E-Commerce Security, Analytics, and Digital Marketing Vocabulary

These vocabulary flashcards cover key security threats, encryption methods, network defenses, data-tracking tools, analytics metrics, and digital-marketing strategies essential to understanding modern e-commerce and online marketing environments.

Worm

A self-replicating malicious program that spreads autonomously across computers and networks.

Trojan Horse

Malicious software disguised as legitimate in order to trick users into installing it.

Phishing Attack

A fraudulent attempt, often via email or fake websites, to obtain sensitive information such as passwords or credit-card numbers.

Spoofing

Faking an identity—such as an email address, IP address, or website URL—to deceive a target.

TLS (Transport Layer Security)

Cryptographic protocol that encrypts data transmitted over a network, securing web, email, and other communications.

Digital Cash

Electronic form of currency used for online transactions.

Cybercrime

Any criminal activity that involves computers, networks, or digital devices.

E-Commerce Security Principles

Key goals of secure online transactions: integrity, non-repudiation, authenticity, confidentiality, privacy, and availability.

Vulnerability

A weakness in hardware, software, or procedures that can be exploited by threats.

Botnet

A network of compromised computers controlled remotely to perform malicious tasks.

Spyware

Software that secretly collects user data and transmits it to a third party.

Symmetric Encryption

Cryptography that uses the same secret key for both encryption and decryption.

Public-Key (Asymmetric) Encryption

Cryptography that uses a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.

Firewall

Hardware or software system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules.

Proxy Server

An intermediary server that handles client requests to improve privacy, security, or performance.

Intrusion Detection System (IDS)

Software or hardware that monitors a network or system for signs of malicious activity.

Access Control

Mechanisms that restrict access to resources based on user permissions and roles.

Transaction File (Log)

Digital record of all transactions or activities occurring on a site or system.

Cookie

Small data file stored on a user’s device by a website to remember preferences or track activity.

Digital Divide

The gap between individuals or communities that have access to digital technology and those that do not.

Hadoop

Open-source framework that enables distributed processing and storage of large data sets.

Bundling

Marketing strategy of selling multiple products or services together as a single combined offering.

Versioning

Offering a product in multiple editions or tiers to serve different customer segments.

Interest-Based Advertising (Behavioral Targeting)

Delivering ads to users based on their browsing behavior, searches, purchases, or social-media activity.

CAN-SPAM Act

U.S. law that sets rules for commercial email, including opt-out requirements and penalties for violations.

Omnichannel (Comprehensive) Marketing

Coordinated marketing approach that integrates online and offline platforms for a seamless customer experience.

Impression

One display of an online advertisement to a user.

Click-Through Rate (CTR)

Percentage of ad impressions that result in a user clicking the advertisement.

View-Through Conversion

When a user sees an ad, does not click it, but later visits and converts on the advertiser’s site.

Hits

Individual server requests for files; not a reliable measure of website traffic or engagement.

Stickiness

Metric describing how long visitors stay and how often they return to a website.

Web Beacon (Pixel Tag)

Invisible graphic embedded in a webpage or email to track user behavior.

SQL (Structured Query Language)

Standard language for managing and querying relational databases.

CRM System

Customer Relationship Management software used to manage interactions and data throughout the customer lifecycle.

Marginal Cost

The additional cost incurred by producing one extra unit of a good or service.

Mobile Commerce (m-Commerce)

Buying and selling goods or services through mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Desktop Marketing

Traditional online marketing activities aimed at users on desktop or laptop computers.

Social Marketing

Use of social media platforms to influence user attitudes or behaviors in favor of a brand or cause.

Graph Search

Search technology that queries social-network relationships and content (e.g., friends, likes, check-ins).

Fan Acquisition

Process of gaining followers, subscribers, or fans on social-media platforms.

Amplification

Extent to which users share or repost content, increasing its reach.

Curalate

Platform specializing in visual marketing and social commerce, enabling brands to leverage images for engagement and sales.

Location-Based Marketing

Delivering messages or offers to users based on their real-time geographic location.

Social Density

Level and frequency of interaction and sharing among users on a platform.

Geo-fencing

Creating a virtual perimeter around a geographic area that triggers a digital action when a device enters or leaves it.