| Let us first understand What is data? Data | | | | Microsoft later released NTFS (New Technology |
| is nothing but, information. All information | | | | File System), which greatly increased the |
| in a computer is referred to as data. Data is | | | | security options.With the advent of |
| a plural form of Latin word "Datum". In | | | | client-server technology, the computer system |
| computer, what we type, is referred to as | | | | had revolutionary changes. NTFS introduced a |
| data. There are two types of data, first one | | | | concept called File and Folder level |
| is character or numerical data, and second | | | | security, where in, one can set options, with |
| one is referred to as binary. The first one | | | | user name, and passwords. The user with |
| is readable to human beings easily. The | | | | sufficient permissions can access the file. |
| second one helps computers to function. They | | | | However, there are several o*ther issues. The |
| are readable by the computer programs.What is | | | | user name and passwords are to be made |
| data protection: Generally, the word | | | | secured. So, they introduced a concept, |
| protection means the security given to | | | | called encryption and decryption. The basic |
| something. For example, a house protects us | | | | idea of encryption is to convert data from |
| from getting wet, when raining etc. In | | | | one form to another. For example, suppose the |
| computer, the word protection is referred for | | | | letter 'A', may become 'Z' after encryption. |
| protecting data from others, so, that others | | | | Decryption is the just opposite of |
| cannot get the information. In computer, | | | | encryption. i.e. 'Z' should become, 'A', |
| information is stored in hard disks, floppy | | | | after reversing that is, |
| disks, CD-ROM disks, etc. i.e. any secondary | | | | decryption.Encryption and Decryption involves |
| storage device, permanently. We need to | | | | several complex mathematical formulas. One |
| protect it from getting accessed or modified | | | | needs to be good in mathematics, to write |
| or deleted. There are two categories of data; | | | | programs, for encryption and decryption. Till |
| they are, private and public. Private data, | | | | today, no one knows the actual process |
| features your name, password, address, | | | | except, the author of the program. But, |
| telephone number etc. Public data is made | | | | several intelligent guesses can result in |
| available to public, information on some | | | | breaking of encryption code. So, several |
| specific fields, which includes science, | | | | encryption and decryption algorithms came, |
| technology, mathematics, etc. Not all | | | | which made guessing difficult. The research |
| information on these fields are not public | | | | for best encryption and decryption process is |
| data. They may have private data also. It | | | | already on its way.The second security |
| depends on how data is organized to protect | | | | measure, apart from the encryption is, the |
| it from being accessed.Normally, we store | | | | firewall. A firewall is a program, which |
| information or data in the form of files, in | | | | monitors the traffic. The traffic is nothing |
| the secondary storage devices. The computer | | | | but, a group of files. It may be a network |
| checks, whether the data is in protected | | | | file or an ordinary file. A firewall |
| mode. If it is true, then computer will not | | | | prevents the certain files or data from |
| provide data to the user. Each of file | | | | entering into system. It checks data or |
| information is stored, in File Allocation | | | | properties of the file and allows or blocks |
| Table (FAT), in case of Microsoft family of | | | | the file, depending on the condition set. Say |
| operating systems. File Allocation Table, is | | | | for example, suppose, if one can prevent the |
| table of rows and columns, with each row | | | | file abc.txt from entering into the system. |
| corresponds to one file. The columns are, of, | | | | Like wise, we can block or allow the messages |
| name of the file, address offsets from and to | | | | or files, which are willing to enter into our |
| where data is to be read, different file | | | | computer.The growth of technology has |
| attributes. One way, and perhaps, the only | | | | resulted in bringing high level security, in |
| way to give protection to the file in FAT, | | | | the computer system. However, a more advanced |
| FAT16, FAT32 is by hiding it and making it | | | | data security system need to be built, which |
| read only. But, that was not enough, as a | | | | will prevent, unauthorized access into the |
| user, knowing the existence of file, can | | | | system, in the years to come. |
| reach it directly, without any difficulty. | | | | |