IT 213 – Platform Technologies Student Learning Module

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering IT 213 topics, including platform security, user-centered design, software engineering methodologies, mobile operating systems, and web architecture.

DDoS

An attack where many infected devices flood a server with traffic so that real users cannot get in.

Phishing

An attack where fake emails are used to trick people into giving private information.

Ransomware

Malware that locks (encrypts) files and demands payment to unlock them.

Worm

Malware that copies itself and spreads to other systems.

Spyware

Malware that secretly watches and collects your data.

Authentication

A process that checks who you are using credentials such as a password, fingerprint, or face scan.

Authorization

A separate step after login that decides what you may do; roles are part of this process rather than authentication.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

An authentication method that requires two or more proofs of identity.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

An access control system where user permissions depend directly on job title or role (e.g., different access for a doctor versus a receptionist).

Least Privilege

A security principle where users are given only the minimum access needed to perform their task.

Symmetric Encryption

An encryption method where one key is used to both encrypt and decrypt data; it is fast and ideal for large data, but sharing the key safely is difficult.

Asymmetric Encryption

An encryption method using two keys—a public key and a private key (e.g., RSA); it is slow and costly to run, but solves the safe key sharing problem.

TLS (Transport Layer Security)

The protocol that powers HTTPS by proving server identity via certificates, agreeing on keys, and encrypting traffic in transit.

Patch Management

The practice of fixing vulnerabilities (weak spots) by installing software updates regularly.

Signifier

A visual or touch clue that shows an action is possible (e.g., a raised button or a hover state).

Affordance

What an object allows a user to do.

Mapping

The relationship that links controls directly to their real results.

Feedback

An immediate indication informing users that their action was registered (e.g., a button displaying a "Saved" message).

Learnability

A usability goal measuring how quickly a new user can learn how to use a platform.

Efficiency

A usability goal measuring how fast users can finish their tasks.

Consistency

A usability goal ensuring that buttons, fields, and other interface elements look and work the same everywhere.

Contextual Inquiry

A research method where researchers watch users in their real setting to uncover hidden workarounds and unspoken needs.

Surveys

A research method used to collect broad opinions, though they frequently miss unspoken needs.

Card Sorting

A research method used to learn how users categorize and group content, used to structure menus and breadcrumbs.

Usability Testing

A research method where evaluators observe users trying the product to identify problems.

Information Architecture

The structure and labeling of content designed to match user expectations rather than internal engineering modules.

User-Centered Design (UCD)

An iterative (ISO 9241-210) design framework involving user research, requirement specification, prototyping, and testing with real users.

Git

A distributed version control system where each developer has a complete copy of the project history.

Subversion (SVN)

A centralized version control system.

F.I.R.S.T. Principles

Guidelines for writing clean tests: Fast, Independent, Repeatable, Self-validating, and Timely.

Self-Validating Test

A characteristic in unit testing meaning that a test clearly passes or fails on its own without manual inspection.

Living Artifact

A standard for documentation requiring it to be updated continuously whenever the code changes to avoid becoming outdated.

Waterfall Model

A software development model featuring strictly ordered phases and a fixed scope, best used when requirements are clear and unlikely to change.

Agile/Scrum

A development methodology where work is completed in short sprints, best used when requirements frequently change and regular updates are needed.

Darwin

The operating system kernel used by Apple's iOS.

Linux Kernel

The open-source operating system kernel underlying Android (AOSP).

Xcode

The official, Mac-only integrated development environment (IDE) for iOS applications.

Keychain

The secure storage mechanism on iOS used specifically for holding sensitive tokens and passwords.

App Sandboxing

A mobile security architecture where each app operates in an isolated environment, preventing direct access to the core OS or other apps' data.

Certificate Pinning

An additional mobile security mechanism used alongside HTTPS/TLS to defend against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks.

Touch Target Size

The recommended interactive touch area for mobile screens, requiring at least $44 \times 44\text{ pt}$ on iOS and $48 \times 48\text{ dp}$ on Android.

Client-Server Model

A system architecture where a client uses a web browser to request resources and a server responds by sending them back.

HTML

A web technology responsible for defining the basic structure and content of a web page.

CSS

A styling technology used to specify page presentation elements such as colors, fonts, and spacing.

JavaScript

A client-side programming language that executes in the web browser to provide dynamic behavior (e.g., displaying alerts on a button click).

Shared Hosting

A web hosting configuration where multiple separate websites reside on and share the resources of a single server.

VPS (Virtual Private Server)

A hosting setup that provides an isolated virtual slice of a physical server.

Cloud Hosting

A web hosting arrangement where web applications run across many interconnected servers.

Dedicated Hosting

A hosting environment where an entire single physical server is allocated to a single client.

Return on Investment (ROI)

A financial performance measure used to evaluate how profitable an investment is.