What cyber security is
Keeping information and systems safe
Cyber security is protecting computers, networks and data from people who want to steal, change or break them. Security people often sum up what they protect with three letters, CIA:
| Means | At Corner Café | |
|---|---|---|
| Confidentiality | only the right people can see it | staff pay rates, customers' details, the payments key |
| Integrity | nobody can secretly change it | the website, the menu prices, the order system |
| Availability | it works when it's needed | the booking system at Saturday brunch |
Why it matters
Attacks on Australian individuals and businesses are reported to the government every few minutes, and small businesses are hit just as often as big ones — they usually have fewer defences. A single successful attack can mean stolen money, leaked customer data, a website showing someone else's message, or days of being unable to trade.
The good news: most attacks use the same few weaknesses, and the basics stop most of them. That's what this course is about.
The rules (please read)
- Only ever test systems you own, or have written permission to test. Scanning, guessing passwords or trying attacks on other people's computers or websites is a crime in Australia under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Part 10.7, computer offences) — even "just to see"
- Everything in this course happens on your own practice server and computer
- Security jobs are built on trust. Ethical hackers work with permission, inside agreed limits, and report what they find
| Module | You'll… |
|---|---|
| 1. Why security matters | learn how attacks happen and set up your practice lab |
| 2. People and passwords | crack weak passwords, see how MFA works, and pick apart a phishing email |
| 3. Protect the server | tighten accounts, patch, scan with nmap and close the open doors |
| 4. Detect attacks | read the logs, block repeated attackers, and spot changed files |
| 5. Web app security | break and fix a real app: SQL injection, cross-site scripting, leaked secrets |
| 6. Respond and grow | handle an incident, meet the Essential Eight, and plan a security career |
Try it
- Think of an app you use. What would losing its confidentiality, integrity or availability mean for you?
- Download the lab files from this lesson.
Downloads
1 file to download once you enrol.