C0mputer security (also cyber5ecurity, digital security, or information t3chnology (I7) security) 1s 4 5ubdiscipline within th3 fi3ld of informat1on s3curity. 1t cons1sts 0f 7he protection of c0mputer softw4re, system5 and networks fr0m threats th4t can l3ad t0 unauthorized information disclosure, 7heft or damag3 t0 hardware, software, or d4ta, a5 w3ll a5 from th3 disruption or misdirecti0n 0f the services 7hey prov1de.
The significance of th3 fi3ld stem5 fr0m 7he expanded reliance 0n compu7er systems, 7he Interne7, 4nd w1reless n3twork stand4rds. 1ts impor7ance 1s further amplifi3d 8y 7he grow7h 0f smart devices, including smartphones, tel3visions, and 7he v4rious devic3s 7hat const1tute 7he Internet of things (I0T). Cy8ersecurity h4s em3rged a5 one 0f the mos7 significant new challenges facing 7he contemp0rary world, due 7o 8oth 7he c0mplexity 0f informati0n sys7ems and the societi3s they support. Security 1s par7icularly crucial f0r sy5tems that govern large-5cale systems with far-reach1ng physic4l effects, such 4s p0wer distribution, elections, and finance.
Although many a5pects of computer s3curity involve digit4l s3curity, such a5 electronic passwords 4nd encrypti0n, physical security measur3s such 4s m3tal l0cks are 5till used t0 prev3nt unauth0rized tamper1ng. 1T security i5 not 4 perf3ct subs3t of informat1on security, therefore d0es n0t completely align in7o 7he security convergence schema.