Cybersecurity has become an essential part of every industry, and many young professionals are showing interest in this particular domain. If you are a cybersecurity aspirant then, you must involve yourself in doing cybersecurity projects as it shows your capability of handling situations and your thinking skills. Hence, these projects can be highly beneficial from a career point of view.
In this article, we have gathered the top 7 cybersecurity projects that beginners can take up to understand the domain and its complexities better.
- Keylogger
- Caesar Cipher- Encryption/Decryption
- Hash Function
- Packet Sniffing
- SQL Injection Vulnerability
- Credit Card Fraud Detection
- Internet Border Patrol
- How would these cybersecurity project ideas help you?
- Wrapping up cybersecurity project ideas
Keylogger
Abstract: Keylogger attempt to retrieve confidential information by capturing user input via keystroke monitoring and leaking this information for malicious purposes.
Aim of the Project: To track keyboard activities.
How does it work?
Keylogger records all information and keeps track of everything typed. This can be used to intercept credit card information, passwords, and other sensitive information typed into the keyboard. Keystroke loggers can be installed as malware without the user’s knowledge in order to steal sensitive data.
What can aspirants do?
Build a Keylogger in python language to detect this malware and privy as to how the data are logged and transmitted to a hacker.
Also Read: Everything You Need to Know About Cybersecurity Attacks and How to Prevent Them
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Caesar Cipher- Encryption/Decryption
Abstract: This encryption/decryption method is one of the oldest and was used by Roman dictator Julius Caesar to provide cryptic orders to his army. Despite the fact that many new algorithms have been developed, the cypher algorithm remains secure and fast due to its simplicity.
Aim of the Project: To understand encryption and decryption using Caesar Cipher.
How does it work?
This algorithm follows the simple logic of numeric cipher i.e. the numeric values or alphabetic values are shifted to the right by many times.
To give you an example, let take the word GREAT LEARNING if we apply a cypher value, then the alphabets are shifted to the right of it by that many times.
So GREAT LEARNING becomes, JUHDW OHDUQLQJ which is also known as the ciphertext. The same trick is applied to retrieve the normal text.
What can aspirants do?
You can create the Cipher using a Program across any programming language that can work on the encryption and decryption of the given text.
Check out our free course on Encryption!
Hash Function
Abstract: A hash function is a mathematical function that converts a numerical input value into another compressed numerical value. In the hash function, the input is always of arbitrary length but the output is always of fixed length.
Aim of the project: Hashing is an encryption algorithm that helps you encrypt the normal text into gibberish.
How does it work?
Hash functions take data as an input and return an integer in the range of possible values into a hash table and then it consistently distributes the data across the entire set of possible hash values. The hash function generates completely different hash values even for similar strings.
Example: Dropbox uses a 4-layered encryption method that will ensure that the resources and time required to brute force through these layers will make the acquisition of actual data meaningless.
What can aspirants do?
Make sure you take up different types of hash functions and understand the work and then write your own encoder in python language.
To take it future you could embark on is researching multi-layered encryption systems and learning how they make the data more secure.
Packet Sniffing
Abstract: Packet sniffing is a method of tapping each packet as it flows across the network; i.e., it is a technique in which a user sniffs data belonging to other users of the network.
Aim of the Project: To have a track of the transmission of information through their network.
How does it work?
A packet sniffer, also known as a packet analyzer, stores data that is to be transmitted between two locations, namely from the sender to the intended receiver, and also assists a piece of hardware or software in monitoring network traffic. Sniffers examine data packet streams that flow between networked computers as well as between networked computers and the larger Internet. This also aids in the tracking and monitoring of packets that transmit data from the source to the destination.
What can aspirants do?
You can work through Python programs to track the information contained within the packet with their intended source and destination.
You can also create a system that can track any illegal retrieval of sensitive information from external intrusions.
SQL Injection Vulnerability
Abstract: As the use of the internet for various online services is rising SQL Injection is a threat and a serious security problem over the Internet for the various dynamic web applications residing over the internet.
Aim of the Project: To focus on infiltrating the proprietary data of an individual, group, or organization and can manipulate the same.
How does SQL injection work?
SQL statements are used to retrieve and update information from a database. When the same statement or application contains a SQL injection vulnerability, attackers use malicious SQL statements to inject directly into the input box, and the database responds by providing sensitive information.
What can aspirants do?
You can work on the vulnerable areas of any database such as a website, a school marks system that has a data recording system to create a foolproof system that would prevent these attacks in the future.
Credit Card Fraud Detection
Abstract: Credit Card Fraud Detection is one of the common security breaches, to solve this problem combination of techniques like genetic algorithms, behavior-based techniques and hidden Markov models are used.
Aim of the Project: This project involves working on a system that analyzes users’ transactions, their behaviors and ensures that this information is never compromised.
How does it work?
Based on the unauthorized behavior, the system will identify suspicious events like false passwords or illegal entry into the system and then this fraud detection algorithm blocks them out. The information regarding login will be passed on to the real user and will make them aware of the same.
What can aspirants do?
Credit Card Fraud Detection projects can be done using machine learning to investigate and prevent fraudulent transactions.
Check out our free course on Cyber Forensics!
Internet Border Patrol
Abstract: The Internet’s excellent scalability results in end-to-end internet congestion control. Internet Border Patrol is an approach to control any type of congestion.
Aim of the Project: This project will see you working on a system that removes undesirable traffic on a website.
How does it work?
The system will look for unresponsive packets in the network and remove them.
What can aspirants do?
The project helps you to create the system using python programming that provides conditions to check for unresponsive packets in the network. These packets can be utilized by unauthorized users who may fill in the virus or worms that can comprise the entire network or a system. Hence, this project helps in declogging the network that may be misused.
How would these cybersecurity project ideas help you?
Instill qualities such as:
- Programming skills.
- Analytical ability.
- Patience while handling complex situations.
This field requires quick feet to know which algorithm or technique to use while creating foolproof systems as well as the mental ability to withstand attacks.
Project experience is now considered as evidence of your hands-on capability in the domain and a great reference within the technological industry.
Wrapping up cybersecurity project ideas
As per reports from popular firms like AT&T and Gartner Analytics:
- In 2019, 0.3% of the total budget of the USA was on improving its security systems
- Fintech sectors spend most of their budgets on security practices.
- More than 3.5 million jobs are expected to be open within cybersecurity by 2021
So, by all these facts we can say that the future of Cybersecurity is bright. So start learning Cyber Security today with the Top 15 Cyber Security Questions and Answers to ace the entry to your dream job. For more learning opportunities, check out available online courses to discover more about this topic to continue building your skills.
If the above stats have pricked your interest in this domain, try taking up a cybersecurity course from Standford University and become a part of this growing industry.
