Internet Security Terms & Definitions
Presented by Warren Franklin of Complete Internet Protection
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Packet - A packet is the unit of data, or a packaged piece of information, that is
routed between one computer and another.
Packet Sniffing - A technique in which a “sniffing” software program is planted at
remote junctions in a computer network. The program monitors information packets
as they are sent through networks and reveals usernames and passwords to the hacker,
who is then able to break into the system.
Password Cracker - A program that is used to find out passwords on a computer. Mostly
used by hackers, but can be used by system administrators to recover a forgotten
password.
Patch - A defined file that when applied to a program, closes a specific security
hole. Most software manufacturers continuously provide “patches” for their programs
as new vulnerabilities or security holes are discovered. Patches can also be used
to simply, fix, or update a computer program.
Payload - The contents of actions built into a virus or other harmful hacker programs
that actually cause the damage. A virus without a payload is not dangerous at all,
just a nuisance.
Pest - Computer pests are hidden, uninvited computer programs that reside like parasites
on a computer. A computer pest might be the instrument of hacking, covert data gathering,
vandalism, cyber-terrorism, commercial espionage, or employee sabotage. Computer
Pests are normally not detected or removed by anti-virus software. Spyware is one
of the most invasive type of pests.
PCI Compliance - The Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards (DSS) is
a set of comprehensive requirements for protecting card and cardholder information
against theft and fraud. It was developed by the founding members of the PCI Security
Standards Council, including Amercian Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard and Visa.
It applies to anyone who accepts, processes, transmits or stores credit/debit card
information, including retail, mail/telephone order and e-commerce.
Contact Information:
Additional Information:
PGP - Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) is a popular data encryption program used to secure
the privacy of email over the Internet.
Pharming - Pharming is redirecting your computer from a legitimate to a fake web
site. For example, you may think that you are going to your banking site, but instead
are redirected to a site that looks like your banks web site, but is hosted by an
identity thief.
Phishing - Phishing is an e-mail that looks like it came from a bank or business
claiming you need to take care of a problem or your account will be closed down.
It takes you to a page to fill out your personal information.
Phreaking - Hacking directed at the telephone system (as opposed to computers) or
hacking with a telephone. Using different “boxes” and “tricks” to manipulate the
phone companies and their phone, phreakers can gain many things, two of which are
knowledge about telephones and how they work, and free local and long-distance phone
calls.
Physical Ports - Ports located on the back of the computer. Physical ports are generally
used for the printer, keyboard, mouse, scanner, etc.
Pinging - Pinging is like calling a phone number just to make sure it is active accepting
calls. For computers, pinging is the method used to see if a computer’s IP address
is active and accepting incoming connections. IP address scanners will “ping” a
computer to make sure it is alive and open.
Polymorphic Malware - Malware that mutates to be slightly different than the one
before. The automated changes in code do not alter the malware’s functionality,
but they can render traditional anti-virus detection technology useless against them.
Polymorphic threats such as Waladac, Virut and Sality are becoming more common.
Ports - Openings, bays, or “doors” to a computer. An interface on a computer to
which you can connect a device. Personal computers have various types of ports –
both logical and physical. Physical ports are generally used to connect modems,
printers, keyboards and other peripheral devices. Logical ports are the virtual
doors of communication and used by programs on the computer to communicate with other
computers or programs.
Port Scanning - The act of systematically scanning a computer’s ports. Since a port
is a place where information goes into and out of a computer, port scanning identifies
open doors to a computer. Port scanning has legitimate uses in managing networks,
but port scanning can also be malicious if someone is looking for a weakened access
point.
Private Network - A group of computers linked together that does not allow others
to access it without the proper authorization.
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Internet Security Terms & Definitions
