How did computerization create new security risks for sensitive information?

Computerization has fundamentally transformed the landscape of personal and property protection by shifting the focus from physical security to the defense of digital information systems. While traditional assets are protected by physical locks and alarms, the digitization of data introduced vulnerabilities that require complex technical and policy-based safeguards.12

The primary security risks created by computerization include:

• Unauthorized Access and Data Theft: Digital information stored in databases is susceptible to theft, destruction, or modification, especially when servers are accessible to multiple users over a network.2
• Malicious Software: The rise of malware, including computer viruses and Trojan horses, allows attackers to replicate malicious code, infect systems, and destroy resident files.2
• Network Vulnerabilities: The Internet and shared networks enable remote attacks, eavesdropping on communications, and phishing schemes.32
• Social Engineering: Beyond technical flaws, human-centric manipulation remains a difficult risk to mitigate.3

To address these threats, modern security relies on the CIA triad—confidentiality, integrity, and availability—supported by encryption, firewalls, and authentication protocols.12