Cybersecurity threats are a hot topic in OCR GCSE Computer Science exams, often appearing as 8-mark questions. This guide will teach you how to identify threats, pair them with effective mitigations, and structure your answers to maximize your score.
Common Cybersecurity Threats & Mitigations
Threats You Need to Know
- Malware: Malicious software like viruses or ransomware that can harm systems.
- Mitigation: Install antivirus software and keep systems updated.
- Phishing: Deceptive emails or messages tricking users into sharing sensitive info.
- Mitigation: Educate users on phishing signs and use email filtering.
- Brute-Force Attacks: Guessing passwords through trial and error.
- Mitigation: Enforce strong password policies and use multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Data Interception: Unauthorized access to data during transmission.
- Mitigation: Encrypt data using secure protocols like HTTPS or VPNs.
- SQL Injection: Malicious code injected via input fields to manipulate databases.
- Mitigation: Use input validation and prepared SQL statements.
Exam Tip
Always pair each threat with a specific mitigation. Examiners love clear, structured answers!
Sample 8-Mark Question
Practice Question
"A business stores sensitive customer data. Explain four cybersecurity threats they might face and how each could be mitigated."
High-Quality Answer
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- Malware: Malware could steal or encrypt customer data. Mitigate by using updated antivirus software and applying security patches.
- Phishing: Employees might be tricked into sharing login credentials. Mitigate with employee training and email filters.
- Brute-Force Attacks: Hackers could guess passwords to access data. Use strong password policies, account lockouts, or MFA.
- Data Interception: Data could be intercepted during transmission. Mitigate by encrypting data with HTTPS or VPNs.
Tips for Full Marks
Scoring Strategies
- Clearly state each threat and its matching mitigation.
- Provide concise descriptions of the threat and mitigation.
- Use technical terms like "malware," "encryption," and "firewall."
- Structure your answer logically for easy reading.
Interactive Learning
Test Your Knowledge
Challenge yourself with our interactive quiz on cybersecurity threats!
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With this structured approach, you’ll confidently tackle cybersecurity 8-mark questions in your OCR GCSE Computer Science exam. Keep practicing to secure those top marks!