Keeping Our Systems Updated
I work as an IT technician, so I'm familiar with computers and troubleshooting.
This fall I started a graduate program in cybersecurity. We have not gotten into much depth--that's for later classes--but we have used easy, freely available programs to create hacks into various systems. There are several in the class who are very adept and have taken the time to look into other hacks, and then shared them with the class.
With more devices being connected to the internet, and most of those devices not having much in the way of security, we are opening our homes, vehicles, and families to potential invasion.
The best defenses against the attackers include:
Most attacks are on vulnerabilities that have a patch available, but the system wasn't maintained, patched, and updated.
It used to be that hackers were out for more malicious intent. Now the main motivation is money, which is gained through theft and sale of information. Often this is personal identity data, but is also includes business or government information. So, it's still malicious intent, but usually the attackers aren't looking to bring down a system, at least not until they've stolen the information.
Even if an attacker does manage to penetrate the system's defenses, an effective monitoring of the system in its healthy state can provide warning signs when the system is compromised, If system administrators are monitoring the system and see the signs then can take action and reduce the effects of the breach.
Similarly, we are vulnerable to various factors. Carnal satisfaction, greed, fear, pride, hate, envy are some of our vulnerabilities. But having things easy and convenient are also vulnerabilities, especially if we trade our privacy and security for these.
Like computer systems, we need to keep our systems up-to-date. Of greatest importance is our spiritual system, but we also need to keep our physical systems updated.
Are we up-to-date in knowing what the prophets and apostles have counseled and taught?
But knowing about an update isn't enough. Knowing doesn't patch the system. We need to take action and apply the update. We need to do as the prophets have counseled.
Are we up-to-date with our ability to listen to the Spirit?
Often life has a way of getting our system out of tune, and we need to re-attune ourselves frequently. Having the Holy Spirit to guide us, to direct, and to warn us is our anti-malware program. It will help us avoid entanglements with sin.
The Holy Spirit can also help us know when we might be venturing into questionable terrain and being cautious about what we do.
We should backup some of our data by keeping personal histories, writing in journals, and sharing stories of our lives, and stories of our ancestors, with our children.
We need to keep our security measures on.
We are told to "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/eph/6.11?lang=eng#10). Our "loins girt about with truth," the "breastplate of righteousness,", our "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace," the "helmet of salvation", the "shield of faith", and the "sword of the spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:13-17). And along with this we should be "praying always" and "watching thereunto with all perseverance" (Ephesians 6:18).
In other scriptures, the breastplate is faith and love, the helmet is of hope and salvation (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-thes/5.8?lang=eng#7), the truth of the Lord being our shield and buckler (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/ps/91.4?lang=eng#3).
We also need to perform regular scans on our spiritual and physical systems. Some of the questions we can use to scan our systems include:
If we are continually watching and monitoring our systems we should be able to better identify when a breach of our defenses is occurring or has occurred. The sooner we take action to remedy the situation and then strengthen the defenses the easier the recovery will be. Wherever there was a breach we need to be continually aware of that former weakness, not to dwell on it, but to ensure it has been strengthened and continues to be strong.
When a computer gets infected one of the biggest symptoms is a decrease in performance. But malware isn't the only cause of performance reduction. Sometimes there are too many applications installed, filling up the data storage capacity of the device, or there are too many applications running.
We often have similar problems when we try to do too much. Too many activities taking up too much of our time and energy. We need to simplify our lives. Yes, there is much that is good. This is where it will take some time to clean out what really doesn't make our lives better, and our relationships more meaningful.
We cannot afford to get our systems operational, maybe update them once, and then assume we are good to go.
Just like with computer systems, we need to continually be updating ourselves spiritually and physically, and monitoring our systems. We cannot afford to allow ourselves to go to sleep, to become out-of-date. It is a continual process.
But we cannot rely only our own efforts. We need the Spirit to guide us. We also need to have regular system audits. Audits are like a system analysis comparing how things are operating to a standard. We want to make sure we are at least operating to the accepted standard.
These audits can occur through interviews, such as for a temple recommend, but also through humbling ourselves before the Lord, acknowledging our sins and weaknesses, and submitting ourselves to his will. The Lord can help us know where we need to be corrected and strengthened. If we go to the Lord, he will show us our weak points and then help us to make them strong.
This fall I started a graduate program in cybersecurity. We have not gotten into much depth--that's for later classes--but we have used easy, freely available programs to create hacks into various systems. There are several in the class who are very adept and have taken the time to look into other hacks, and then shared them with the class.
With more devices being connected to the internet, and most of those devices not having much in the way of security, we are opening our homes, vehicles, and families to potential invasion.
The best defenses against the attackers include:
- Keeping your system (the operating system) updated.
- Maintain an updated anti-virus/anti-malware program.
- Keep applications up-to-date.
- Backup your data regularly, and keep a copy of your backup disconnected from your system and not connected to the internet.
- Be cautious where you go in the internet and what you click on.
- Keep the computer's security measures on.
- Perform regular malware scans on your device.
Most attacks are on vulnerabilities that have a patch available, but the system wasn't maintained, patched, and updated.
It used to be that hackers were out for more malicious intent. Now the main motivation is money, which is gained through theft and sale of information. Often this is personal identity data, but is also includes business or government information. So, it's still malicious intent, but usually the attackers aren't looking to bring down a system, at least not until they've stolen the information.
Even if an attacker does manage to penetrate the system's defenses, an effective monitoring of the system in its healthy state can provide warning signs when the system is compromised, If system administrators are monitoring the system and see the signs then can take action and reduce the effects of the breach.
Similarly, we are vulnerable to various factors. Carnal satisfaction, greed, fear, pride, hate, envy are some of our vulnerabilities. But having things easy and convenient are also vulnerabilities, especially if we trade our privacy and security for these.
Like computer systems, we need to keep our systems up-to-date. Of greatest importance is our spiritual system, but we also need to keep our physical systems updated.
Are we up-to-date in knowing what the prophets and apostles have counseled and taught?
But knowing about an update isn't enough. Knowing doesn't patch the system. We need to take action and apply the update. We need to do as the prophets have counseled.
Are we up-to-date with our ability to listen to the Spirit?
Often life has a way of getting our system out of tune, and we need to re-attune ourselves frequently. Having the Holy Spirit to guide us, to direct, and to warn us is our anti-malware program. It will help us avoid entanglements with sin.
The Holy Spirit can also help us know when we might be venturing into questionable terrain and being cautious about what we do.
We should backup some of our data by keeping personal histories, writing in journals, and sharing stories of our lives, and stories of our ancestors, with our children.
We need to keep our security measures on.
We are told to "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/eph/6.11?lang=eng#10). Our "loins girt about with truth," the "breastplate of righteousness,", our "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace," the "helmet of salvation", the "shield of faith", and the "sword of the spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:13-17). And along with this we should be "praying always" and "watching thereunto with all perseverance" (Ephesians 6:18).
In other scriptures, the breastplate is faith and love, the helmet is of hope and salvation (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-thes/5.8?lang=eng#7), the truth of the Lord being our shield and buckler (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/ps/91.4?lang=eng#3).
We also need to perform regular scans on our spiritual and physical systems. Some of the questions we can use to scan our systems include:
- Are you paying a full tithing?
- Do you have a current temple recommend?
- Do you fast regularly?
- Do you have meaningful prayer?
- Do you keep the Sabbath day holy?
- Do you you follow the word of wisdom?
- Have you followed the counsels to be prepared, to have food and water storage and a financial reserve?
- Are you living within your means?
If we are continually watching and monitoring our systems we should be able to better identify when a breach of our defenses is occurring or has occurred. The sooner we take action to remedy the situation and then strengthen the defenses the easier the recovery will be. Wherever there was a breach we need to be continually aware of that former weakness, not to dwell on it, but to ensure it has been strengthened and continues to be strong.
When a computer gets infected one of the biggest symptoms is a decrease in performance. But malware isn't the only cause of performance reduction. Sometimes there are too many applications installed, filling up the data storage capacity of the device, or there are too many applications running.
We often have similar problems when we try to do too much. Too many activities taking up too much of our time and energy. We need to simplify our lives. Yes, there is much that is good. This is where it will take some time to clean out what really doesn't make our lives better, and our relationships more meaningful.
We cannot afford to get our systems operational, maybe update them once, and then assume we are good to go.
Just like with computer systems, we need to continually be updating ourselves spiritually and physically, and monitoring our systems. We cannot afford to allow ourselves to go to sleep, to become out-of-date. It is a continual process.
But we cannot rely only our own efforts. We need the Spirit to guide us. We also need to have regular system audits. Audits are like a system analysis comparing how things are operating to a standard. We want to make sure we are at least operating to the accepted standard.
These audits can occur through interviews, such as for a temple recommend, but also through humbling ourselves before the Lord, acknowledging our sins and weaknesses, and submitting ourselves to his will. The Lord can help us know where we need to be corrected and strengthened. If we go to the Lord, he will show us our weak points and then help us to make them strong.
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