Information security

WIKILEAKS DOCS SHOW HOW THE CIA ALLEGEDLY INFECTED OFFLINE COMPUTERS

Air-gapping refers to a security measure that involves isolating a computer or network and preventing it from establishing an external connection. Being segregated in this way, devices cannot connect wirelessly or physically with other computers or network devices, making them virtually immune to remote hacking.

Classified military networks, the payment networks responsible for processing credit and debit card transactions for retailers, or industrial control systems that operate vital infrastructure — these are examples of networks that typically use air-gapping.

Maintaining security requires such networks to remain on internal networks that aren’t connected to the company’s business network. This ensures intruders can’t enter the corporate network by way of the Internet and weasel their way into sensitive systems.