See also: Network | Security | Privacy | Security through obscurity
A network that is not connected to the Internet. Private Networks are easier to maintain and secure because the number of possible failures among a select group is much lower than Internet security concerns. Private networks are for instance invulnerable to DDOS attacks.
Virtual Private Networks use cryptography and authentication to make a network behave as if it were a private network.
Related Quote
As explained by security expert Bruce Schneier in a Salon article Blaster and the great blackout:
“No matter what caused the computer failures, the story is illustrative of what is to come. The computer systems we use on our desktops are not reliable enough for critical applications. Neither is the Internet. The more we rely on them in our critical infrastructure, the more vulnerable we become. The more our systems become interconnected, the more vulnerable we become.”
Related Links
TakeDown.NET -> “Private-Network”