AP Cyber Security Unit 1 Vocab

Confidentiality

Ensuring access to information is restricted only to users

Integrity

Ensuring that information is a true and accurate representation of data. It is also the prevention of unauthorized modification or destruction of information.

Availability

Ensuring that reliable access to the information by authorized users

Authentication

Prove who you are

Brute Force

software programs which automate the process of rapidly testing all possible combinations of characters.

Hashing

A one-way mathematical function that converts input (like a password) into a fixed-length string of characters.

Rainbow Table

A large file of pre-computed hash values used to crack passwords quickly.

Salt

A method of strengthening password storage by adding a random string before hashing.

SAM Registry Hive

A Windows system file that stores usernames and password hashes.

Passphrase

A string of words used instead of a short password

/etc/passwd

A Linux file that is not secure because multiple users can read it.

/etc/shadow

A Linux file that stores password hashes securely; only root has access.

Hash Collision

When two different inputs produce the same hash value.

MD5, SHA-256

Common algorithms used for hashing passwords.

An Operating System (OS)

is the core software that manages a computer's hardware and software resources

Malware

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

Virus

a program that attaches to a host file with the goal of installing itself on a system.

Worm

program that reproduces itself and can transport from system to system without attaching to a file.

Ransomware

program that blocks access to files or block use of the device until an amount is paid

Spyware

software that gathers data and forwards it to a third party without the consent or knowledge of the user.

Trojan

files that appear to be legitimate programs

Backdoor

programs that create a mechanism for gaining access to a computer.

Zero Day

an attack that takes advantage of code flaws that have VERY recently been discovered.

Logic Bomb

small program that is timed to perform an operation on a system.

Botnet

a network of internet-connected devices infected with malware and controlled by a single cybercriminal