Cybersecurity Exam

Digital Footprint

Information or data left behind by when using social media

Phishing

Cyber crime attempting to trick a user into providing sensitive data by posing as a

legitimate company

DDoS

Type of attack that overwhelms a server with traffic that prevents others from accessing

Malware

Any type of software designed to harm a computer or network

Ransomware

Malware that prevents users from accessing their files until a ransom is paid

Internet of Things

Everyday “smart” objects that are connected to the internet

(CIA)Confidentiality

Restrict access to sensitive information

(CIA)Integrity

Protects information from being tampered with or removed

(CIA)Availability

Allows quick and easy access to the information

“Black Hat Hacker”

“White Hat” Hacker”

“Grey Hat” Hacker

Cryptography

Encrypts information so that only authorized people can read/access it

Encryption

Converts information into an unreadable format

Decryption

Converts encrypted information back to a readable format

Plaintext

The information before encryption

Cipher

an algorithm that gives the process for performing encryption

Ciphertext

The coded information after plaintext has been encrypted

Key

Tells the user how the cipher encrypted the data. Needed for decryption

Caesar Cipher

A simple substitution cipher that replaces each plain text letter with a different letter in sequence based on shift number (key)

Vigenere Cipher

A more complex substitution cipher that uses a keyword where each letter is a different caesar key

Brute Force

A method of cracking encryption using trial and error to check every possibility

Frequency Analysis

A method of cracking encryption that looks for letters that occur more often

Operating System (OS)

software that manages all hardware and applications of a computer

Firmware

Software embedded in a device that controls very basic functions (starting up)

Hardware

The physical components of a computer

Software

Set of instructions that tells a computer what to do (applications, system processes)

Antivirus Software

Specific software that scans for and removes malicious software

Proxy Settings

Allows a “middle” and privacy between the user and the internet for increased security

and privacy

Private Browsing

Does not save to history or cache

Administrator account

highest level user account, can do everything including create new users

Guest Account

lowest level user account, can’t make any changes and software in their system are as secure as possible.

Binary

The language of computers, uses only zeros and ones

Bits

A single digit in the binary number system, smallest unit of storage

IP Address

Internet Protocol Address, every device on the internet has a unique one

Routing

Sending data between two computers on the internet determining its path

Packets

Unit of data that is sent over a network, usually to break large data into smaller parts

Motherboard

Circuit board that connects all of the components of a computer

Processor (CPU)

Central processing unit that accepts and executes instructions

Memory (RAM)

Random access memory that temporarily stores information needed right away

Storage (Hard Drive/SSD)

Stores and retrieves data

Input device

Peripheral devices connected to a computer to provide data and control signals

Driver

files that allow a device to communicate with the computer’s operating system

Network Ports

location where information is sent from one computer to another

Data

a collection of raw numbers or data points

Information

data that is organized or structured to give it context or meaning

Knowledge

information that is analyzed to gain additional insight

Penetration Testing

“white-hat” legal hacking at the request of an organization to test their system for vulnerabilities and help repair them

SQL

a query language used to retrieve data from a database management system

SQL Injection

an attack where an input is used to run malicious SQL statements

Physical Vulnerabilities

a weakness in the hardware of physical environment of a network

Human Vulnerabilities

accidents made by people in a network, either intentional or accidental

Software Vulnerabilities

any outdated or unsecure software within a network

Password Security

avoid common words, use a mix of characters, and have different passwords