Comptia A+ core 1` and 2

BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

firmware used to initialize hardware during booting

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface)

a modern firmware interface replacing BIOS

POST (Power-On Self-Test)

a diagnostic testing sequence run by firmware

CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor)

a chip storing BIOS settings

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

the main processor executing instructions in a computer

RAM (Random Access Memory)

volatile memory used for temporary data storage

SSD (Solid State Drive)

a storage device with no moving parts and faster access speeds

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

a storage device with spinning platters and magnetic heads

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)

a specialized processor for rendering graphics

PSU (Power Supply Unit)

converts electricity to usable power for computer components

Motherboard

The main circuit board connecting all components in a computer

Chipset

A collection of integrated circuits managing data flow between CPU, memory, and peripherals

SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)

an interface for connecting storage devices

NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express)

a protocol for fast SSD communication via PCIe

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

a standard interface for connecting peripherals

Ethernet

A networking technology for wired LAN connections

IP Address

A unique identifier assigned to a device in a network

Subnet Mask

A number defining the range of IP addresses in a network

Gateway

A device that connects different networks, typically a router

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

assigns IP addresses dynamically

DNS (Domain Name System)

translates domain names into IP addresses

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

encrypts data for secure communication over public networks

Firewall

A security device or software that monitors and controls network traffic

Malware

Malicious software including viruses, worm, and trojans

Phishing

A cyberattack technique using deceptive messages to steal information

Trojan Horse

Malware disguised as legitimate software to gain access to systems

Ransomware

A type of malware that encrypts files and demands payment for decryption

Antivirus

Software that detects and removes malicious programs

Encryption

A process of converting data into a secure format to prevent unauthorized access

Authentication

Verifying a user's identity before granting access

Two-Factor Authentication

A security method requiring two forms of verification

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)

encrypted communication over the web

SSL/TLS

Protocols that secure communication between web browsers and servers

Cloud Computing

Using remote servers to store, manage, and process data

Virtualization

Creating virtual versions of physical hardware for efficiency

Hypervisor

Software that enables multiple operating systems to run on a host machine

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks)

a data storage virtualization technology

Backup

Creating copies of data to prevent loss in case of failure

Patch

A software update addressing security vulnerabilities or bugs

Trojan Horse

Malware disguised as legitimate software to gain access to systems

DoS Attack (Denial of Service attack)

overwhelming a system to make it unavailable

Botnet

A network of compromised devices controlled remotely for malicious activities

Ipv4 (Internet Protocol version 4)

the most widely used IP addressing system

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6)

a newer protocol with a larger address space

Wi-Fi

A wireless networking technology using radio signals

Bluetooth

A wireless communication standard for short-range device connections

Router

A networking device that directs data packets between network

Switch

A device that connects multiple devices in a network and forwards data

Latency

The delay before data transmission begins after a request

Bandwidth

The maximum data transfer rate of a network connection