Introduction to Computer Security

This set of flashcards covers fundamental computer security concepts including network communication, types of attacks, and key security strategies.

Router

A device that relays packets between networks and controls how packets are sent.

Switch

A device that sends packets only to the specific port for the destination computer.

Hub

A device that broadcasts packets to all connected devices, leading to unnecessary traffic.

Data Packets

Units of data sent over a network containing source and destination information, data payload, and transmission instructions.

Malware

Malicious software designed to harm or exploit any programmable device or network.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack

An attack involving multiple attackers that floods the target with traffic.

Denial of Service (DoS) attack

An attack carried out by a single attacker to overwhelm a system.

Intrusion Attack

An attempt to gain unauthorized access to a system or network.

Session Hijacking

A serious threat that allows an attacker to take over a user’s session.

Encryption

The process of converting data into a format that cannot be read by unauthorized users.

Least Privilege

A principle that ensures users or services are granted only the access required to perform their tasks.

Firewall

A barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks that controls the flow of network traffic.

Non-repudiation

Ensures that a sender cannot deny having sent a message, typically achieved using digital signatures.

Layered Security

Using multiple security measures to protect both the perimeter and internal systems of a network.

CIA Triad

The three pillars of network security: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.

Social Engineering

Exploiting human behavior and trust to gain access to systems.

White Hat Hacker

An ethical hacker who identifies and reports vulnerabilities to improve security.

Black Hat Hacker

A hacker who exploits vulnerabilities for malicious purposes.

Buffer Overflow

Occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can hold, allowing attackers to inject code.

SQL Injection

A technique where attackers insert malicious SQL queries into input fields of a website.

Honey Pot

A decoy system set up to attract attackers, simulating vulnerabilities to monitor and log attack activities.