Glossary of Cyber Security Terms

Hardening

Hardening is like the cybersecurity blacksmith, identifying and mending vulnerabilities in a system to forge robust security measures that withstand attacks.

Hash Function

A hash function is the digital equivalent of a unique fingerprint for data objects. It's an algorithm that translates a larger object into a more compact and unique one.

Header

Headers are like the 'post-it notes' attached to a data packet, carrying essential supplementary data required for the protocol stack to process the packet efficiently.

Heuristic Analysis

Heuristic analysis is the intuitive detective in antivirus software, able to detect new and unknown viruses or even variants of existing viruses, keeping systems secure in the dynamic landscape of cyber threats.

Hijack Attack

A hijack attack is the ultimate cyber eavesdropper, seizing control of an established communication connection. It's a digital version of wiretapping with nefarious intent.

HMAC (Hash-based Message Authentication Code)

HMAC serves as the trustworthy courier for your data, confirming data integrity and message authenticity through a cryptographic hash function and a secret cryptographic key.

Honey Client (Also Honeymonkey)

A honey client plays the decoy, mimicking a user browsing websites to trap malicious sites that exploit browser vulnerabilities.

Honeypot

Honeypots are the digital bait for cyber attackers. These pieces of software emulate network services to log access attempts, thereby helping to forecast and prevent more severe attacks.

Hops

Each interaction with a gateway a packet makes on its journey to its destination is called a 'hop.' It's like the digital version of a relay race.

Host

A host is the digital socialite, a computer with full two-way access to other computers on the Internet, or a computer hosting web server that serves pages for websites.

Host-Based Intrusion Detection (ID)

Think of Host-Based ID systems as the neighborhood watch of a specific host, monitoring all operations against a predefined security policy through operating system audit records.

HTTP Proxy

An HTTP Proxy is the mediator in HTTP client-server communication, managing data exchange between them.

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)

HTTPS is the armored variant of HTTP. It secures communication over a computer network, providing a safe path for data transit on the Internet.

Hub

A hub is the town crier of network devices. It broadcasts data received on one port to all other ports, ensuring every connected host is in the know.

Hybrid Attack

Hybrid attacks are the evolved form of dictionary attacks, enhancing their strength by adding numbers and symbols to dictionary words.

Hybrid Encryption

Hybrid encryption is a blend of encryption techniques, often combining symmetric and asymmetric encryption methods to protect your data securely.

Hyperlink

Hyperlinks are the connecting threads in the web of information online. They're interactive elements in hypertext or hypermedia that lead to related information.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

HTML is the building block of web pages, defining the structure and layout of a webpage through markup symbols and codes.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

HTTP is the transporter for hypertext documents across the Internet. It's the lifeblood of the Internet Protocol (IP) family.

HTTP 2

HTTP 2 is the next-gen HTTP, offering several enhancements over HTTP 1, like the capacity to request multiple data pieces in a single TCP connection.

Hybrid Cloud

The Hybrid Cloud is the master of versatility, employing a blend of on-premises, private, and public cloud services, with orchestration harmonizing the platforms.

Hypervisor

Hypervisors are the conductors of virtual machines, managing their creation and operations. They create a layer of abstraction between physical hardware and the operating system and applications, facilitating multiple systems to coexist on a single physical machine.