Best Computer Security 4th Edition: Principles & Practice


Best Computer Security 4th Edition: Principles & Practice

The required useful resource denotes a textbook extensively utilized in cybersecurity training {and professional} coaching. This useful resource delivers a structured method to understanding the theoretical underpinnings and sensible utility of safeguarding laptop techniques and networks. It synthesizes basic ideas with real-world implementation methods, providing a complete overview of the sphere. Its content material usually covers areas corresponding to cryptography, entry management, community safety, and software program safety.

Such a compendium presents important worth by consolidating important data right into a single, accessible supply. Its profit lies in its capacity to equip people with the data and abilities essential to determine, assess, and mitigate safety threats. Traditionally, assets of this nature have performed a pivotal function in shaping the cybersecurity panorama, fostering a extra knowledgeable and ready workforce able to defending in opposition to ever-evolving cyberattacks.

The matters lined typically embrace core ideas like confidentiality, integrity, and availability, in addition to strategies for implementing safe techniques. It explores totally different assault vectors, protection mechanisms, and finest practices for constructing strong and resilient safety architectures. Moreover, it delves into the authorized and moral concerns surrounding laptop safety, offering a holistic perspective on the challenges and duties inherent within the subject.

1. Cryptography

Inside the huge panorama of laptop safety, cryptography stands as a cornerstone, an historic artwork tailored to the digital age. Texts devoted to laptop safety, corresponding to the required useful resource, persistently spotlight its basic function in defending info. Cryptography isn’t any mere add-on; it’s woven into the very material of safe techniques, offering the means to make sure confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity.

  • Symmetric-Key Cryptography

    This aspect includes algorithms that use the identical key for each encryption and decryption. Consider it as a lock and key the place the identical key opens and closes it. In real-world situations, it is utilized in securing knowledge at relaxation on arduous drives and in encrypting community visitors, as seen in protocols like AES. The required useful resource doubtless particulars the strengths and weaknesses of varied symmetric algorithms, guiding practitioners in deciding on acceptable strategies based mostly on particular safety necessities.

  • Uneven-Key Cryptography

    Using key pairsa public key for encryption and a personal key for decryptionasymmetric cryptography permits safe communication with out prior key change. Take into account digital certificates that confirm the authenticity of internet sites. The textbook in query usually explores algorithms like RSA and elliptic curve cryptography, explaining how they underpin safe on-line transactions and digital signatures, essential parts in establishing belief within the digital realm.

  • Hashing Algorithms

    Hashing transforms knowledge right into a fixed-size string, or hash, offering a one-way perform. This ensures knowledge integrity by detecting any alterations, even slight ones. The required useful resource most likely addresses their functions in verifying file integrity, storing passwords securely, and creating digital signatures. Hashing algorithms like SHA-256 are important instruments for sustaining knowledge trustworthiness throughout numerous techniques.

  • Cryptographic Protocols

    These are established guidelines that makes use of cryptographic algorithms to make sure safe and strong communication or transactions. Examples embrace Safe Sockets Layer (SSL) which shield internet communication. Textbooks on laptop safety explains how TLS or SSH makes use of cryptography to supply a secure and genuine channel.

These cryptographic aspects, meticulously detailed inside assets like “laptop safety ideas and apply 4th version,” will not be remoted ideas. They’re interconnected parts forming a multilayered protection in opposition to digital threats. From defending delicate knowledge to verifying the authenticity of communications, cryptography serves as an important instrument within the arsenal of any cybersecurity skilled, enabling them to construct and preserve safe techniques in an more and more complicated and hostile digital atmosphere.

2. Entry Management

Inside the digital fortress, entry management stands as a vigilant gatekeeper. Sources corresponding to “laptop safety ideas and apply 4th version” persistently emphasize its function as a basic pillar in safeguarding delicate info and important techniques. It isn’t merely about granting entry; it’s a rigorously orchestrated system of insurance policies, mechanisms, and applied sciences designed to make sure that solely licensed people or entities can entry particular assets below outlined situations.

  • Discretionary Entry Management (DAC)

    DAC locations the management of entry within the fingers of the useful resource proprietor. A file creator, as an illustration, decides who can learn, write, or execute the file. This method, whereas versatile, might be vulnerable to insider threats or inadvertent misconfigurations. Texts on laptop safety element the inherent dangers related to DAC and supply methods for mitigating them. Take into account a situation the place an worker mistakenly grants extreme permissions, doubtlessly exposing delicate knowledge to unauthorized personnel.

  • Necessary Entry Management (MAC)

    MAC employs a centralized authority to dictate entry insurance policies based mostly on predetermined safety classifications. Methods working below MAC impose strict guidelines, usually present in high-security environments corresponding to authorities companies or army installations. Data is classed in keeping with its sensitivity, and customers are assigned safety clearances that decide their entry privileges. Think about a categorized doc that may solely be accessed by people with the suitable clearance stage, guaranteeing compartmentalization and stopping unauthorized disclosure. The aforementioned useful resource gives perception into the complexities of implementing and managing MAC techniques.

  • Position-Based mostly Entry Management (RBAC)

    RBAC assigns permissions based mostly on a person’s function inside a corporation. As a substitute of granting permissions on to customers, RBAC associates permissions with particular roles, and customers are assigned to these roles. Take into account a hospital the place nurses, docs, and directors have totally different entry privileges to affected person data. RBAC simplifies administration, enhances accountability, and reduces the danger of errors related to managing particular person person permissions. Such techniques supply scalability and flexibility, making them a well-liked alternative in lots of organizations. The required useful resource doubtless delves into the intricacies of designing and implementing efficient RBAC techniques.

  • Attribute-Based mostly Entry Management (ABAC)

    ABAC makes use of attributes of the person, the useful resource, and the atmosphere to make entry management selections. This dynamic method permits for fine-grained management based mostly on context. As an illustration, entry to a file is perhaps granted provided that the person is positioned inside the company community, accessing the file throughout enterprise hours, and possesses the required safety clearance. ABAC presents unparalleled flexibility and precision, enabling organizations to implement complicated entry management insurance policies tailor-made to their particular wants. The “laptop safety ideas and apply 4th version” doubtless explores ABAC as a complicated answer for managing entry in dynamic and heterogeneous environments.

These aspects of entry management, illuminated inside assets like the required textbook, underscore the multifaceted nature of securing digital belongings. From the flexibleness of DAC to the rigor of MAC, the effectivity of RBAC, and the dynamism of ABAC, every method presents distinctive strengths and weaknesses. Understanding these nuances permits safety professionals to decide on and implement entry management mechanisms that align with their group’s particular safety necessities and danger tolerance, reinforcing the digital fortress in opposition to unauthorized entry and potential breaches.

3. Community Safety

Inside the grand narrative of laptop safety, the chapter on community safety is a essential juncture, some extent the place theoretical foundations meet the turbulent realities of digital communication. Texts corresponding to the required useful resource present a map by this complicated terrain, detailing the ideas and practices essential to defend in opposition to threats lurking inside the interconnected pathways of recent networks. With out a agency grasp of those ideas, your entire edifice of laptop safety dangers collapse.

  • Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Methods (IDS)

    These sentinels stand guard on the community’s perimeter, filtering visitors and monitoring for suspicious exercise. Firewalls, like gatekeepers, implement entry management insurance policies, blocking unauthorized connections. An Intrusion Detection System acts as an alarm system, alerting directors to potential breaches. In a world the place networks are continually probed by malicious actors, these instruments are indispensable. The required useful resource doubtless dedicates important area to their configuration and administration, exploring their strengths, limitations, and the evolving techniques used to evade them.

  • Digital Non-public Networks (VPNs) and Safe Communication Protocols

    VPNs create encrypted tunnels, permitting for safe communication throughout public networks. They supply confidentiality and integrity, shielding knowledge from eavesdropping and tampering. Safe communication protocols, corresponding to TLS/SSL, encrypt knowledge in transit, safeguarding delicate info throughout on-line transactions. Think about a journalist speaking with a supply in a hostile atmosphere; a VPN might be the lifeline that protects their identities and prevents the interception of their communications. A complete textual content on laptop safety dedicates consideration to the underlying cryptography and the sensible implementation of those applied sciences.

  • Wi-fi Safety

    The proliferation of wi-fi networks has created new assault vectors. Wi-Fi Protected Entry (WPA) and its successor, WPA2/3, are safety protocols designed to guard wi-fi communications from eavesdropping and unauthorized entry. With out correct configuration, wi-fi networks can develop into open doorways for attackers to achieve entry to delicate knowledge. Take into account a espresso store providing free Wi-Fi; if the community is just not correctly secured, attackers can intercept unencrypted visitors, stealing passwords and different delicate info. The required useful resource doubtless dedicates a chapter to the distinctive challenges of wi-fi safety, emphasizing the significance of robust passwords, encryption, and common safety audits.

  • Community Segmentation and Zero Belief Structure

    Community segmentation divides a community into smaller, remoted segments, limiting the influence of a safety breach. Zero Belief Structure assumes that no person or gadget is inherently reliable, requiring verification for each entry request. Think about a hospital community segmented into totally different zones, separating affected person data from administrative techniques. If one section is compromised, the attacker’s entry is restricted, stopping them from having access to your entire community. The “laptop safety ideas and apply 4th version” doubtless explores the ideas of community segmentation and Zero Belief, highlighting their function in constructing resilient and safe networks.

These parts, detailed inside the pages of texts like the required useful resource, will not be remoted ideas. They’re interconnected parts that should work in live performance to create a sturdy community safety posture. From the vigilant firewalls to the encrypted tunnels of VPNs, every layer contributes to a defense-in-depth technique. Understanding these ideas and practices is crucial for any safety skilled tasked with defending networks from the ever-present menace of cyberattacks. The narrative continues, with every new expertise and assault tactic demanding a deeper understanding of those basic ideas.

4. Software program Safety

Within the structure of safe techniques, software program safety occupies a central, essential place. A single flawed line of code can function the entry level for devastating assaults. The required useful resource, usually referenced as a information for laptop safety data, devotes appreciable consideration to fortifying this susceptible area. It’s an acknowledgment that {hardware} and community defenses are sometimes rendered moot if the software program they shield is riddled with exploitable weaknesses.

  • Safe Coding Practices

    Like architects adhering to constructing codes, software program builders should embrace safe coding practices from the outset. These practices will not be mere ideas however relatively important pointers to stop frequent vulnerabilities corresponding to buffer overflows, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting (XSS). Take into account the case of a banking utility susceptible to SQL injection, permitting attackers to control database queries and doubtlessly switch funds. The aforementioned useful resource gives detailed methods for writing code that minimizes these dangers, emphasizing enter validation, output encoding, and the precept of least privilege. These parts are important in stopping vulnerabilities that might result in exploitation.

  • Static and Dynamic Evaluation

    Earlier than software program is deployed, it undergoes rigorous testing to determine potential flaws. Static evaluation examines the supply code with out executing this system, looking for patterns indicative of vulnerabilities. Dynamic evaluation, then again, includes operating the software program with varied inputs to watch its habits and determine runtime errors. Think about a high quality management course of in a producing plant, the place merchandise are subjected to emphasize exams to determine defects. The required useful resource doubtless particulars varied static and dynamic evaluation instruments and strategies, enabling safety professionals to proactively determine and remediate vulnerabilities earlier than they are often exploited.

  • Vulnerability Administration

    Even with the perfect safe coding practices and rigorous testing, vulnerabilities can nonetheless emerge. Vulnerability administration is the method of figuring out, assessing, and mitigating these vulnerabilities. This includes staying abreast of newly found vulnerabilities, patching techniques promptly, and implementing compensating controls to scale back the danger of exploitation. Take into account the fixed patching of working techniques and functions in response to newly found safety flaws. Sources like the required textbook talk about the significance of building a sturdy vulnerability administration program, together with vulnerability scanning, danger prioritization, and patch administration.

  • Safety within the Software program Growth Lifecycle (SDLC)

    Integrating safety concerns all through your entire software program growth lifecycle (SDLC) is paramount. This method, also known as “shifting left,” includes incorporating safety actions into every part of the SDLC, from necessities gathering to deployment and upkeep. Think about a development mission the place security inspections are carried out at every stage, relatively than simply on the finish. The required useful resource underscores the significance of embedding safety into the SDLC, fostering a tradition of safety consciousness amongst builders, and guaranteeing that safety is just not an afterthought however relatively an integral a part of the event course of.

The aspects mentioned above underscore the essential significance of software program safety within the broader context of laptop safety. “laptop safety ideas and apply 4th version”, a standard reference level, gives an exhaustive compilation of methodologies and techniques for growing strong and safe functions. Safe coding practices, code evaluation strategies, and vulnerability administration are all key parts in making a safe software program atmosphere.

5. Danger Administration

Within the annals of laptop safety, tales abound of organizations delivered to their knees not by subtle assaults, however by a failure to grasp and handle danger. It’s inside this context that assets like “laptop safety ideas and apply 4th version” discover their true north. They don’t seem to be merely repositories of technical data, however guides to a strategic mindsetone that acknowledges safety as an ongoing means of figuring out, assessing, and mitigating dangers. It’s a cycle of vigilance that dictates resilience.

  • Asset Identification and Valuation

    The primary chapter in any danger administration narrative is knowing what have to be protected. It begins with figuring out essential belongings knowledge, techniques, infrastructure and assigning them a worth commensurate with their significance to the group. Think about a library cataloging its uncommon manuscripts; every one possesses a novel worth that dictates the extent of safety it receives. A safety useful resource underscores the need of precisely valuing belongings, for it’s this valuation that informs subsequent selections about safety investments. Underestimation results in insufficient safety; overestimation leads to wasted assets.

  • Risk Modeling and Vulnerability Evaluation

    With belongings recognized, the subsequent step is to grasp the threats they face and the vulnerabilities that expose them. Risk modeling includes figuring out potential adversaries and their motivations, whereas vulnerability evaluation uncovers weaknesses in techniques and functions. Take into account a medieval citadel; figuring out the potential attackers and their siege weapons is just half the battle. The citadel’s defenses the partitions, the gate, the moat have to be assessed for weaknesses that an attacker may exploit. A complete safety information gives methodologies for menace modeling and vulnerability evaluation, enabling organizations to anticipate and put together for potential assaults.

  • Danger Evaluation and Prioritization

    As soon as threats and vulnerabilities are understood, the subsequent step is to evaluate the dangers they pose. This includes calculating the chance of a profitable assault and the potential influence on the group. Not all dangers are created equal; some are extra doubtless and extra damaging than others. Think about a physician triaging sufferers in an emergency room; these with essentially the most pressing wants obtain speedy consideration, whereas these with much less essential accidents are handled later. The aforementioned useful resource presents frameworks for danger evaluation and prioritization, enabling organizations to focus their assets on essentially the most essential threats.

  • Danger Mitigation and Remediation

    With dangers prioritized, the ultimate step is to implement measures to mitigate them. This may increasingly contain implementing safety controls, corresponding to firewalls and intrusion detection techniques, or it could contain accepting the danger and implementing compensating controls. Take into account a house owner who installs an alarm system to discourage burglars. They’ve assessed the danger of housebreaking and carried out a safety management to mitigate it. This textbook gives a spectrum of mitigation methods, guiding organizations in deciding on essentially the most acceptable controls for his or her particular dangers and circumstances. It stresses the significance of documenting selections and usually reviewing danger administration plans, guaranteeing they continue to be efficient within the face of evolving threats.

The threads of asset valuation, menace evaluation, danger prioritization, and mitigation weave right into a protecting material. It’s a material painstakingly detailed inside the pages of “laptop safety ideas and apply 4th version.” It acts as a reminder that safety is just not merely a technical drawback, however a administration problem. It requires a holistic view of the group, an understanding of its belongings, its threats, and its vulnerabilities. Solely then can a corporation actually defend itself in opposition to the ever-present menace of cyberattack. The story of danger administration is a steady narrative, one which requires fixed vigilance, adaptation, and a deep understanding of the ideas and practices outlined in important assets.

6. Moral Hacking

Within the intricate dance between protection and offense, moral hacking emerges as an important aspect within the trendy cybersecurity panorama. The data imparted by assets like “laptop safety ideas and apply 4th version” lays the theoretical groundwork, however moral hacking gives the sensible testing floor, an area the place potential weaknesses are probed and exploited below managed situations. This intersection between idea and apply is the place real safety is cast.

  • Reconnaissance and Data Gathering

    Earlier than breaching any system, an moral hacker, like a meticulous detective, gathers info. This reconnaissance part includes passive and energetic strategies to map the goal’s infrastructure, determine potential vulnerabilities, and perceive its safety posture. From scouring public databases to scanning community ports, each piece of data contributes to a complete understanding of the goal. The ideas outlined in referenced texts underscore the significance of this part, as a radical understanding of the system is crucial for devising efficient assault methods. With out it, the hacker strikes blindly, rising the possibilities of detection and failure. It’s as if a military plans an invasion with out figuring out the terrain, the enemy’s energy, or the situation of key defenses.

  • Vulnerability Scanning and Exploitation

    Armed with info, the moral hacker proceeds to scan the goal for identified vulnerabilities. This includes utilizing automated instruments and guide strategies to determine weaknesses in software program, {hardware}, and configurations. As soon as vulnerabilities are recognized, the moral hacker makes an attempt to take advantage of them, simulating real-world assaults to gauge their influence. Ideas discovered on this textual content train how these vulnerabilities seem. A company testing their digital safety simulates a state of affairs of a digital battle and sees the right way to win. This course of highlights the significance of well timed patching, safe coding practices, and strong safety configurations, which the e-book emphasizes as essential protection mechanisms.

  • Sustaining Entry and Masking Tracks

    In a real-world assault, adversaries usually search to take care of persistent entry to compromised techniques and canopy their tracks to evade detection. Moral hackers simulate these techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of safety monitoring and incident response capabilities. This may increasingly contain putting in backdoors, modifying system logs, and using different strategies to stay undetected. It underscores the necessity for vigilant monitoring, complete logging, and strong incident response procedures. It reveals what strategies are there and the way we are able to shield from them, providing steerage on detecting and responding to intrusions, classes strengthened by assets like the required safety information.

  • Reporting and Remediation

    The ultimate step within the moral hacking course of is to doc the findings and supply suggestions for remediation. This includes getting ready an in depth report outlining the vulnerabilities found, the influence of their exploitation, and the steps essential to mitigate the dangers. It’s the essential step of explaining what occurred and the right way to repair it. This report serves as a roadmap for the group to enhance its safety posture and forestall future assaults. It bridges the hole between idea and apply, translating the teachings discovered in the course of the moral hacking train into concrete actions that improve the group’s resilience.

The aspects of moral hacking, knowledgeable by foundational data from texts like “laptop safety ideas and apply 4th version,” finally serve a singular goal: to strengthen a corporation’s defenses. By proactively simulating assaults and figuring out vulnerabilities, moral hackers present invaluable insights that allow organizations to anticipate and mitigate threats earlier than they are often exploited by malicious actors. It’s an ongoing cycle of offense and protection, a steady enchancment loop that enhances the general safety posture and builds resilience within the face of evolving cyber threats. Moral Hacking is not only breaking to point out, however breaking to assist.

Continuously Requested Questions

The realm of laptop safety, usually perceived as impenetrable, steadily raises questions for each newcomers and seasoned professionals. This part seeks to handle among the commonest inquiries surrounding ideas and practices, with particular context associated to the data offered within the referenced textbook.

Query 1: Does familiarity with the ideas offered make techniques impervious to assault?

No, familiarity doesn’t equate to invulnerability. The knowledge gives a foundational understanding and steerage on implementing safety measures. Nevertheless, the menace panorama is continually evolving. New vulnerabilities are found every day, and attackers develop more and more subtle strategies. Sustaining safety is an ongoing means of adaptation and vigilance, requiring steady studying and proactive danger administration.

Query 2: Is that this textbook appropriate for people with out a technical background?

Whereas the useful resource goals to current complicated matters in an accessible method, a sure stage of technical aptitude is useful. Familiarity with fundamental laptop ideas, networking ideas, and programming fundamentals will assist in comprehension. Nevertheless, motivated people with a willingness to be taught can nonetheless profit from the great protection of safety ideas and practices.

Query 3: How usually are the ideas up to date to replicate the altering menace panorama?

Textbook editions are usually revised each few years to include new applied sciences, assault vectors, and safety finest practices. Nevertheless, the core ideas of laptop safety, corresponding to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, stay fixed. Readers ought to complement their data with present safety information, analysis papers, and business publications to remain abreast of the newest developments.

Query 4: Does the textbook advocate for a selected safety product or vendor?

No, the required textbook typically focuses on vendor-neutral ideas and practices. It goals to supply a complete overview of safety ideas and strategies, relatively than selling particular services or products. Whereas it could point out particular instruments or applied sciences as examples, it doesn’t endorse any explicit vendor.

Query 5: Is the data relevant to all forms of laptop techniques and networks?

The ideas and practices outlined are broadly relevant to a variety of laptop techniques and networks. Nevertheless, particular implementation particulars could differ relying on the expertise, structure, and safety necessities. For instance, securing a cloud-based utility requires totally different concerns than securing a conventional on-premises system.

Query 6: What are an important chapters or sections of the useful resource for somebody new to laptop safety?

For learners, chapters masking basic safety ideas, entry management, cryptography, and community safety are important. These present a strong basis for understanding extra superior matters. Moreover, chapters on danger administration and safety governance are essential for growing a holistic safety mindset.

The data and abilities gained are instrumental in establishing a powerful safety basis, adaptable to evolving threats. Steady studying is essential for sustained safety.

Subsequent is the conclusion summarizing these ideas.

Safety Fortification

As soon as, a fledgling safety analyst, confronted with a breach that crippled a monetary establishment, sought solutions inside the pages of safety experience. What emerged wasn’t a magic bullet, however a sequence of hard-won classes, ideas etched within the digital equal of battlefield scars. These will not be mere ideas; they’re tenets of survival.

Tip 1: Assume Breach: Mistrust is the Default. The best mistake is assuming impenetrable safety. A hardened skilled approaches each system with the expectation {that a} breach is inevitable, if not already in progress. Make use of steady monitoring, intrusion detection, and anomaly evaluation as if the enemy is already contained in the gates.

Tip 2: Layer Defenses: Depth is Power. Single factors of failure are invites to catastrophe. Assemble safety architectures with a number of layers of protection, from firewalls and intrusion prevention techniques to endpoint safety and knowledge encryption. Every layer, whereas doubtlessly susceptible by itself, provides complexity and resilience when mixed.

Tip 3: Validate Inputs: The Gatekeeper’s Vigil. By no means belief person enter. Implement rigorous enter validation at each entry level to stop injection assaults, cross-site scripting, and different types of malicious code injection. Deal with all exterior knowledge as suspect till confirmed in any other case.

Tip 4: Patch Relentlessly: Seal the Cracks. Unpatched vulnerabilities are open doorways for attackers. Set up a sturdy patch administration course of, prioritize essential updates, and check completely earlier than deploying them to manufacturing techniques. Delay is just not an choice; it’s an invite.

Tip 5: Section Networks: Comprise the Blast Radius. A flat community is a disaster ready to occur. Section networks into remoted zones based mostly on perform and safety necessities. This limits the influence of a profitable breach, stopping attackers from having access to your entire infrastructure.

Tip 6: Management Entry: The Precept of Least Privilege. Grant customers solely the minimal needed privileges to carry out their duties. Keep away from extreme permissions, which might be exploited by attackers to achieve unauthorized entry to delicate knowledge and techniques. Periodic opinions are important.

These hard-learned classes, gleaned and distilled from the worlds safety experience, will not be an entire answer, however they type a bulwark in opposition to the rising tide of cyber threats. This requires steady adaptation and ruthless dedication.

Having lined an important issues in “laptop safety ideas and apply 4th version”, it’s time for the conclusion to summarize and restate these factors.

Guarding the Digital Realm

The journey by the panorama of laptop safety, as illuminated by assets corresponding to “laptop safety ideas and apply 4th version,” concludes not with a way of arrival, however with a strengthened consciousness of the continual effort required to guard digital belongings. The discussions of cryptography, entry management, community safeguards, software program fortitude, danger mitigation, and moral intrusion will not be mere educational workout routines. As a substitute, they’re important parts of a technique to organize defenders in opposition to an ever-evolving enemy. The core tenets of safety structure, corresponding to protection layering, safe coding practices, fixed monitoring, and complete danger administration, act as safeguards in opposition to trendy and rising cyber dangers.

Within the face of ever-growing digital threats, vigilance stands as the one fixed. As expertise marches inexorably onward, so too should our dedication to defending the digital panorama. Embrace the teachings offered, stay ever vigilant, and constantly attempt to enhance safety measures. The safety of our digital future will depend on it.

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