Security
This cyber security glossary explains the meaning of terms about different types of computer security threats as well as words about application security, access control, network intrusion detection, security awareness training and computer forensics.
Anti-virus, antimalware
Terms related to spyware, including definitions about malware and words and phrases about online advertising, adware and online privacy.
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potentially unwanted program (PUP)
A potentially unwanted program (PUP) is a program that may be unwanted, despite the possibility that users consented to download it.
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cookie poisoning
Cookie poisoning is a type of cyber attack in which a bad actor hijacks, forges, alters or manipulates a cookie to gain unauthorized access to a user's account, open a new account in the user's name or steal the user's information for purposes such as identity theft.
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scareware
Scareware is a type of malware tactic used to manipulate victims into downloading or buying potentially malware-infested software.
Application security
Terms related to application security, including procedural definitions for preventing software vulnerabilities and words and phrases about secure code development.
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plaintext
In cryptography, plaintext is usually ordinary readable text before it is encrypted into ciphertext or after it is decrypted.
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cookie poisoning
Cookie poisoning is a type of cyber attack in which a bad actor hijacks, forges, alters or manipulates a cookie to gain unauthorized access to a user's account, open a new account in the user's name or steal the user's information for purposes such as identity theft.
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cloud audit
A cloud audit is a periodic examination an organization does to assess and document its cloud vendor's performance.
Authentication, access control
Terms related to authentication, including security definitions about passwords and words and phrases about proving identity.
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strong password
A strong password is one that is designed to be hard for a person or program to guess.
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Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML)
Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is an open standard for sharing security information about identity, authentication and authorization across different systems.
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What is multifactor authentication and how does it work?
Multifactor authentication (MFA) is a security technology that requires more than one method of authentication from independent categories of credentials to verify a user's identity for a login or other transaction.
Malware
Terms related to malware, including definitions about viruses and Trojans and other words and phrases about malicious software.
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Melissa virus
Melissa was a type of email virus that initially become an issue in early 1999.
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Nimda
First appearing on September 18, 2001, Nimda is a computer virus that caused traffic slowdowns as it rippled across the internet.
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virus hoax
A virus hoax is a false warning about a computer virus.
Network security
Terms related to network security, including definitions about intrusion prevention and words and phrases about VPNs and firewalls.
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Melissa virus
Melissa was a type of email virus that initially become an issue in early 1999.
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token
In general, a token is an object that represents something else, such as another object (either physical or virtual), or an abstract concept as, for example, a gift is sometimes referred to as a token of the giver's esteem for the recipient.
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Twofish
Twofish is a symmetric-key block cipher with a block size of 128 bits and variable-length key of size 128, 192 or 256 bits.
Threat management
Terms related to security threats, including definitions about anti-virus programs or firewalls and words and phrases about malware, viruses, Trojans and other security attacks.
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Melissa virus
Melissa was a type of email virus that initially become an issue in early 1999.
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token
In general, a token is an object that represents something else, such as another object (either physical or virtual), or an abstract concept as, for example, a gift is sometimes referred to as a token of the giver's esteem for the recipient.
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Twofish
Twofish is a symmetric-key block cipher with a block size of 128 bits and variable-length key of size 128, 192 or 256 bits.