Security — AS & A Level Information Technology (9626) questions by topic
Security questions worth between 4 and 12 marks test explain, describe, discuss, assess and state across data destruction and modification, spyware's consequences, botnets, and why personal data on social media needs protecting.
This page collects 21 real questions set in 2023 and 2024. Definitions have to hold up under scrutiny: candidates are expected to state precisely what a term means rather than tell its history or list related processes, and instant marking after each attempt flags exactly which precise phrase or missing detail cost a mark.
What examiners look for
- A recurring criticism is candidates spotting the word encryption and writing everything they know about it, including comparing methods, when the question asked something narrower.
- Examiners repeatedly note that stating a worm or Trojan 'is malware' scores nothing when malware was already given in the question.
- Reports flag the mistaken idea that encrypted data is unreadable without a key, when it is in fact readable as a scrambled sequence of characters.
- A common error is stopping at 'money will be lost' after identifying a stolen credit card number, rather than stating the fuller implication.
- Strong answers defined encryption as scrambling data so its meaning is hidden, and explained phishing by noting the email or website looked legitimate but was false.
May–June 2024, Paper 11
Explain how each of these methods keeps data safe from unauthorised users. (a) encryption
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
Data can be kept secure by using the Secure Socket Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols when it is transmitted over the internet. Describe the use of SSL/TLS to…
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe these types of malware. (a) Malicious bots
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2023, Paper 12
Phishing is a method used by hackers to obtain banking information from computer users. Explain the process of phishing.
Answer this question and get it marked →Describe what is meant by the malware term: worm.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
Encryption can be used to protect data. Define encryption.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
Explain what is meant by symmetric encryption.
Answer this question and get it marked →Some individuals post personal data on social media or in emails. Discuss why personal data needs to be kept confidential.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 13
Explain the purpose of the SSL/TLS protocol.
Answer this question and get it marked →Spyware is a type of malware. Describe the consequences to the individual of the use of spyware on their computer.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 31
Data that is transmitted on networks or stored on servers needs to be protected. Analyse the use of software methods to protect data.
Answer this question and get it marked →The security of data can be threatened by unauthorised destruction or modification. Explain these terms. Give an example of each. (i) data destruction (ii) data modification
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 32
Data that is transmitted on networks needs to be protected by using different protocols. (a) Explain the purpose of the following protocols: (i) Secure Shell (SSH)
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 33
(a) Describe what is meant by a botnet.
Answer this question and get it marked →Data that is transmitted on networks or stored on servers needs to be protected. Analyse the use of software methods to protect data.
Answer this question and get it marked →The security of data can be threatened by unauthorised destruction or modification. Explain these terms. Give an example of each. (i) data destruction (ii) data modification
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
Explain how HTTPS websites provide security of data.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 12
When data is sent across the internet, it is usually encrypted. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of encrypting data which is transmitted over the internet.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 31
(a) Describe what is meant by identity theft.
Answer this question and get it marked →Other AS & A Level Information Technology topics
- Spreadsheets (30)
- Software (22)
- The impact of IT (21)
- Multimedia (20)
- Data and information (17)
- Databases (16)
- Systems development life cycle (13)
- Networks (10)
- Web authoring (8)
- Programming (8)
- Hardware (7)
- Monitoring and control (7)
← All AS & A Level Information Technology (9626) past papers