Potential Risks to Data (Edexcel IGCSE ICT): Exam Questions

Anonymity is a threat to the safety of members of online communities.

State one other threat to members of online communities.

Give two types of online payment system that customers could use to pay for tickets.

The venue promotes events on a website.

Which one of these causes a risk to online safety?

Camille creates a home network.

Camille uses anti-malware to secure her data online.

Describe two types of malware.

Camille shares family photographs online with friends.

Camille buys extra online storage.

(i) State two protocols that could be used to secure online payments.

(2)

(ii) After Camille enters her password correctly, she receives this text message from her bank.

Explain why this message helps keep Camille’s payments secure.

(2)

Give two ways that data stored on a computer could be deleted accidentally.

Tiago is working on a laptop in a cafe. Tiago leaves the laptop switched on and logged in while they go to buy a drink.

Explain one risk to the data on Tiago's laptop.

A dental clinic keeps the records of all its patients on its computer system. The records include each patient's contact details, medical history and treatment notes.

Explain one way unauthorised access and one way accidental deletion could cause problems for the clinic or its patients.

Which one of these types of malware encrypts a user's files and then asks for a payment to unlock them?

Explain one difference between a virus and a worm.

Elif runs a small online shop from one computer. The computer stores all the customer orders. Elif also uses it to log in to the shop's bank account.

Explain two ways malware could harm Elif's business.

Give two types of personal data that criminals try to steal using phishing.

Explain one difference between phishing and pharming.

Noor runs a travel agency. The staff use email to contact customers. They log in to an online banking website to pay hotels and airlines.

Explain two ways the travel agency could be harmed by phishing or pharming.

Which one of these is a biometric method of authentication?

A customer wants to pay a website without giving their bank card details to the seller.

Which one of these should the customer use?

Explain one reason why there is a limit on the amount that can be paid with a contactless card using near field communication (NFC).

A ticket-selling website asks every user to complete a CAPTCHA test before they can create an account.

Explain why the website uses a CAPTCHA test.

Rui runs a small bakery. At the moment, customers can only pay with cash. Rui wants to let customers pay in the shop using contactless payment with near field communication (NFC). Rui also wants customers to pre-order cakes online and pay through a third-party payment system.

Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of these payment systems for Rui's bakery and its customers.

In your answer you should consider:

• speed and convenience

• security

• cost and reliability

Amara manages a small recruitment agency with eight staff. Staff log in to the agency's online records system with a username and password. The records system holds job applicants' personal details.

Amara is thinking about replacing the passwords with fingerprint recognition.

Discuss whether Amara should replace the passwords with fingerprint recognition.

Which one of these types of software finds and removes programs that show unwanted adverts?

Explain why anti-malware software needs to be updated regularly.

Tariq is a freelance designer who works from home on a laptop. Customers send Tariq files by email, and Tariq downloads images from websites. All of Tariq's design projects are stored on the laptop.

Explain two ways anti-malware software could protect Tariq's data.

Files stored online can be shared with other users. Each user can be given a different level of access to a file.

Give two levels of access that a user can be given to a file.

Zainab keeps a scanned copy of their passport in online storage. Zainab needs to send it to a college that is processing their application.

Explain why Zainab should share the file only with the college's own account, instead of sharing a link that anyone can open.

A youth football club uses online storage to share files with its volunteer coaches. Some of the files hold players' home addresses and medical details. Coaches often join and leave the club during the season.

Explain two ways the club should use access rights to protect the players' personal data.

State one way a user can check that a website is secure before entering personal details.

Lin is buying a coat from an online shop. The shop's website uses HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure).

Explain how HTTPS protects Lin's card details.

A charity is setting up a website. People will use the website to give money to the charity. They will enter their name, home address and bank card details.

Explain two reasons why the charity's website should be a secure website.

Give two signs that an email may not be safe to open or reply to.

Hana receives an email that says a parcel could not be delivered. The email contains a web link to rearrange the delivery and pay a small fee.

Explain why Hana should type the delivery company's web address into the browser instead of following the link.

An architecture company is training its staff to use email safely. Staff send and receive drawings and contracts by email every day.

Explain two actions staff should take to use email safely.

Which one of these backup procedures copies all of the data every time it runs?

Explain why a backup should be stored in a different place from the original data.

Priya runs a small wedding photography business from home. All the photographs from each wedding are stored on one laptop until they are sent to the customer, which can take several weeks. Priya does not make any backups.

Explain two features of a backup procedure that Priya should use.