Glossary of Cyber Security Terms

Identity

In the digital realm, identity refers to the unique attributes defining an individual or entity, essential for user authentication within a system.

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a sinister act of assuming someone else's identity, typically done with financial motivations in mind. It's akin to a digital masquerade with malicious intent.

Incident

In cybersecurity, an incident is a negative event that disrupts a network or information system or a looming threat of such an event.

Incident Handling

Incident handling is the cybersecurity first aid protocol, defining a strategic approach to manage security incidents ranging from cyberattacks to data breaches. Its steps include Preparation, Identification, Containment, Eradication, Recovery, and Lessons Learned.

Incremental Backups

Incremental backups are the frugal savers of the backup world, storing only the files changed since the last backup, thus conserving storage space and processing power.

Inetd (Internet Daemon)

Inetd is the digital taskmaster for smaller internet services like Telnet, FTP, and POP, managing their operations effectively.

Inference Attack

In an inference attack, the attacker plays the detective, piecing together seemingly unrelated information to glean sensitive data.

Information Warfare

Information warfare is the digital battle of offense and defense over information resources. It can range from attacks on information systems to propaganda campaigns.

Ingress Filtering

Ingress filtering is the gatekeeper for inbound traffic, blocking unwanted or harmful data from entering the network.

Input Validation Attacks

In input validation attacks, the attacker manipulates input data to exploit code vulnerabilities in an application, akin to picking the locks of an application's defense.

Integrity

Integrity in cybersecurity ensures that information remains unaltered, accurate, and complete, offering assurance against accidental or deliberate modifications.

Integrity Star Property

Integrity star property is a security principle where a user's access to data is limited to their integrity level, preventing unauthorized access.

Internet

The internet is the global superhighway connecting millions of computers, facilitating data exchange beyond geographical boundaries.

Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)

ICMP serves as the error reporting system for the processing of IP datagrams, informing about network conditions and issues.

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)

IETF is the standards creator for internet operating protocols, including the commonly used TCP IP.

Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)

IMAP is the mail carrier protocol responsible for retrieving emails from a mail server.

Internet Protocol (IP)

IP is the fundamental rulebook for sending and receiving messages over the internet.

Internet Protocol Security (IPSec)

IPSec is the security guard for network communication, providing authentication and encryption at the IP packet level.

Internet Standard

Internet Standards are widely adopted specifications for the internet, endorsed by the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) and published as a Request for Comments (RFC).

Interrupt

Interrupts are digital alarm bells, signals to the operating system that an event requiring immediate attention has occurred.

Intranet

An intranet is a private network, often found within a single organization, utilizing internet technology for secure, internal communication.

Intrusion Detection System (IDS)

IDS serves as the watchtower within a computer or a network, collecting and analyzing information to identify potential security breaches.

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

An IPS is the proactive guard of network security, inspecting network traffic flows to detect and prevent attempted breaches or vulnerability exploits.

IoT (Internet of Things)

IoT is the concept of extending internet connectivity beyond computers and smartphones to everyday objects, transforming them into smart devices.

IP Address

An IP address is the unique identifier of a device on the internet, akin to a digital home address.

IP Flood

An IP flood is a Denial of Service (DoS) attack that overwhelms a target system with echo request ("ping") packets, like a digital flash flood.

IP Forwarding

IP Forwarding is the GPS of the operating system, enabling a host to act as a router and guide IP packets to their destination.

IP Spoofing

In IP Spoofing, the attacker disguises themselves by sending packets with a forged source IP address, essentially using a digital disguise.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization)

ISO is an independent, non-governmental organization that devises and publishes international standards, ensuring uniformity across different domains.

Issue-Specific Policy

An Issue-Specific Policy is a specialized set of guidelines within an organization addressing a specific need, like password management or email usage.

ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Sector)

ITU-T is a United Nations agency responsible for matters related to information and communication technologies, known for publishing a suite of global standards called "Recommendations."

IV (Initialization Vector)

In cryptography, an Initialization Vector (IV) is a unique number used once in conjunction with a secret key for data encryption, ensuring the uniqueness of each encrypted session.