2.1.1-4 vocab APCSP

cryptography

The science and art of delivering a message securely and confidentially.

encryption

The process of encoding data to prevent unauthorized access, such as converting plaintext to ciphertext.

decrypt

The process of decoding the data, the reverse of the encryption process, making the data human-readable again.

substitution cypher

A cipher in which each letter in an alphabet is replaced with a different character or symbol.

key

A string of characters used as a parameter that determines the output of an encryption algorithm.

brute force

A method for determining a solution to a problem by sequentially testing all possible solutions.

private key encryption

An encryption method where the sender and receiver share a private key to use in the encryption algorithm.

public key encryption

A method of paired key encryption in which the key used to encrypt data is made available to anybody and its corresponding decryption key is kept secret.

paired keys

Two keys that are related in such a way that one can encrypt data, which can then only be decrypted by the other.

symmetric encryption

A form of encryption using the same key for both encryption and decryption.

RSA algorithm

An example of public key encryption developed by Rivest, Shamir, and Adelman.

SSL certificate

A digital document used to verify the authenticity of a server or public key.

certificate authority

A business or organization that issues a digital certificate verifying that a public key is owned by the named entity.

personal identifiable information (PII)

Information about an individual, such as social security number, age, race, and financial information.

data breach

The unauthorized access or retrieval of confidential or otherwise protected data.

cookies

Small text-based bits of information about your browser that a web server saves.

phishing

Practice of sending fraudulent emails that appear to be from legitimate companies to induce sharing of sensitive information.

malware

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

keylogger

A program that records every keystroke made by a computer user to gain access to confidential information.

rogue access point

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

system administrators

Persons responsible for managing computers, networks, servers, and computing resources for an organization.

authorization

To give permission to access information.

authentication

Confirm your identity using knowledge or information known only to you.

multi-factor authentication

A method of computer access control requiring multiple pieces of evidence to gain access.

GUI

Currently the dominant method for designing human-computer interaction.

API

A way programmers share their code with other programmers specifying methods of each class.

widgets

Standard components of a graphical user interface (GUI).

arguments

Input values to a command that specify the values of parameters when a procedure is called.