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• hacker

  A hacker is an individual who uses computer, networking or other skills to overcome a technical problem. Continue Reading

• Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)

  The Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) is a protocol for wireless networks that expands the authentication methods used by the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), a protocol often used when connecting a computer to the internet. Continue Reading

• From EDR to XDR: Inside extended detection and response

  As the definition of endpoints evolves, so too must the technology to protect them. Enter extended detection and response, or XDR -- one of cybersecurity's hottest acronyms. Continue Reading

• session key

  A session key is an encryption and decryption key that is randomly generated to ensure the security of a communications session between a user and another computer or between two computers. Continue Reading

• pass the hash attack

  A pass the hash attack is an exploit in which an attacker steals a hashed user credential and -- without cracking it -- reuses it to trick an authentication system into creating a new authenticated session on the same network. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • What is Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)?
  • What is a whaling attack (whaling phishing)?
  • What is a spam trap?
  • What is identity governance and administration (IGA)?

  • What is machine identity management?
  • What is unified threat management (UTM)?
  • What is two-factor authentication (2FA)?
  • What is authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA)?

  View All Definitions

• watering hole attack

  A watering hole attack is a security exploit in which the attacker seeks to compromise a specific group of end users by infecting websites that members of the group are known to visit.Continue Reading

• computer cracker

  A computer cracker is an outdated term used to describe someone who broke into computer systems, bypassed passwords or licenses in computer programs, or in other ways intentionally breached computer security.Continue Reading

• pharming

  Pharming is a scamming practice in which malicious code is installed on a personal computer or server, misdirecting users to fraudulent websites without their knowledge or consent.Continue Reading

• stream cipher

  A stream cipher is a method of encrypting text (to produce ciphertext) in which a cryptographic key and algorithm are applied to each binary digit in a data stream, one bit at a time.Continue Reading

• IPsec (Internet Protocol Security)

  IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) is a suite of protocols and algorithms for securing data transmitted over the internet or any public network.Continue Reading

• denial-of-service attack

  A denial-of-service (DoS) attack is a security event that occurs when an attacker makes it impossible for legitimate users to access computer systems, devices, services or other IT resources.Continue Reading

• Get to know cloud-based identity governance capabilities

  As enterprise cloud adoption increases, the market for cloud identity governance is expected to expand. Learn more about the use cases, benefits and available product options.Continue Reading

• user authentication

  User authentication verifies the identity of a user attempting to gain access to a network or computing resource by authorizing a human-to-machine transfer of credentials during interactions on a network to confirm a user's authenticity.Continue Reading

• Sample CCISO exam questions on security project management

  This excerpt of 'CCISO Certified Chief Information Security Officer All-In-One Exam Guide' explains security project management fundamentals and provides practice CCISO exam questions.Continue Reading

• physical security

  Physical security is the protection of personnel, hardware, software, networks and data from physical actions and events that could cause serious loss or damage to an enterprise, agency or institution.Continue Reading

• attack vector

  An attack vector is a path or means by which an attacker or hacker can gain access to a computer or network server in order to deliver a payload or malicious outcome.Continue Reading

• Advice on how to prepare for the CompTIA Security+ exam

  The CompTIA Security+ certification is a smart starting point for cybersecurity career hopefuls. Learn how to prepare for the exam, what to expect post-certification and more.Continue Reading

• Sample CompTIA Security+ exam questions and answers

  The CompTIA Security+ exam covers a wide swath of topics, from threats to compliance to architecture. Test what you know about malware with these sample test questions.Continue Reading

• What is endpoint detection and response (EDR)?

  Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is a system to gather and analyze security threat-related information from computer workstations and other endpoints, with the goal of finding security breaches as they happen and facilitating a quick response ...Continue Reading

• Transport Layer Security (TLS)

  Transport Layer Security (TLS) is an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard protocol that provides authentication, privacy and data integrity between two communicating computer applications.Continue Reading

• PKI (public key infrastructure)

  PKI (public key infrastructure) is the underlying framework that enables entities -- users and servers -- to securely exchange information using digital certificates.Continue Reading

• obfuscation

  Obfuscation means to make something difficult to understand.Continue Reading

• MDR vs. MSSP: Why it's vital to know the difference

  When assessing MDR vs. MSSP, the key is understanding why the two aren't interchangeable and how each handles response.Continue Reading

• dumpster diving

  Dumpster diving is looking for treasure in someone else's trash.Continue Reading

• cyber hijacking

  Cyber hijacking, or computer hijacking, is a type of network security attack in which the attacker takes control of computer systems, software programs and/or network communications.Continue Reading

• antimalware (anti-malware)

  Antimalware is a type of software program created to protect IT systems and individual computers from malicious software, or malware.Continue Reading

• challenge-response authentication

  In computer security, challenge-response authentication is a set of protocols used to protect digital assets and services from unauthorized users, programs or activities.Continue Reading

• Data loss prevention quiz: Test your training on DLP features

  Data loss prevention tools can help infosec manage insider threat, shadow IT and compliance initiatives. Test your know-how with this DLP quiz.Continue Reading

• botnet

  A botnet is a collection of internet-connected devices, which may include personal computers (PCs), servers, mobile devices and internet of things (IoT) devices, that are infected and controlled by a common type of malware, often unbeknownst to ...Continue Reading

• email spoofing

  Email spoofing is a form of cyber attack in which a hacker sends an email that has been manipulated to seem as if it originated from a trusted source.Continue Reading

• How to set up Palo Alto security profiles

  Learning how to build and implement security profiles and policies can help novice admins make sure they use Palo Alto Networks firewalls effectively to protect their network.Continue Reading

• Author's advice on Palo Alto firewall, getting started

  Interfaces, licenses, policies -- getting started with a Palo Alto Networks firewall can be confusing. Here, the author of 'Mastering Palo Alto Networks' offers his advice.Continue Reading

• With 5G, security by design is a must

  New tech means new security strategies. Deloitte's Wendy Frank and Shehadi Dayekh explain why this is especially true with 5G. Security by design, they advise, is a critical approach.Continue Reading

• Information security quizzes to test your cybersecurity smarts

  Test your knowledge of everything cybersecurity, from network security to regulatory compliance, with our collection of information security quizzes.Continue Reading

• Rebuild security and compliance foundations with automation

  Instead of patchwork security fixes, financial organizations need to embrace automation, create and deploy secure software and address implementation problems.Continue Reading

• How to become a threat hunter

  Top threat hunters are creative and slightly contrarian, enabling them to think outside the box -- much like the best cybercriminals, according to one expert.Continue Reading

• honeypot (computing)

  A honeypot is a network-attached system set up as a decoy to lure cyber attackers and detect, deflect and study hacking attempts to gain unauthorized access to information systems.Continue Reading

• What is CIEM and why should CISOs care?

  Cloud infrastructure entitlement management offers companies an edge in the cloud permissions gap challenge. Mahendra Ramsinghani explains how CIEM differs from SIEM.Continue Reading

• SolarWinds supply chain attack explained: Need-to-know info

  The SolarWinds supply chain breach is the talk of the town -- and will be for months and years to come. Get informed and be part of the conversation with our guide.Continue Reading

• Explore benefits and challenges of cloud penetration testing

  Cloud penetration testing presents new challenges for information security teams. Here's how a playbook from the Cloud Security Alliance can help inform cloud pen test strategies.Continue Reading

• Organize a cloud IAM team to secure software-defined assets

  Building a cloud IAM team with the necessary technical expertise and soft skills is key to securely managing IAM in complex cloud environments.Continue Reading

• Review 6 phases of incident response for GCIH exam prep

  'GCIH GIAC Certified Incident Handler All-in-One Exam Guide' takes a deep dive into the six phases of incident response to help security pros with GCIH exam prep and certification.Continue Reading

• Preparing for GIAC Certified Incident Handler certification

  The author of 'GCIH GIAC Certified Incident Handler All-in-One Exam Guide' shares advice on how to prepare for the exam and why an incident response career can be so rewarding.Continue Reading

• Insider threat vs. insider risk: What's the difference?

  Identifying, managing and mitigating insider threats is far different than protecting against insider risks. Read up on the difference and types of internal risks here.Continue Reading

• Endpoint security quiz: Test your knowledge

  Test your knowledge of SASE, split tunneling, and device discovery tool capabilities and best practices in this endpoint security quiz for IT professionals.Continue Reading

• Quiz: Web application security threats and vulnerabilities

  Applications are still the biggest attack vector for malicious actors -- can you protect them? Test your knowledge with this web application security quiz.Continue Reading

• Practice Certified Ethical Hacker exam questions

  Preparing for your Certified Ethical Hacker certification? Assess your knowledge of topics on the CEH exam with these practice test questions.Continue Reading

• Ethical hacker career path advice: Getting started

  Matt Walker, author of a Certified Ethical Hacker exam guide and practice exam book, offers advice to career hopefuls on the profession, CEH certification and more.Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of an outsourced SOC vs. in-house SOC

  Security operations centers have become an essential element of threat detection. Here's how to decide whether to build one in-house or outsource SOC capabilities.Continue Reading

• How to pass the AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam

  Author of 'AWS Certified Security - Specialty Exam Guide' Stuart Scott shares insights on how to prepare for the exam and reap the professional benefits of certification.Continue Reading

• Practice AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam questions

  Explore the security and compliance capabilities of the AWS Config service to prepare for the wide-ranging AWS Certified Security - Specialty certification exam.Continue Reading

• Cyber insurance 101: Timely guidance on an essential tool

  No one hopes for a breach, but as they become more common, any responsible cybersecurity team must anticipate one. One key element: choosing the right cyber insurance policy.Continue Reading

• Try this cybersecurity quiz, test your cyberdefense smarts

  Based on the November 2020 issue of Information Security magazine, this 10-question quiz lets you check your comprehensive knowledge of current security issues and earn CPE credit too.Continue Reading

• AI in security analytics is the enhancement you need

  AI-powered analytics is critical to an effective, proactive security strategy. Learn how AI-enabled tools work and what your organization needs to do to reap their benefits.Continue Reading

• Benefits of virtual SOCs: Enterprise-run vs. fully managed

  A virtual security operations center, be it managed in-house or by a third party, is becoming an increasingly popular option to save money and improve reliability.Continue Reading

• Understanding the zero trust-SDP relationship

  Zero trust is a complicated framework that spans the IT stack. Find out how software-defined perimeter can address zero trust's network-level access requirements.Continue Reading

• How to prepare for a zero-trust model in the cloud

  Zero-trust security in the cloud is different than it is on premises. Learn the concepts and policies to effectively achieve a zero-trust model in the cloud.Continue Reading

• Changing the culture of information sharing for cybersecurity

  Dan Young explains why it's time for the cybersecurity industry to come together regarding information sharing and how insurance providers, regulators and others could assist.Continue Reading

• Developing a cyber resilience plan for today's threat landscape

  A cyber resilience plan should complement a company's cybersecurity strategy so that the security culture and cyber hygiene is thought through in all IT and cybersecurity initiatives.Continue Reading

• Quiz: Network security authentication methods

  There are many methods available to authenticate users requesting access to an organization's systems. Test your knowledge with this quiz on authentication in network security.Continue Reading

• What are the top secure data transmission methods?

  Safe information transfer is a must for modern organizations, but not all secure data transmission methods are equal. Explore your secure data transfer options in this tip.Continue Reading

• How self-sovereign identity principles suit the modern world

  There are several core self-sovereign identity principles to consider before the concept can benefit the enterprise. Learn about the implications of SSI advancements in this Q&A.Continue Reading

• 5 key enterprise SOC team roles and responsibilities

  Review the key players in the 2020 SOC and their specific responsibilities, as well as best practices to ensure effective teamwork for a secure organization.Continue Reading

• Format-preserving encryption use cases, benefits, alternative

  With format-preserving encryption, a ciphertext's format is the same as its plaintext's. Read up on the benefits of this cryptography method, NIST FPE methods, vendors and more.Continue Reading

• Top 4 firewall-as-a-service security features and benefits

  Firewall-as-a-service offerings implement security policies across consolidated traffic headed to all locations. Learn about four security features and benefits of FWaaS.Continue Reading

• Test your cloud security smarts with these CCSP exam questions

  Read up on cloud-based BCDR in this excerpt from Chapter 4 of 'CCSP Certified Cloud Security Professional All-in-One Guide,' then quiz yourself to see what you've learned.Continue Reading

• Cloud computing security technology quiz

  As companies migrate to the cloud to improve accessibility and scalability, there are many aspects of security to consider. Test your cloud security knowledge with this quiz.Continue Reading

• Best practices for ethically teaching cybersecurity skills

  Jonathan Meyers has recommendations that teachers and students can use to enhance their teaching and learning of cybersecurity skills to remain relevant in this fast-paced industry.Continue Reading

• CISSP practice exam questions and answers

  Test your knowledge and preparedness for the CISSP exam with 16 questions taken directly from the latest 'CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide' from McGraw Hill.Continue Reading

• How to send secure email attachments

  Sending sensitive information in attachments is inherently unsafe, and the main way to secure them -- encryption -- can be implemented inconsistently, negating security benefits.Continue Reading

• Test your cybersecurity knowledge with this quick ISM quiz

  Read our August 2020 e-zine, and then take this short quiz to test your knowledge of cybersecurity awareness training and other issues -- from types of CISOs to talent recruitment.Continue Reading

• Which type of CISO are you? Company fit matters

  Incompatibility between CISOs and their companies can lead to stress, frustration, burnout and rapid turnover. Identify your CISO style to target the ideal role and environment for you.Continue Reading

• How to start an enterprise bug bounty program and why

  Incentivizing researchers for finding software vulnerabilities can be advantageous for vendors and participants. Here's what to know before starting a bug bounty program.Continue Reading

• Cloud security quiz: Application security best practices

  Think you know all there is to know about securing apps in the cloud? Test your grasp of cloud application security best practices with this quiz.Continue Reading

• IDS/IPS quiz: Intrusion detection and prevention systems

  Want a baseline of your intrusion detection and prevention system knowledge? Test your insights with this IDS/IPS quiz.Continue Reading

• Navigate the DOD's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification

  The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification requires DOD contractors to achieve baseline security standards. Explore the five levels of certification and how to achieve them.Continue Reading

• Use these CCSK practice questions to prep for the exam

  Virtualization and container security are key topics in the Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge credential. Test your knowledge with these CCSK practice questions.Continue Reading

• Test your cyber-smarts with this network security quiz

  Show what you know about the topics covered in the May 2020 issue of Information Security magazine. If you get nine of 10 answers right, you'll also receive CPE credit!Continue Reading

• The what, why and how of the Spring Security architecture

  Like any framework, Spring Security requires writing less code to implement the desired functionality. Learn how to implement the Spring Security architecture in this book excerpt.Continue Reading

• The state of cybersecurity risk: Detection and mitigation

  Hackers will always try to creep in, and many will succeed. That's why effective detection and mitigation are essential. How are enterprises faring?Continue Reading

• AI-powered cyberattacks force change to network security

  Companies now face sophisticated enemies using AI and machine learning tools for their attacks. It's a world of new dangers for those defending network systems and data.Continue Reading

• Plan now for the future of network security

  How to battle well-funded, technologically sophisticated threats and ensure high-quality network performance? CISOs need a plan to meet network challenges now and in the future.Continue Reading

• Telework security requires meticulous caution, communication

  Organizations that are proactive about telework security may enjoy a more resilient network environment. Follow five steps in this webinar to ensure secure remote work.Continue Reading

• Words to go: Types of phishing scams

  IT teams must take proactive measures to address security awareness when it comes to email. Learn about the types of phishing scams to mitigate risk.Continue Reading

• The differences between web roles and worker roles in Azure

  What sets web roles and worker roles apart in Microsoft's Azure Cloud Services? Here's a look at how they are different.Continue Reading

• Comparing SASE vs. traditional network security architectures

  Today's dispersed environments need stronger networking and security architectures. Enter cloud-based Secure Access Service Edge -- a new model for secure network access.Continue Reading

• Considering the differences in LAN vs. WAN security

  Given the differences in the security of LAN and WAN, enterprises need to guard against insider threats, secure against unauthorized access and potentially secure the edge, too.Continue Reading

• CISA exam preparation requires learning ethics, standards, new vocab

  The CISA certification is proof of an auditor's knowledge and skills. However, the exam isn't easy and requires some heavy learning -- especially when it comes to vocabulary.Continue Reading

• CISA practice questions to prep for the exam

  Ready to take the Certified Information Systems Auditor exam? Use these CISA practice questions to test your knowledge of the audit process job practice domain.Continue Reading

• Get to know the elements of Secure Access Service Edge

  Cloud services use cases continue to expand, but implementation challenges remain. Discover Secure Access Service Edge, or SASE, offerings and how they can simplify connectivity.Continue Reading

• Risk management vs. risk assessment vs. risk analysis

  Understanding risk is the first step to making informed budget and security decisions. Explore the differences between risk management vs. risk assessment vs. risk analysis.Continue Reading

• 6 cybersecurity strategies to solidify personal data protection

  As consumers add more connected devices to personal networks, cybersecurity risk is hitting close to home. Here are steps individuals can take to ensure personal data protection.Continue Reading

• Advanced cybersecurity fraud and how to fight it

  Cybersecurity fraud's roots run deep, with fraudsters forever after the same thing: tricking others out of their valuable assets. Learn how to keep defenses high.Continue Reading

• Software security testing and software stress testing basics

  In this excerpt from Ric Messier's book, learn why software security testing and stress testing are critical components of an enterprise infosec program.Continue Reading

• Wired vs. wireless network security: Best practices

  Explore the differences between wired and wireless network security, and read up on best practices to ensure security with or without wires.Continue Reading

• Try this cybersecurity quiz to test your (threat) intelligence

  Check out our latest issue, and then test your understanding of the material. By passing this quiz, you'll solidify your knowledge and earn CPE credit, too.Continue Reading

• 2 components of detection and threat intelligence platforms

  Deploying threat detection and intelligence platforms is one of the smartest ways to protect your organization's valuable assets. Make sure you know how to choose the best tool.Continue Reading

• Cryptography basics: Symmetric key encryption algorithms

  Scrambling plaintext into ciphertext is essential to ensure data cannot be read or used by the wrong people. Learn the basics of symmetric key encryption algorithms here.Continue Reading

• 'Computer Security Fundamentals:' Quantum security to certifications

  New topics, from security engineering to quantum computing, are covered in 'Computer Security Fundamentals,' but the book's author suggests readers review some basic topics, too.Continue Reading

• How does antimalware software work and what are the detection types?

  Virus detection techniques used by antimalware tools can be a huge boost to enterprise cybersecurity programs. Learn how antimalware software works and its benefits in this tip.Continue Reading