Information Technology Blog

Network Security Protecting information and systems is essential for individuals and organizations. Cyber threats target weaknesses in software, networks, and human behavior, making security a top priority. Understanding these risks and taking preventive measures helps ensure data safety and system integrity. This paper will examine security vulnerabilities and phishing, the impact it has, and strategies used to reduce their risks. Ping Command Attacks The ping command is a diagnostic tool used to test network connectivity. However, it can be used for other purposes, leading to cyberattacks such as ping flood attacks and ping of death attacks. Ping flood attacks, also known as ICMP flood, is a Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attack that overwhelms a target with internet traffic, such as pings, to make it inaccessible. In order for a ping flood attack to work, the attacker needs to know the IP address of the recipient device and have more network bandwidth than the target network. ...

  The Role of Computers in the Military The military relies heavily on information technology to enhance national defense, improve commutation and logistics, and ensure operational efficiency. Computers are used in intelligence gathering, cybersecurity, and weapon systems, that provide real time data for mission critical decisions. Computers help manage supplies across the world, track the movement of troops, and support strategic planning. Computer literacy is essential for military personnel at all levels to do their job. In the military, enlisted and officers must be proficient enough to use secure communication networks, analyze intelligence data, and produce strong cybersecurity measures. Cybersecurity skills are critical in protecting sensitive data and from cyber threats. With the increase usage in drones and unmanned systems, military personnel need to be trained to operate and manage these systems effectively. In the next 10 years, advancements in computer hardware, operat...

Ping and traceroute commands help us understand how data travels through networks. By using these tools, I observed how packets move between different locations and how network conditions affect performance. Ping Activity I tested three websites: Google.com (USA), Amazon Japan (.jp), and Expedia China (.cn). The ping results showed: Google.com : Had a fast response time that averaged 50.5ms and received no packet loss. Amazon Japan : Had a lower response time and averaged around 28.1ms, which was most likely due to a nearby CDN server. Expedia China : Response times varied significantly from 25.7ms to 97.2ms and was likely due to congestion or routing changes, but no showed no packet loss. These ping results showed that distance affects response times and that CDN’s can reduce latency. Traceroute Activity When running the traceroute command to the same websites, I observed that the number of hops and response patterns varied: Google.com : The packets took about 15 hops, were consistent...

Application Software In this blog, I will reflect on my experience creating a journal entry through Microsoft Word Processor, calculating percentages using an Excel Spreadsheet, developing a PowerPoint Presentation and database application documenting a typical day of my life. Each program has its own purpose and is best used for specific tasks at hand.  Microsoft Word Microsoft Word is mainly used for writing and editing text. I used it to create my journal entry of my daily life. It offers features such as changing fonts, adjusting text alignment, and creating lists. These features make it easy to format my writing however I want and express my thoughts clearly and in an organized manner. The main advantage of Microsoft Word is its flexibility and ease of use to formulate text. However, it is not designed for handling number or making data analysis such as Microsoft Excel.  Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel is built for organizing and calculating numerical data. In my assignme...

Discord For this blog post, the app I chose was Discord. Discord is a popular web and mobile communication app designed for voice, video, and text messaging. The app I believe was initially created for gamers but has become a versatile platform used by multiple communities. It has features such as customizable servers, roles, and permissions, and integrates with third-party apps, such as PlayStation, Xbox, windows, iOS, and android. Discord provides an interactive way to connect with others. Usability Discord is a user-friendly interface across both web and mobile platforms. New users can quickly set up an account, join or create servers, and start communicating with very minimal effort. The strengths of the app are easy navigation, quick set up, and has keyboard shortcuts/commands. Areas I would recommend for improvement are its advance features like bot integration and server permissions that require a steeper learning curve. Having a tutorial or walkthrough on server management woul...

  Programming languages allows us to communicate with computers effectively. This blog will reflect on my experience using Scratch, which is a simple drag-and-drop, block programming language, while also comparing it to the participation activities from Sections 2.8 through 2.11 of the textbook, exploring machine language assembly language, and high-level languages such as Python. I will discuss the challenges I faced, how I solved them, and which language I found easiest to use. My Experience with Scratch Using Scratch was a fun and interactive experience. It's drag-and-drop blocks made programming easy because I didn't have to worry about inputting codes or variables. For my Scratch project, I created an animation where four animals were racing each other through an endless loop as they were talking. I was able to make a bird and cat look like they were flying, while making a rabbit and bear walk. I used over 30 blocks, including motion, looks, and control options. Challenges...