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BlogCompliance15TH AUG 2023
AuthorSamir Yawar
3 min read
Compliance

An A to Z of Cybersecurity Glossary

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Learn a lot with this comprehensive A to Z cybersecurity glossary containing the most common terms.

Welcome to the wild world of cybersecurity, where hackers constantly try to break into our digital lives and security experts are one step behind. With the ever-increasing threat of cyber attacks, staying informed and knowledgeable about the tools and techniques used to protect our digital assets is more important than ever. And that's where this A to Z of cybersecurity glossary comes in!

In this A-Z guide, we'll cover some of the most essential cybersecurity terms you need to know to stay safe and secure online.

A to Z of Cybersecurity Terms


Samir Yawar
Samir Yawar / Content Lead
Samir wants a world where people can instinctively whack online scams and feel accomplished without the need for psychic powers. As an ISC2 member, he is doing his bit to turn cybersecurity awareness training into a fun concept with simple, approachable and accessible content. Reach out to him at X @yawarsamir
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FAQsFrequently Asked Questions
A phishing attack is a cyberattack in which attackers attempt to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, or financial details, by posing as a legitimate and trustworthy entity. Phishing attacks often come in the form of emails, messages, or websites that mimic well-known organizations, and they aim to exploit human psychology to manipulate recipients into taking malicious actions.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two different forms of authentication before gaining access to a system or account. These factors typically include something the user knows (like a password) and something the user possesses (such as a mobile device generating a time-based one-time password). 2FA enhances security by adding an extra layer of protection against unauthorized access, even if the password is compromised.
A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal functioning of a network, service, or website by overwhelming it with a flood of traffic from multiple sources. This flood of traffic makes the targeted system unavailable to legitimate users, effectively causing a denial of service. DDoS attacks can be executed using botnets, which are networks of compromised computers or devices controlled by the attacker.
A firewall is a network security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. It acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network and an untrusted external network, such as the internet. Firewalls can block unauthorized access, prevent malicious data packets from entering the network, and help mitigate the risk of cyberattacks.
Encryption is the process of converting plaintext data into a scrambled format (ciphertext) using an encryption algorithm and a cryptographic key. This ensures that only authorized parties with the corresponding decryption key can revert the ciphertext back to its original plaintext form. Encryption helps protect sensitive data from unauthorized access or eavesdropping during transmission or storage.