CSP U8 Vocabulary

Computing Innovation

Includes a program as an integral part of its function. Can be physical (e.g. self-driving car), non-physical computing software (e.g. picture editing software), or non-physical computing concepts (e.g., e-commerce).

Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Information about an individual that identifies, links, relates, or describes them.

Keylogging

The use of a program to record every keystroke made by a computer user in order to gain fraudulent access to passwords and other confidential information.

Malware

Software intended to damage a computing system or to take partial control over its operation.

Phishing

A technique that attempts to trick a user into providing personal information. That personal information can then be used to access sensitive online resources, such as bank accounts and emails.

Rouge Access Point

A wireless access point that gives unauthorized access to secure networks.

Decryption

A process that reverses encryption, taking a secret message and reproducing the original plain text.

Encryption

A process of encoding messages to keep them secret, so only "authorized" parties can read it.

Public Key Encryption

Pairs a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. The sender does not need the receiver’s private key to encrypt a message, but the receiver’s private key is required to decrypt the message.

Symmetric Key Encryption

Involves one key for both encryption and decryption.

Computer Virus Scanning Software

Protects a computing system against infection.

Multi-factor Authentication

A system that requires at least two steps to unlock protected information; each step adds a new layer of security that must be broken to gain unauthorized access.