Cybersecurity Terminology and Concepts Explained

Cybersecurity Terminology and Concepts

Definitions: Unauthorized Access and Deception

• The act or process of tricking someone into revealing information: phishing
• The protection of a system from unauthorized access: information security
• Special access to a program created by programmers: backdoor
• To gain unauthorized computer access: hack
• A deception committed for gain: fraud
• A person who illegally accesses computers: hacker
• Something which allows the holder to purchase without immediately paying: credit card
• Illegal access to personal data: identity theft
• Dangerous or harmful programming: malware

Action Steps and Scenarios

Consider the following steps:

1. Really important
2. I put in
3. First step
4. Open any attachments
5. There weren't any
6. Probably fine

Scenario Assessment:

• The man entered his credit card information on the false website. F
• The man did not open any attachments. T
• The company has a new, more secure website. F

Email Security Questions:

• What is the main purpose of the email? To help clients keep their information secure
• How can users be sure they are on the official Safeguard site? By verifying the URL
• How did hackers infect customers' computers with malware? They attached spyware to a download.

System Protection Terms

Additional security vocabulary:

• Taking something out: removal
• A renewal of a program to make it current: update
• A program that protects computers from online threats: antivirus software

More Security Concepts:

• A copy of a file or program: backup
• To prevent something from happening: block
• A system for gaining undetected access to a network: rootkit
• A small window that appears unexpectedly: pop-up
• An evaluation of a website's functions: webpage analysis

Checklist Items:

1. Blocks pop-up
2. Free with
3. What else
4. A good idea to
5. Why don't we
6. Tend to

Safety Net Product Assessment:

• What is Safety Net's most important product? Antivirus software
• Which of the following is NOT a feature of Safety Net's antivirus software? It eliminates false positives.
• How often does the backup service create copies of files? Every day

True/False Statements:

• The new computers do not have antivirus software yet. T
• The antivirus software does not block pop-up ads. F
• The antivirus software automatically includes webpage analysis. F

Cognitive and Problem-Solving Terms

Advanced Concepts

• The process of classifying objects by appearance: Pattern recognition
• A person who studies how the mind works: Cognitive scientist
• A sense of oneself and one's surroundings: Consciousness
• A machine capable of independent action: Robot
• A rule or set of rules to solve a problem with limited solutions: Heuristics
• A set of rules to solve a problem that seeks any solution: Algorithm