Terms Flashcards
Cybersecurity (or security)
The practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information by protecting networks, devices, people, and data from unauthorized access or criminal exploitation
Personally identifiable information (PII)
Any information used to infer an individual’s identity
Sensitive personally identifiable information (SPII
A specific type of PII that falls under stricter handling guidelines
Threat actor
Any person or group who presents a security risk
Compliance
Compliance is the process of adhering to internal standards and external regulations. It enables organizations to avoid fines and security breaches.
Malware
A software designed to harm devices or networks
Virus
A malware program that modifies other computer programs by inserting its own code to damage and/or destroy data
Worm
Malware that self-replicates, spreading across the network and infecting computers
Ransomware
A malicious attack during which threat actors encrypt an organization’s data and demand payment to restore access
Spyware
Malicious software installed on a user’s computer without their permission, which is used to spy on and steal user data
Phishing
The use of digital communications to trick people into revealing sensitive data or deploying malicious software
Spear phishing
A malicious email attack targeting a specific user or group of users that appears to originate from a trusted source
Whaling
A form of spear phishing during which threat actors target executives in order to gain access to sensitive data
Business email compromise (BEC)
An attack in which a threat actor impersonates a known source to obtain a financial advantage
Social media phishing
An attack in which a threat actor collects detailed information about their target on social media sites before initiating an attack
