Foundations of Cybersecurity

Finals Flashcard Deck

Goal Of Cybersecurity

Protect information, systems, and networks, from threats

PII

Social Security Numbers, full name, address, phone number, financial account numbers

Ransomware

Malware that locks of encrypts files until a ransom is paid

Phishing

Tricking users into giving sensitive information through fake emails, websites, or messages

Strong Passwords

Mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Avoid personal info or common words

Firewalls

Block unauthorized access to a network

Multi-Factor Authentification (MFA)

Requires two or more verification methods (password, code, fingerprint, etc.)

Password Storage

Safest method: use a password manager

Worms

Malware that self-replicates and spreads without user action

Social Engineering

Manipulating people into revealing confidential information

Principle of Least Privilege

Users should receive only the minimum access needed for their tasks

Suspicious Email Attachments

Delete or report unexpected attachments from unknown senders

Encryption

Converts data into unreadable form to protect it

DDoS Attack

Overwhelm a service with traffic to disrupt services

FERPA

Protects students' educational records

Digital Citizenship

Respecting privacy, behaving responsibly, and being kind online

Importance of backups

Protects against hardware failure, accidental deletion, and ransomware

Antivirus Software

Detects, prevents, and removes malware

Signs of a fraudulent website

Missing contact info, Strange or misspelled URLS

Trojan Malware

Appears legit but delivers harmful software once opened

Botnet Zombie

A computer controlled remotely as part of a network used for cyberattacks

Strongest Password Example

Complex and random: e.g., C!9v#A2m%7

Public Wi-Fi Safety

Use a VPN to encrypt your connection.

Security Analyst

Monitors networks for threats and suspicious activity

If Your Account Is Hacked

First step: Change your password immediately.

NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology