Cybersecurity Terminology

Front

Adware

Back

Software that installs advertisements on the PC in the form of toolbars or popups or banners.

Front

Trojan

Back

Files that appear to be legitimate programs, but really contain malicious code.

Front

Spyware

Back

Software that gathers data and forwards it to a third party without the consent or knowledge of the user.

Front

Ransomware

Back

Program that blocks access to files or use of the device until a ransom is paid.

Front

Root Kit

Back

Trojan that installs a backdoor for administrative control over the victim PC.

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Zero Day

Back

An attack that takes advantage of code flaws that have VERY recently been discovered.

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Logic Bomb

Back

Small program that is timed to perform an operation on a system.

Front

Malware

Back

Software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.

Front

Spam

Back

Unsolicited commercial email, the electronic equivalent of the junk mail that comes through your mailbox.

Front

Virus

Back

A program that attaches itself to a host file and replicates itself on a system.