Whether you are looking to start a career in cybersecurity or actively wanting to protect your personal information, it is crucial that you know and understand the terminology. That’s why I have compiled a glossary of cybersecurity terminology that will help you quickly get up to speed on the industry’s terms and meanings.
Below are just a few of the terms found in the glossary. You can access the full glossary of terms here.
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the term Algorithm as a procedure for solving a mathematical problem in a finite number of steps that frequently involves repetition of an operation. In cybersecurity, an Algorithm is the public-knowledge set of rules behind cryptography. Older methods of encryption (turning information into a non-human readable form to protect the meaning) used simple methods to obfuscate the meaning of data. Modern ciphers utilize highly complex mathematical algorithm to accomplish data encryption.
Botnets are a group of private computers in homes and businesses around the internet infected with malware. The most common name for the individual machines that make up Botnets is “Bots,” You may also hear the term Zombie for the systems and Zombie-Army for the collection of computers. Botnets have several “BotHerders” or “Zombie-Masters” that attackers use to pass instructions on to the other members. Botnets can perform massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, massive SPAM campaigns, and more recently, generate large amounts of digital currency.
To understand Cloud Computing, you first have to understand this simple concept: There is no cloud; it is just someone else’s computer. When you use the cloud, you utilize remote servers in the data-center of a cloud provider to store, manage, and process your data instead of using local computer systems.
Keith Palmgren is a SANS Senior Instructor, Author of SEC301 Introduction to Cyber Security and Cybersecurity Consultant with over 35 years of experience specializing in the IT security field.
