Cybersecurity Terms and Concepts

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mitigate

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To minimize the risk or lessen the force or intensity of something unpleasant.

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vulnerability

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A security flaw, glitch, or weakness found in software code that could be exploited by an attacker.

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Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)

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A database of known vulnerabilities in all types of digital products.

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Exploit

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A specific code or attack technique that uses a vulnerability to carry out an attack or gain unauthorized access.

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Patch / Update

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A tweak to the OS code that will fix an issue in how it runs or its compatibility with devices and applications.

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Hotfix

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A patch for a very specific issue—not released through automatic updates.

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Critical

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Fix for a bug that is affecting OS functionality.

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Security

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Fixes a vulnerability in the OS code to stop exploits.

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Least Privilege Principle

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The best practice is to provide each user with the minimum system access needed to perform their necessary tasks.

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Redundancy

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Having multiple copies