A Top Glossary of Cybersecurity Terms

A cybersecurity glossary of terms can help you better understand the nuances of the field. This glossary covers threat assessment, Adaptive Authentication, Password cracking, Sniffer, and vulnerability analysis. The glossary also includes a list of noteworthy cybersecurity incidents that have occurred in recent years. These incidents are often referenced in cybersecurity literature, articles, blogs, webinars, and workshops. The list is arranged in chronological order and highlights the increasingly targeted nature of cyberattacks on the nation’s critical infrastructure.

Threat Assessment

Threat assessment is a process of evaluating the likelihood and perceived severity of threats to an organization. It is typically performed as part of a security risk management plan and precedes plans for mitigating these threats. A threat assessment process begins with the initial assessment of a potential threat and includes a review of its seriousness, the development of a mitigation plan, and follow-up assessments. The R-S-I-F (relevance, severity, impact, and frequency) indicator helps to define a threat’s risk level.

A practical threat assessment can reduce security incidents and data breaches, which can have substantial financial and reputational costs. A good threat assessment involves input from many stakeholders and departments to create a comprehensive risk profile. By working towards reducing risks, organizations can improve their security controls and comply with regulatory requirements. They can also use a risk template for future threat assessments, which will help them keep up with evolving threats. Therefore, threat assessment is a necessary part of cybersecurity and should be a routine activity.

Adaptive Authentication

Adaptive authentication, or AA, is a relatively new technology that can provide a better user experience in zero-trust environments. Adaptive authentication is a crucial feature of identity and access management that can detect and adapt to new threats and attack vectors before humans do. Adaptive AA is typically implemented by organizations following the zero-trust principles. However, adaptive multi-factor authentication can be a good start for organizations that aren’t yet following this model.

This new technology uses multiple authentication factors to determine which is best suited for each user. It can choose the best elements based on the user’s risk profile and behavior. While traditional multi-factor authentication relies on static policies to define risk levels, adaptive authentication also considers other factors such as the user’s location, device, and role. It can also combine static and dynamic policies to determine which authentication factors will be the most suitable for a given user.

Password Cracking

Depending on the circumstances, a hacker may be prosecuted for password cracking. This practice can lead to data misuse, such as access to private accounts. The punishment can range from a fine to a multi-year prison sentence. Sometimes, hackers use password cracking to gain privilege escalation or install backdoors on a server. Another type of password cracking is credential stuffing, which involves using different words from the original password.

There are many different ways that password cracking can be used. For example, it can be used to access a system, retrieve a forgotten password, or collect digital evidence. Password cracking can sometimes be a preventive measure, such as requiring longer passwords. To avoid being the victim of password cracking, you should always use strong passwords. These passwords should be at least eight characters long and contain a combination of digits and mixed case letters.

Sniffer

Sniffer is a term used to describe a network security tool. This tool is a euphemism for low-tech attacks that may include threats, lies, impersonation, and other means of compromise. Its most basic definition is a device that records network traffic. In addition, it is also a type of software that monitors traffic and tries to remove malicious software. It works by recording audio through a microphone.

Data Loss Prevention

Data loss prevention is an essential part of the cybersecurity landscape. These solutions are installed at the perimeter of an enterprise network and monitor network traffic to detect sensitive data leaks. They can monitor user activities such as email, social media, and web 2.0 applications. Additionally, they can identify and block specific user actions. In addition, data loss prevention solutions can be used to determine which files are most sensitive and help protect them. To learn more about data loss prevention, read on.

Data loss prevention is a set of technologies and processes that detect and block sensitive data from leaking, being misused, or being accessed by unauthorized users. Many DLP solutions depend on data classification, which groups sensitive data into buckets. These buckets are then fed into DLP policies. These policies may be defined by the organization or based on regulatory requirements. Generally, data protection laws drive DLP implementation. Businesses need to use a combination of technologies and processes to protect data.