Terms and definitions from the Professional Google Cybersecurity Specialization Certificate
A
Absolute file path: The full file path, which starts from the root
Access controls: Security controls that manage access, authorization, and accountability of information
Active packet sniffing: A type of attack where data packets are manipulated in transit
Address Resolution Protocol (ARP): A network protocol used to determine the MAC address of the next router or device on the path
Advanced persistent threat (APT): An instance when a threat actor maintains unauthorized access to a system for an extended period of time
Adversarial artificial intelligence (AI): A technique that manipulates artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology to conduct attacks more efficiently
Adware: A type of legitimate software that is sometimes used to display digital advertisements in applications
Algorithm: A set of rules used to solve a problem
Analysis: The investigation and validation of alerts
Angler phishing: A technique where attackers impersonate customer service representatives on social media
Anomaly-based analysis: A detection method that identifies abnormal behavior
Antivirus software: A software program used to prevent, detect, and eliminate malware and viruses
Application: A program that performs a specific task
Application programming interface (API) token: A small block of encrypted code that contains information about a user
Argument (Linux): Specific information needed by a command
Argument (Python): The data brought into a function when it is called
Array: A data type that stores data in a comma-separated ordered list
Assess: The fifth step of the NIST RMF that means to determine if established controls are implemented correctly
Asset: An item perceived as having value to an organization
Asset classification: The practice of labeling assets based on sensitivity and importance to an organization
Asset inventory: A catalog of assets that need to be protected
Asset management: The process of tracking assets and the risks that affect them
Asymmetric encryption: The use of a public and private key pair for encryption and decryption of data
Attack surface: All the potential vulnerabilities that a threat actor could exploit
Attack tree: A diagram that maps threats to assets
Attack vectors: The pathways attackers use to penetrate security defenses
Authentication: The process of verifying who someone is
Automation: The use of technology to reduce human and manual effort to perform common and repetitive tasks
Availability: The idea that data is accessible to those who are authorized to access it
B
Bandwidth: The maximum data transmission capacity over a network, measured by bits per second
Baseline configuration (baseline image): A documented set of specifications within a system that is used as a basis for future builds, releases, and updates
Bash: The default shell in most Linux distributions
Basic auth: The technology used to establish a user’s request to access a server
Basic Input/Output System (BIOS): A microchip that contains loading instructions for the computer and is prevalent in older systems
Biometrics: The unique physical characteristics that can be used to verify a person’s identity
Bit: The smallest unit of data measurement on a computer
Boolean data: Data that can only be one of two values: either True or False
Bootloader: A software program that boots the operating system
Botnet: A collection of computers infected by malware that are under the control of a single threat actor, known as the “bot-herder"
Bracket notation: The indices placed in square brackets
Broken chain of custody: Inconsistencies in the collection and logging of evidence in the chain of custody
Brute force attack: The trial and error process of discovering private information
Bug bounty: Programs that encourage freelance hackers to find and report vulnerabilities
Built-in function: A function that exists within Python and can be called directly
Business continuity: An organization's ability to maintain their everyday productivity by establishing risk disaster recovery plans
Business continuity plan (BCP): A document that outlines the procedures to sustain business operations during and after a significant disruption
Business Email Compromise (BEC): A type of phishing attack where a threat actor impersonates a known source to obtain financial advantage
C
Categorize: The second step of the NIST RMF that is used to develop risk management processes and tasks
CentOS: An open-source distribution that is closely related to Red Hat
Central Processing Unit (CPU): A computer’s main processor, which is used to perform general computing tasks on a computer
Chain of custody: The process of documenting evidence possession and control during an incident lifecycle
Chronicle: A cloud-native tool designed to retain, analyze, and search data
Cipher: An algorithm that encrypts information
Cloud-based firewalls: Software firewalls that are hosted by the cloud service provider
Cloud computing: The practice of using remote servers, applications, and network services that are hosted on the internet instead of on local physical devices
Cloud network: A collection of servers or computers that stores resources and data in remote data centers that can be accessed via the internet
Cloud security: The process of ensuring that assets stored in the cloud are properly configured and access to those assets is limited to authorized users
Command: An instruction telling the computer to do something
Command and control (C2): The techniques used by malicious actors to maintain communications with compromised systems
Command-line interface (CLI): A text-based user interface that uses commands to interact with the computer
Comment: A note programmers make about the intention behind their code
Common Event Format (CEF): A log format that uses key-value pairs to structure data and identify fields and their corresponding values
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE®) list: An openly accessible dictionary of known vulnerabilities and exposures
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS): A measurement system that scores the severity of a vulnerability
Compliance: The process of adhering to internal standards and external regulations
Computer security incident response teams (CSIRT): A specialized group of security professionals that are trained in incident management and response
Computer virus: Malicious code written to interfere with computer operations and cause damage to data and software
Conditional statement: A statement that evaluates code to determine if it meets a specified set of conditions
Confidentiality: The idea that only authorized users can access specific assets or data
Confidential data: Data that often has limits on the number of people who have access to it
Confidentiality, integrity, availability (CIA) triad: A model that helps inform how organizations consider risk when setting up systems and security policies
Configuration file: A file used to configure the settings of an application
Containment: The act of limiting and preventing additional damage caused by an incident
Controlled zone: A subnet that protects the internal network from the uncontrolled zone
Cross-site scripting (XSS): An injection attack that inserts code into a vulnerable website or web application
Crowdsourcing: The practice of gathering information using public input and collaboration
Cryptographic attack: An attack that affects secure forms of communication between a sender and intended recipient
Cryptographic key: A mechanism that decrypts ciphertext
Cryptography: The process of transforming information into a form that unintended readers can’t understand
Cryptojacking: A form of malware that installs software to illegally mine cryptocurrencies
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
D
Data: Information that is translated, processed, or stored by a computer
Data at rest: Data not currently being accessed
Database: An organized collection of information or data
Data controller: A person that determines the procedure and purpose for processing data
Data custodian: Anyone or anything that’s responsible for the safe handling, transport, and storage of information
Data exfiltration: Unauthorized transmission of data from a system
Data in transit: Data traveling from one point to another
Data in use: Data being accessed by one or more users
Data owner: The person who decides who can access, edit, use, or destroy their information
Data packet: A basic unit of information that travels from one device to another within a network
Data point: A specific piece of information
Data processor: A person that is responsible for processing data on behalf of the data controller
Data protection officer (DPO): An individual that is responsible for monitoring the compliance of an organization's data protection procedures
Data type: A category for a particular type of data item
Date and time data: Data representing a date and/or time
Debugger: A software tool that helps to locate the source of an error and assess its causes
Debugging: The practice of identifying and fixing errors in code
Defense in depth: A layered approach to vulnerability management that reduces risk
Denial of service (DoS) attack: An attack that targets a network or server and floods it with network traffic
Detect: A NIST core function related to identifying potential security incidents and improving monitoring capabilities to increase the speed and efficiency of detections
Detection: The prompt discovery of security events
Dictionary data: Data that consists of one or more key-value pairs
Digital certificate: A file that verifies the identity of a public key holder
Digital forensics: The practice of collecting and analyzing data to determine what has happened after an attack
Directory: A file that organizes where other files are stored
Disaster recovery plan: A plan that allows an organization’s security team to outline the steps needed to minimize the impact of a security incident
Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack: A type of denial of service attack that uses multiple devices or servers located in different locations to flood the target network with unwanted traffic
Distributions: The different versions of Linux
Documentation: Any form of recorded content that is used for a specific purpose
DOM-based XSS attack: An instance when malicious script exists in the webpage a browser loads
Domain Name System (DNS): A networking protocol that translates internet domain names into IP addresses
Dropper: A type of malware that comes packed with malicious code which is delivered and installed onto a target system
E
Elevator pitch: A brief summary of your experience, skills, and background
Encapsulation: A process performed by a VPN service that protects your data by wrapping sensitive data in other data packets
Encryption: The process of converting data from a readable format to an encoded format
Endpoint: Any device connected on a network
Endpoint detection and response (EDR): An application that monitors an endpoint for malicious activity
Eradication: The complete removal of the incident elements from all affected systems
Escalation policy: A set of actions that outline who should be notified when an incident alert occurs and how that incident should be handled
Event: An observable occurrence on a network, system, or device
Exception: An error that involves code that cannot be executed even though it is syntactically correct
Exclusive operator: An operator that does not include the value of comparison
Exploit: A way of taking advantage of a vulnerability
Exposure: A mistake that can be exploited by a threat
External threat: Anything outside the organization that has the potential to harm organizational assets
F
False negative: A state where the presence of a threat is not detected
False positive: An alert that incorrectly detects the presence of a threat
Fileless malware: Malware that does not need to be installed by the user because it uses legitimate programs that are already installed to infect a computer
File path: The location of a file or directory
Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS): The component of the Linux OS that organizes data
Filtering: Selecting data that match a certain condition
Final report: Documentation that provides a comprehensive review of an incident
Firewall: A network security device that monitors traffic to or from a network
Float data: Data consisting of a number with a decimal point
Foreign key: A column in a table that is a primary key in another table
Forward proxy server: A server that regulates and restricts a person’s access to the internet
Function: A section of code that can be reused in a program
G
Global variable: A variable that is available through the entire program
Graphical user interface (GUI): A user interface that uses icons on the screen to manage different tasks on the computer
H
Hacker: Any person who uses computers to gain access to computer systems, networks, or data
Hacktivist: A person who uses hacking to achieve a political goal
Hard drive: A hardware component used for long-term memory
Hardware: The physical components of a computer
Hash collision: An instance when different inputs produce the same hash value
Hash function: An algorithm that produces a code that can’t be decrypted
Hash table: A data structure that's used to store and reference hash values
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): A U.S. federal law established to protect patients’ health information
Honeypot: A system or resource created as a decoy vulnerable to attacks with the purpose of attracting potential intruders
Host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS): An application that monitors the activity of the host on which it’s installed
Hub: A network device that broadcasts information to every device on the network
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP): An application layer protocol that provides a method of communication between clients and website servers
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS): A network protocol that provides a secure method of communication between clients and website servers
I
Identify: A NIST core function related to management of cybersecurity risk and its effect on an organization’s people and assets
Identity and access management (IAM): A collection of processes and technologies that helps organizations manage digital identities in their environment
IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi): A set of standards that define communication for wireless LANs
Immutable: An object that cannot be changed after it is created and assigned a value
Implement: The fourth step of the NIST RMF that means to implement security and privacy plans for an organization
Improper usage: An incident type that occurs when an employee of an organization violates the organization’s acceptable use policies
Incident: An occurrence that actually or imminently jeopardizes, without lawful authority, the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information or an information system; or constitutes a violation or imminent threat of violation of law, security policies, security procedures, or acceptable use policies
Incident escalation: The process of identifying a potential security incident, triaging it, and handing it off to a more experienced team member
Incident handler’s journal: A form of documentation used in incident response
Incident response: An organization’s quick attempt to identify an attack, contain the damage, and correct the effects of a security breach
Incident response plan: A document that outlines the procedures to take in each step of incident response
Inclusive operator: An operator that includes the value of comparison
Indentation: Space added at the beginning of a line of code
Index: A number assigned to every element in a sequence that indicates its position
Indicators of attack (IoA): The series of observed events that indicate a real-time incident
Indicators of compromise (IoC): Observable evidence that suggests signs of a potential security incident
Information privacy: The protection of unauthorized access and distribution of data
Information security (InfoSec): The practice of keeping data in all states away from unauthorized users
Injection attack: Malicious code inserted into a vulnerable application
Input validation: Programming that validates inputs from users and other programs
Integer data: Data consisting of a number that does not include a decimal point
Integrated development environment (IDE): A software application for writing code that provides editing assistance and error correction tools
Integrity: The idea that the data is correct, authentic, and reliable
Internal hardware: The components required to run the computer
Internal threat: A current or former employee, external vendor, or trusted partner who poses a security risk
Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP): An internet protocol used by devices to tell each other about data transmission errors across the network
Internet Control Message Protocol flood (ICMP flood): A type of DoS attack performed by an attacker repeatedly sending ICMP request packets to a network server
Internet Protocol (IP): A set of standards used for routing and addressing data packets as they travel between devices on a network
Internet Protocol (IP) address: A unique string of characters that identifies the location of a device on the internet
Interpreter: A computer program that translates Python code into runnable instructions line by line
Intrusion detection system (IDS): An application that monitors system activity and alerts on possible intrusions
Intrusion prevention system (IPS): An application that monitors system activity for intrusive activity and takes action to stop the activity
IP spoofing: A network attack performed when an attacker changes the source IP of a data packet to impersonate an authorized system and gain access to a network
Iterative statement: Code that repeatedly executes a set of instructions
K
KALI LINUX ™: An open-source distribution of Linux that is widely used in the security industry
Kernel: The component of the Linux OS that manages processes and memory
Key-value pair: A set of data that represents two linked items: a key, and its corresponding value
L
Legacy operating system: An operating system that is outdated but still being used
Lessons learned meeting: A meeting that includes all involved parties after a major incident
Library: A collection of modules that provide code users can access in their programs
Linux: An open-source operating system
List concatenation: The concept of combining two lists into one by placing the elements of the second list directly after the elements of the first list
List data: Data structure that consists of a collection of data in sequential form
Loader: A type of malware that downloads strains of malicious code from an external source and installs them onto a target system
Local Area Network (LAN): A network that spans small areas like an office building, a school, or a home
Local variable: A variable assigned within a function
Log: A record of events that occur within an organization’s systems
Log analysis: The process of examining logs to identify events of interest
Logging: The recording of events occurring on computer systems and networks
Logic error: An error that results when the logic used in code produces unintended results
Log management: The process of collecting, storing, analyzing, and disposing of log data
Loop condition: The part of a loop that determines when the loop terminates
Loop variable: A variable that is used to control the iterations of a loop
M
Malware: Software designed to harm devices or networks
Malware infection: An incident type that occurs when malicious software designed to disrupt a system infiltrates an organization’s computers or network
Media Access Control (MAC) address: A unique alphanumeric identifier that is assigned to each physical device on a network
Method: A function that belongs to a specific data type
Metrics: Key technical attributes such as response time, availability, and failure rate, which are used to assess the performance of a software application
MITRE: A collection of non-profit research and development centers
Modem: A device that connects your router to the internet and brings internet access to the LAN
Module: A Python file that contains additional functions, variables, classes, and any kind of runnable code
Monitor: The seventh step of the NIST RMF that means be aware of how systems are operating
Multi-factor authentication (MFA): A security measure that requires a user to verify their identity in two or more ways to access a system or network
N
nano: A command-line file editor that is available by default in many Linux distributions
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): A voluntary framework that consists of standards, guidelines, and best practices to manage cybersecurity risk
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Incident Response Lifecycle: A framework for incident response consisting of four phases: Preparation; Detection and Analysis; Containment, Eradication and Recovery, and Post-incident activity
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (S.P.) 800-53: A unified framework for protecting the security of information systems within the U.S. federal government
Network: A group of connected devices
Network-based intrusion detection system (NIDS): An application that collects and monitors network traffic and network data
Network data: The data that’s transmitted between devices on a network
Network Interface Card (NIC): Hardware that connects computers to a network
Network log analysis: The process of examining network logs to identify events of interest
Network protocol analyzer (packet sniffer): A tool designed to capture and analyze data traffic within a network
Network protocols: A set of rules used by two or more devices on a network to describe the order of delivery and the structure of data
Network security: The practice of keeping an organization's network infrastructure secure from unauthorized access
Network segmentation: A security technique that divides the network into segments
Network traffic: The amount of data that moves across a network
Non-repudiation: The concept that the authenticity of information can’t be denied
Notebook: An online interface for writing, storing, and running code
Numeric data: Data consisting of numbers
O
OAuth: An open-standard authorization protocol that shares designated access between applications
Object: A data type that stores data in a comma-separated list of key-value pairs
On-path attack: An attack where a malicious actor places themselves in the middle of an authorized connection and intercepts or alters the data in transit
Open-source intelligence (OSINT): The collection and analysis of information from publicly available sources to generate usable intelligence
Open systems interconnection (OSI) model: A standardized concept that describes the seven layers computers use to communicate and send data over the network
Open Web Application Security Project/Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP): A non-profit organization focused on improving software security
Operating system (OS): The interface between computer hardware and the user
Operator: A symbol or keyword that represents an operation
Options: Input that modifies the behavior of a command
Order of volatility: A sequence outlining the order of data that must be preserved from first to last
OWASP Top 10: A globally recognized standard awareness document that lists the top 10 most critical security risks to web applications
P
Package: A piece of software that can be combined with other packages to form an application
Package manager: A tool that helps users install, manage, and remove packages or applications
Packet capture (P-cap): A file containing data packets intercepted from an interface or network
Packet sniffing: The practice of capturing and inspecting data packets across a network
Parameter (Python): An object that is included in a function definition for use in that function
Parrot: An open-source distribution that is commonly used for security
Parsing: The process of converting data into a more readable format
Passive packet sniffing: A type of attack where a malicious actor connects to a network hub and looks at all traffic on the network
Password attack: An attempt to access password secured devices, systems, networks, or data
Patch update: A software and operating system update that addresses security vulnerabilities within a program or product
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS): A set of security standards formed by major organizations in the financial industry
Penetration test (pen test): A simulated attack that helps identify vulnerabilities in systems, networks, websites, applications, and processes
PEP 8 style guide: A resource that provides stylistic guidelines for programmers working in Python
Peripheral devices: Hardware components that are attached and controlled by the computer system
Permissions: The type of access granted for a file or directory
Personally identifiable information (PII): Any information used to infer an individual's identity
Phishing: The use of digital communications to trick people into revealing sensitive data or deploying malicious software
Phishing kit: A collection of software tools needed to launch a phishing campaign
Physical attack: A security incident that affects not only digital but also physical environments where the incident is deployed
Ping of death: A type of DoS attack caused when a hacker pings a system by sending it an oversized ICMP packet that is bigger than 64KB
Playbook: A manual that provides details about any operational action
Policy: A set of rules that reduce risk and protect information
Port: A software-based location that organizes the sending and receiving of data between devices on a network
Port filtering: A firewall function that blocks or allows certain port numbers to limit unwanted communication
Post-incident activity: The process of reviewing an incident to identify areas for improvement during incident handling
Potentially unwanted application (PUA): A type of unwanted software that is bundled in with legitimate programs which might display ads, cause device slowdown, or install other software
Private data: Information that should be kept from the public
Prepare: The first step of the NIST RMF related to activities that are necessary to manage security and privacy risks before a breach occurs
Prepared statement: A coding technique that executes SQL statements before passing them on to a database
Primary key: A column where every row has a unique entry
Principle of least privilege: The concept of granting only the minimal access and authorization required to complete a task or function
Privacy protection: The act of safeguarding personal information from unauthorized use
Procedures: Step-by-step instructions to perform a specific security task
Process of Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis (PASTA): A popular threat modeling framework that’s used across many industries
Programming: A process that can be used to create a specific set of instructions for a computer to execute tasks
Protect: A NIST core function used to protect an organization through the implementation of policies, procedures, training, and tools that help mitigate cybersecurity threats
Protected health information (PHI): Information that relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual
Protecting and preserving evidence: The process of properly working with fragile and volatile digital evidence
Proxy server: A server that fulfills the requests of its clients by forwarding them to other servers
Public data: Data that is already accessible to the public and poses a minimal risk to the organization if viewed or shared by others
Public key infrastructure (PKI): An encryption framework that secures the exchange of online information
Python Standard Library: An extensive collection of Python code that often comes packaged with Python
Q
Query: A request for data from a database table or a combination of tables
Quid pro quo: A type of baiting used to trick someone into believing that they’ll be rewarded in return for sharing access, information, or money
R
Rainbow table: A file of pre-generated hash values and their associated plaintext
Random Access Memory (RAM): A hardware component used for short-term memory
Ransomware: A malicious attack where threat actors encrypt an organization’s data and demand payment to restore access
Rapport: A friendly relationship in which the people involved understand each other’s ideas and communicate well with each other
Recover: A NIST core function related to returning affected systems back to normal operation
Recovery: The process of returning affected systems back to normal operations
Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® (also referred to simply as Red Hat in this course): A subscription-based distribution of Linux built for enterprise use
Reflected XSS attack: An instance when malicious script is sent to a server and activated during the server’s response
Regular expression (regex): A sequence of characters that forms a pattern
Regulations: Rules set by a government or other authority to control the way something is done
Relational database: A structured database containing tables that are related to each other
Relative file path: A file path that starts from the user's current directory
Replay attack: A network attack performed when a malicious actor intercepts a data packet in transit and delays it or repeats it at another time
Resiliency: The ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions
Respond: A NIST core function related to making sure that the proper procedures are used to contain, neutralize, and analyze security incidents, and implement improvements to the security process
Return statement: A Python statement that executes inside a function and sends information back to the function call
Reverse proxy server: A server that regulates and restricts the internet's access to an internal server
Risk: Anything that can impact the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an asset
Risk mitigation: The process of having the right procedures and rules in place to quickly reduce the impact of a risk like a breach
Root directory: The highest-level directory in Linux
Rootkit: Malware that provides remote, administrative access to a computer
Root user (or superuser): A user with elevated privileges to modify the system
Router: A network device that connects multiple networks together
S
Salting: An additional safeguard that’s used to strengthen hash functions
Scareware: Malware that employs tactics to frighten users into infecting their device
Search Processing Language (SPL): Splunk’s query language
Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP): A secure protocol used to transfer files from one device to another over a network
Secure shell (SSH): A security protocol used to create a shell with a remote system
Security architecture: A type of security design composed of multiple components, such as tools and processes, that are used to protect an organization from risks and external threats
Security audit: A review of an organization's security controls, policies, and procedures against a set of expectations
Security controls: Safeguards designed to reduce specific security risks
Security ethics: Guidelines for making appropriate decisions as a security professional
Security frameworks: Guidelines used for building plans to help mitigate risk and threats to data and privacy
Security governance: Practices that help support, define, and direct security efforts of an organization
Security hardening: The process of strengthening a system to reduce its vulnerabilities and attack surface
Security information and event management (SIEM): An application that collects and analyzes log data to monitor critical activities in an organization
Security mindset: The ability to evaluate risk and constantly seek out and identify the potential or actual breach of a system, application, or data
Security operations center (SOC): An organizational unit dedicated to monitoring networks, systems, and devices for security threats or attacks
Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR): A collection of applications, tools, and workflows that use automation to respond to security events
Security posture: An organization’s ability to manage its defense of critical assets and data and react to change
Security zone: A segment of a company’s network that protects the internal network from the internet
Select: The third step of the NIST RMF that means to choose, customize, and capture documentation of the controls that protect an organization
Sensitive data: A type of data that includes personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive personally identifiable information (SPII), or protected health information (PHI)
Sensitive personally identifiable information (SPII): A specific type of PII that falls under stricter handling guidelines
Separation of duties: The principle that users should not be given levels of authorization that would allow them to misuse a system
Session: a sequence of network HTTP requests and responses associated with the same user
Session hijacking: An event when attackers obtain a legitimate user’s session ID
Session ID: A unique token that identifies a user and their device while accessing a system
Set data: Data that consists of an unordered collection of unique values
Shell: The command-line interpreter
Signature: A pattern that is associated with malicious activity
Signature analysis: A detection method used to find events of interest
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP): A network protocol used for monitoring and managing devices on a network
Single sign-on (SSO): A technology that combines several different logins into one
Smishing: The use of text messages to trick users to obtain sensitive information or to impersonate a known source
Smurf attack: A network attack performed when an attacker sniffs an authorized user’s IP address and floods it with ICMP packets
Spear phishing: A malicious email attack targeting a specific user or group of users, appearing to originate from a trusted source
Speed: The rate at which a device sends and receives data, measured by bits per second
Splunk Cloud: A cloud-hosted tool used to collect, search, and monitor log data
Splunk Enterprise: A self-hosted tool used to retain, analyze, and search an organization's log data to provide security information and alerts in real-time
Spyware: Malware that’s used to gather and sell information without consent
SQL (Structured Query Language): A programming language used to create, interact with, and request information from a database
SQL injection: An attack that executes unexpected queries on a database
Stakeholder: An individual or group that has an interest in any decision or activity of an organization
Standard error: An error message returned by the OS through the shell
Standard input: Information received by the OS via the command line
Standard output: Information returned by the OS through the shell
Standards: References that inform how to set policies
STAR method: An interview technique used to answer behavioral and situational questions
Stateful: A class of firewall that keeps track of information passing through it and proactively filters out threats
Stateless: A class of firewall that operates based on predefined rules and that does not keep track of information from data packets
Stored XSS attack: An instance when malicious script is injected directly on the server
String concatenation: The process of joining two strings together
String data: Data consisting of an ordered sequence of characters
Style guide: A manual that informs the writing, formatting, and design of documents
Subnetting: The subdivision of a network into logical groups called subnets
Substring: A continuous sequence of characters within a string
Sudo: A command that temporarily grants elevated permissions to specific users
Supply-chain attack: An attack that targets systems, applications, hardware, and/or software to locate a vulnerability where malware can be deployed
Suricata: An open-source intrusion detection system, intrusion prevention system, and network analysis tool
Switch: A device that makes connections between specific devices on a network by sending and receiving data between them
Symmetric encryption: The use of a single secret key to exchange information
Synchronize (SYN) flood attack: A type of DoS attack that simulates a TCP/IP connection and floods a server with SYN packets
Syntax: The rules that determine what is correctly structured in a computing language
Syntax error: An error that involves invalid usage of a programming language
T
TCP/IP model: A framework used to visualize how data is organized and transmitted across a network
tcpdump: A command-line network protocol analyzer
Technical skills: Skills that require knowledge of specific tools, procedures, and policies
Telemetry: The collection and transmission of data for analysis
Threat: Any circumstance or event that can negatively impact assets
Threat actor: Any person or group who presents a security risk
Threat hunting: The proactive search for threats on a network
Threat intelligence: Evidence-based threat information that provides context about existing or emerging threats
Threat modeling: The process of identifying assets, their vulnerabilities, and how each is exposed to threats
Transferable skills: Skills from other areas that can apply to different careers
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): An internet communication protocol that allows two devices to form a connection and stream data
Triage: The prioritizing of incidents according to their level of importance or urgency
Trojan horse: Malware that looks like a legitimate file or program
True negative: A state where there is no detection of malicious activity
True positive An alert that correctly detects the presence of an attack
Tuple data: Data structure that consists of a collection of data that cannot be changed
Type error: An error that results from using the wrong data type
U
Ubuntu: An open-source, user-friendly distribution that is widely used in security and other industries
Uncontrolled zone: Any network outside your organization's control
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI): A microchip that contains loading instructions for the computer and replaces BIOS on more modern systems
USB baiting: An attack in which a threat actor strategically leaves a malware USB stick for an employee to find and install to unknowingly infect a network
User: The person interacting with a computer
User Datagram Protocol (UDP): A connectionless protocol that does not establish a connection between devices before transmissions
User-defined function: A function that programmers design for their specific needs
User interface: A program that allows the user to control the functions of the operating system
User provisioning: The process of creating and maintaining a user's digital identity
V
Variable: A container that stores data
Virtual machine (VM): A virtual version of a physical computer
Virtual Private Network (VPN): A network security service that changes your public IP address and hides your virtual location so that you can keep your data private when you are using a public network like the internet
Virus: Malicious code written to interfere with computer operations and cause damage to data and software
VirusTotal: A service that allows anyone to analyze suspicious files, domains, URLs, and IP addresses for malicious content
Vishing: The exploitation of electronic voice communication to obtain sensitive information or to impersonate a known source
Visual dashboard: A way of displaying various types of data quickly in one place
Vulnerability: A weakness that can be exploited by a threat
Vulnerability assessment: The internal review process of an organization's security systems
Vulnerability management: The process of finding and patching vulnerabilities
Vulnerability scanner: Software that automatically compares existing common vulnerabilities and exposures against the technologies on the network
W
Watering hole attack: A type of attack when a threat actor compromises a website frequently visited by a specific group of users
Web-based exploits: Malicious code or behavior that’s used to take advantage of coding flaws in a web application
Whaling: A category of spear phishing attempts that are aimed at high-ranking executives in an organization
Wide Area Network (WAN): A network that spans a large geographic area like a city, state, or country
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA): A wireless security protocol for devices to connect to the internet
Wildcard: A special character that can be substituted with any other character
Wireshark: An open-source network protocol analyzer
World-writable file: A file that can be altered by anyone in the world
Worm: Malware that can duplicate and spread itself across systems on its own
Y
YARA-L: A computer language used to create rules for searching through ingested log data
Z
Zero-day: An exploit that was previously unknown
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