MPESB Group · Bite-size lessons
Cyber Security
About 7 min · Computer Knowledge · English
Time worked out from the lesson's 475 words at 150 words a minute, plus a minute for each question.
Cyber Security is a crucial topic in the Computer Knowledge section of MPESB Group 1/2/3 exams. With increasing digitization of government services and the push toward e-Governance in Madhya Pradesh, awareness of online threats, protection mechanisms, and safe computing practices is important. This topic tests your awareness of how malicious software works, how to defend against online attacks, and best practices for maintaining digital hygiene.
Key ideas
- Cyber Security refers to the practice of protecting computer systems, networks, and data from digital attacks, unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
- Malware (malicious software) is the umbrella term for any software intentionally designed to cause harm—includes viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware.
- Virus is a program that attaches itself to legitimate files and spreads when the infected file is executed; it requires human action to propagate.
- Worm is self-replicating malware that spreads automatically across networks without needing a host file or user intervention.
- Trojan Horse disguises itself as legitimate software but performs malicious actions once installed; unlike viruses, it does not self-replicate.
Watch out for
- Confusing virus and worm → Wrong: "Worms need infected files to spread." Correct: Worms are self-replicating and spread automatically through networks without host files; viruses require a host and user action.
- Thinking firewall removes malware → Wrong: "Firewall will clean my infected computer." Correct: Firewall only blocks/filters network traffic; you need antivirus software to detect and remove existing malware.
- Assuming HTTPS means a website is trustworthy → Wrong: "The site has a padlock, so it's safe." Correct: HTTPS only means the connection is encrypted; phishing sites can also use HTTPS. Always verify the domain name.
Quick reference
- Virus needs host file + user action; Worm self-replicates across networks automatically.
- Trojan = deception (looks useful, acts harmful); does NOT replicate.
- Firewall = network traffic filter; Antivirus = malware detector and remover.
- Phishing signs: misspelled domains, urgent language, requests for sensitive data via links.
- Strong password: minimum 8 characters, mix of uppercase + lowercase + numbers + symbols, no personal info.
Check yourself: 3 questions
1. Which of the following is a type of malware that replicates itself and spreads from one computer to another without any human action?
2. What is the primary purpose of a firewall in computer security?
3. In a phishing attack, a user receives an email claiming to be from their bank asking them to click a link and verify their account details. What should the user do?
This lesson is cut from the topic's note, not rewritten. Fact-checked on 17 Oct 2026: an AI-assisted check of this note against cited sources; the errors it found were corrected that day. Some errors may remain. The questions are from Shishya's validated question bank.
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