Threat management

Terms related to security threats, including definitions about anti-virus programs or firewalls and words and phrases about malware, viruses, Trojans and other security attacks.
  • 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.
  • Web bug (Web beacon) - A Web bug, also known as a Web beacon, is a file object (usually a graphic image such as a transparent GIF) that is placed on a Web page or in an e-mail message to monitor user behavior.
  • What is a block cipher? - A block cipher is a method of encrypting data in blocks to produce ciphertext using a cryptographic key and algorithm.
  • What is a certificate revocation list (CRL) and how is it used? - A certificate revocation list (CRL) is a list of digital certificates that have been revoked by the issuing certificate authority (CA) before their actual or assigned expiration date.
  • What is a computer exploit? - A computer exploit, or exploit, is a program or piece of code developed to take advantage of a vulnerability in a computer or network system.
  • What is a cyber attack? How they work and how to stop them - A cyber attack is any malicious attempt to gain unauthorized access to a computer, computing system or computer network with the intent to cause damage.
  • What is a micro VM (micro virtual machine)? - A micro VM (micro virtual machine) is a virtual machine program that serves to isolate an untrusted computing operation from a computer's host operating system.
  • What is a password? - A password is a string of characters used to verify the identity of a user during the authentication process.
  • What is a potentially unwanted program (PUP)? - A potentially unwanted program (PUP) is a program that may be unwanted, despite the possibility that users consented to download it.
  • What is a private cloud? Definition and examples - Private cloud is a type of cloud computing that delivers advantages similar to public cloud, including scalability and self-service, but through a proprietary architecture.
  • What is a private key? - A private key, also known as a secret key, is a variable in cryptography used with an algorithm to encrypt or decrypt data.
  • What is a public key and how does it work? - In cryptography, a public key is a large numerical value that is used to encrypt data.
  • What is a public key certificate? - A public key certificate is a digitally signed document that serves to validate the sender's authorization and name.
  • What is a 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.
  • What is a stream cipher? - A stream cipher is an encryption method in which data is encrypted one byte at a time.
  • What is a threat intelligence feed? - A threat intelligence feed, also known as a TI feed, is an ongoing stream of data related to potential or current threats to an organization's security.
  • What is a whaling attack (whaling phishing)? - A whaling attack, also known as 'whaling phishing' or a 'whaling phishing attack,' is a specific type of phishing attack that targets high-profile employees, such as the chief executive officer (CEO) or chief financial officer, to steal sensitive information from a company.
  • What is AI red teaming? - AI red teaming is the practice of simulating attack scenarios on an artificial intelligence application to pinpoint weaknesses and plan preventative measures.
  • What is an intrusion detection system (IDS)? - An intrusion detection system monitors (IDS) network traffic for suspicious activity and sends alerts when such activity is discovered.
  • What is authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA)? - Authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) is a security framework for controlling and tracking user access within a computer network.
  • What is biometric verification? - Biometric verification is any means by which a person can be uniquely identified by evaluating one or more distinguishing biological traits.
  • What is biometrics? - Biometrics is the measurement and statistical analysis of people's unique physical and behavioral characteristics.
  • What is BitLocker? - BitLocker Drive Encryption, or BitLocker, is a Microsoft Windows security and encryption feature.
  • What is cipher block chaining (CBC)? - Cipher block chaining (CBC) is a mode of operation for a block cipher -- one in which a sequence of bits are encrypted as a single unit, or block, with a cipher key applied to the entire block.
  • What is Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)? - Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) is a publicly listed catalog of known security threats.
  • What is cryptography? - Cryptography is a method of protecting information and communications using codes, so that only those for whom the information is intended can read and process it.
  • What is cryptology? - Cryptology is the mathematics, such as number theory and the application of formulas and algorithms, that underpin cryptography and cryptanalysis.
  • What is cyber attribution? - Cyber attribution is the process of tracking and identifying the perpetrator of a cyberattack or other cyber operation.
  • What is cybercrime and how can you prevent it? - Cybercrime is any criminal activity that involves a computer, network or networked device.
  • What is cybersecurity? - Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting internet-connected systems such as hardware, software and data from cyberthreats.
  • What is Data Encryption Standard (DES)? - Data Encryption Standard (DES) is an outdated symmetric key method of data encryption.
  • What is data poisoning (AI poisoning) and how does it work? - Data or AI poisoning attacks are deliberate attempts to manipulate the training data of artificial intelligence and machine learning models to corrupt their behavior and elicit skewed, biased or harmful outputs.
  • What is email spam and how to fight it? - Email spam, also known as 'junk email,' refers to unsolicited email messages, usually sent in bulk to a large list of recipients.
  • What is endpoint detection and response (EDR)? - Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is a system that gathers and analyzes security threat-related information from computer workstations and other endpoints.
  • What is exposure management? - Exposure management is a cybersecurity approach to protecting exploitable IT assets.
  • What is extended detection and response (XDR)? - Extended detection and response (XDR) is a technology-driven cybersecurity process designed to help organizations detect and remediate security threats across their entire IT environment.
  • What is Group Policy Object (GPO) and why is it important? - Microsoft’s Group Policy Object (GPO) is a collection of Group Policy settings that defines what a system will look like and how it will behave for a defined group of users.
  • What is hacktivism? - Hacktivism is the act of misusing a computer system or network for a socially or politically motivated reason.
  • What is incident response? A complete guide - Incident response is an organized, strategic approach to detecting and managing cyberattacks in ways that minimize damage, recovery time and total costs.
  • What is Internet Key Exchange (IKE)? - Internet Key Exchange (IKE) is a standard protocol used to set up a secure and authenticated communication channel between two parties via a virtual private network (VPN).
  • What is 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.
  • What is machine identity management? - Machine identity management focuses on the machines connected to and accessing resources on a network.
  • What is malware? Prevention, detection and how attacks work - Malware, or malicious software, is any program or file that's intentionally harmful to a computer, network or server.
  • What is MXDR, and do you need it? - Managed extended detection and response (MXDR) is an outsourced service that collects and analyzes threat data from across an organization's IT environment.
  • What is network detection and response (NDR)? - Network detection and response (NDR) technology continuously scrutinizes network traffic to identify suspicious activity and potentially disrupt an attack.
  • What is network scanning? How to, types and best practices - Network scanning is a procedure for identifying active devices on a network by employing a feature or features in the network protocol to signal to devices and await a response.
  • What is obfuscation and how does it work? - Obfuscation means to make something difficult to understand.
  • What is password cracking? - Password cracking is the process of using an application program to identify an unknown or forgotten password that allows access to a computer or network resource.
  • What is PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)? - The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a widely accepted set of policies and procedures intended to optimize the security of credit, debit and cash card transactions and protect cardholders against misuse of their personal information.
  • What is PKI (public key infrastructure)? - PKI (public key infrastructure) is the underlying framework that enables the secure exchange of information over the internet using digital certificates and public key encryption.
  • What is ransomware? How it works and how to remove it - Ransomware is a type of malware that locks and encrypts a victim's data, files, devices or systems, rendering them inaccessible and unusable until the attacker receives a ransom payment.
  • What is SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language)? - Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is an open standard for sharing security information about identity, authentication and authorization across different systems.
  • What is SecOps? Everything you need to know - SecOps, formed from a combination of security and IT operations staff, is a highly skilled team focused on monitoring and assessing risk and protecting corporate assets, often operating from a security operations center, or SOC.
  • What is spyware? - Spyware is a type of malicious software (malware) that is installed on a computing device without the end user's knowledge.
  • What is SSH (Secure Shell) and How Does It Work? - SSH (Secure Shell or Secure Socket Shell) is a network protocol that gives users -- particularly systems administrators -- a secure way to access a computer over an unsecured network.
  • What is tailgating (piggybacking)? - Tailgating, sometimes referred to as piggybacking, is a type of physical security breach in which an unauthorized person follows an authorized individual to enter secured premises while avoiding detection by an electronic or human access control (or alarm) system.
  • What is the CIA triad (confidentiality, integrity and availability)? - The CIA triad refers to confidentiality, integrity and availability, describing a model designed to guide policies for information security within an organization.
  • What is the Coalition for Secure AI (CoSAI)? - Coalition for Secure AI (CoSAI) is an open source initiative to enhance artificial intelligence's security.
  • What is threat detection and response (TDR)? Complete guide - Threat detection and response (TDR) is the process of recognizing potential cyberthreats and reacting to them before harm can be done to an organization.
  • What is threat intelligence? - Threat intelligence, also known as cyberthreat intelligence, is information gathered from a range of sources about current or potential attacks against an organization.
  • What is threat modeling? - Threat modeling is the systematic process of identifying threats to and vulnerabilities in software applications, and then defining countermeasures to mitigate those threats and vulnerabilities to better protect business processes, networks, systems and data.
  • What is two-factor authentication (2FA)? - Two-factor authentication (2FA), sometimes referred to as two-step verification or dual-factor authentication, is a security process in which users provide two different authentication factors to verify themselves.
  • What is unified threat management (UTM)? - Unified threat management (UTM) is an information security system that provides a single point of protection against cyberthreats, including viruses, worms, spyware and other malware, as well as network attacks.
  • What is user behavior analytics (UBA)? - User behavior analytics (UBA) is the tracking, collecting and assessing of user data and activities using monitoring systems.
  • white hat hacker - A white hat hacker -- or ethical hacker -- is an individual who uses hacking skills to identify security vulnerabilities in hardware, software or networks.
  • Wi-Fi (802.11x standard) - Wi-Fi is a term for certain types of wireless local area networks (WLAN) that use specifications in the IEEE 802.
  • Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) - Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a security standard for computing devices equipped with wireless internet connections.
  • Wiegand - Wiegand is the trade name for a technology used in card readers and sensors, particularly for access control applications.
  • Windows Defender Exploit Guard - Microsoft Windows Defender Exploit Guard is antimalware software that provides intrusion protection for Windows 10 OS users.
  • Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) - Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a security protocol, specified in the IEEE Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) standard, 802.
  • Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS) - Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS) is a security level for the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), specifically for the applications that use WAP.
  • wiretapping - Wiretapping is the surreptitious electronic monitoring and interception of phone-, fax- or internet-based communications.
  • zero-day vulnerability - A zero-day vulnerability is a security loophole in software, hardware or firmware that threat actors exploit before the vendors can identify and patch it.