Cybersecurity Jargon Secrets, Explained

Even if you’re familiar with cybersecurity, listening to other professionals talk about the topic can be confusing. Those who work in the field use lots of special terminologies when communicating with one another, but it is not always clear what those terms mean. Even if you don’t work in cybersecurity, it’s important to know the basic terminology. After all, if you ever need help from your IT team, you don’t want to be lost on what to say or accidentally use the wrong word. 

Common Cybersecurity Jargon

Let’s go over the most commonly used terms in the cybersecurity industry along with what they mean.  

• Exploit: Exploits are a type of cyberattack that involves exploiting a computer’s existing features or gaps in software security. Exploits can make a computer’s software malfunction and cause applications to behave in unexpected ways. 

• Firewall: A firewall is a type of security measure to keep intruders out of a network. 

• Malware: Malware is not a type of software but rather an umbrella term to describe all types of malicious software that can affect a device. Types of malware include trojans, worms, ransomware, and viruses. Malware can cause long-lasting damage to devices. 

• Ransomware: Ransomware, as its name implies, is a type of software that infects your computer and essentially takes your files for ransom. The software will deny you access to your files until you pay to access them. 

• Virus: Viruses are a type of malware designed to erase or modify information on a computer. They’ll often install new, unwanted software onto the device. Viruses can spread to other devices on the server or through links and applications. 

• VPN: ‘VPN’ is an acronym that stands for ‘Virtual Private Network.’ A VPN is used to connect multiple devices to a single network. The VPN hosts its own IP address, replacing all of the other devices’ IP addresses. Users on the VPN are anonymous, meaning that their searches, data, and other information cannot be tracked. This makes it challenging for cybercriminals to coordinate an attack. 

Dopazo Insurance 

It’s important to protect your business from all threats, both online and in-person. At Dopazo Insurance, we can help you find the perfect insurance policy for your business. We’ll help you rest easy by ensuring that you and your company are 100% covered. 

Get a quote from us today to get started and learn more about how we can help you!