sarumi et al, 2020). According to Duan, Wei, Fan, Yu & Hu (2020), Wi-Fi has been widely deployed to facilitate home office, or even stadium-scale wireless access to the internet, and will be an essential part of future wireless networks through being integrated with 5G cellular networks. However, security threats are still a big concern for Wi-Fi due to the open- share nature of the wireless medium and the easy access to Wi-Fi intrusion tools. Therefore, these systems play a critical role in identifying attacks experienced in order to apply further methods. According to Musa, Chakraborty, Abdullahi & Maini, 2021, computer networks are exposed to cyber-related attacks due to common usage of the internet. As hackers become more prevalent and savvier, additional tools to help protect network environment are needed. A key research issue in securing networks is detecting intrusion. In 2008, Azad Tariq Bin stated that it helps to recognise unauthorised usage and attack as a measure to ensure network security. Intrusion detection is a strategy that is defined as the ability to monitor and react to computer misuse. Many hardware and software products in the market provide various levels of intrusion detection.
4.1 Intrusion detection technologies
The research in intrusion detection started in 1972 when James Anderson
published his report on the need for detection breaches in computer systems. Since then, several monitoring systems such as Intrusion Detection systems (IDS), Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), which are also called Intrusion, Detection, and Prevention Systems (IDPS), have been proposed and implemented. IDPS technology can be used to monitor and analyse signals for any infiltration to prevent interception or other malicious intrusion. Consequently, several IDSs were proposed by researchers (Musa et al, 2021).
Over the years, various works were evaluated on different databases for detecting illicit or abnormal behaviour using IDS. This culminated in proposing various approaches to determine the most effective features to enhance the efficiency of IDSs. Methods include machine learning-based (ML), Bayesian-based algorithms, and Markov neural network, among others (Musa et al, 2021). This work was used to develop new and sophisticated detection and prevention methods based on and managed by combining smart techniques, including machine learning, data mining, and game theory, using risk analysis and assessment techniques. Their role is thus assisting wireless networks to remain secure and aiding system administrators to effectively monitor their systems (Musa et al, 2021).
As new attacks emerge daily, IDSs play a key role in identifying possible attacks to the system and giving proper responses (S Sen, 2015). This makes intrusion detection an indispensable part of a security system. IDSs should adapt to these new attacks and attack strategies, and continually improve.
A c t i v i t y 12.1
Go to your e-tutor site and complete this activity.
Wireless transmissions are part of our daily lives. Examples include using your cell phone to call a friend to arrange to watch a movie on Netflix. What role does wireless transmission play in your daily life? Give at least ten examples and explain each.
Sharing files, data, and information: Networks enable authorised users to access data and information stored on other computers in the network. The ability to provide access to data and information on shared storage devices is an important feature of many networks.
Go to the Discussion Forum for study unit 12. From the perspective of study unit 6 (Big data), which you have already studied, particularly looking at features, sources, and problems of big data, discuss the statement above with your fellow students.
5 Summary
Computer networks allow communication and the sharing of resources (including
hardware, files, data and information), and enable software sharing and information preservation. The components of communication networks include communication media, specific hardware, data communication protocols, as well as software.
The next study unit deals with network configurations, including network topologies and geographical scope. Distributed processing, client server systems and cloud computing will also be discussed.
