Axram - S


Safeguard. A technology, policy, or procedure that counters a threat or protects assets.
Sandbox. A security mechanism used to constrain the actions a program can take. A sandbox restricts a program to a defined set of privileges and actions that reduce the likelihood that the program may damage the system hosting the program.
Scumware. Another term for Malware, i.e. software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system, without the owner's consent.
Secondary data uses. Uses of personal information for purposes other than those for which the information was collected. The Fair Information Practices state that a person can provide personal information for a specific purpose without the fear that it may later be used for an unrelated purpose without that person’s knowledge or consent.
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) A protocol that provides secure data communication through data encryption. This protocol enables authentication, integrity, and data privacy over networks through a combination of digital certificates, public-key cryptography, and bulk data encryption. This protocol does not provide authorization or nonrepudiation.
Search engine. A search engine is a computer program or group of programs which can take a search string (usually a word or words) and rapidly compare that string with the information in its database, keyword index, or the text of many documents.
Sector. To store data, disks are formatted into concentric rings called tracks, and each track is further divided into sectors. When a disk gets messed up to the point where the computer can’t read information off it anymore, it’s usually because one or two sectors are damaged.
Secure server. A network server sometimes called a Secure Commerce Server, which encrypts the transfer of data to and from a user to protect their identity or sensitive data such as credit card numbers that may otherwise be intercepted.
Secure Coding. The primary cause of commonly exploited software vulnerabilities is software defects that could have been avoided. Through the analysis of thousands of vulnerability reports, CERT has observed that most of them stemmed from a relatively small number of root causes.
Server. A software package connected to a network that supplies information or services based on the requests of a connecting client program. The term is also often used to refer to the computer running a server program, particularly if it is used only for that purpose (as, for example, a “print server” in a LAN). Essentially means the same as host; however, the term “server” has come to take on a separate connotation, in which “server” is preceded by an adjective that identifies the type of Internet service it provides. For instance, you can connect to a Web server, an FTP server, or a host (pun intended) of other server types.
Service provider. An internet service provider (ISP) charges startup and monthly fees to users and provides them with the initial host connection to the rest of the Internet usually via a dialup connection.
Shareware. The term “shareware” refers to software that is distributed at low cost (sometimes at no cost), but which requires a payment (usually) and registration for full legal use. Copies distributed in this manner are offered on a trial basis. Shareware is not “free” software, for authors of shareware programs expect payment from those who intend to use the programs regularly. However, it does have the advantage over standard commercial software that users may thoroughly test a program to see if it’s useful before making a purchase. While shareware may be freely copied, companies may not charge fees for copies that significantly exceed their duplication and handling costs. The authors of shareware programs also retain their copyright on the contents, and users may not modify such programs or distribute modified copies.
Signature. A signature is a small text file about you that can be appended to your e-mail messages and Usenet news postings by your mail program or newsreader. Also can be applied to PDF files for unalterable proof of authorship.
Spam. Electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings. Spam is generally e-mail advertising for some product sent to a mailing list or newsgroup. While the definition of spam used to be strictly quantity-based, it has evolved to include any unsolicited commercial e-mail or news posting. “Spam” is a flagrant abuse of the Internet. In its worst form, mass postings or e-mailings are carried out by automated programs, which bombard dozens, or even thousands of addresses or groups with junk messages. Like telemarketers who annoy thousands of people with irritating phone calls in the hope of finding a few lucrative customers, “spammers” attempt to publicize their services or views through notoriety and sheer volume of posting. “Spam” is destructive for several reasons. It not only wastes the time of thousands of people who must wade through the junk postings to read articles of interest, it also wastes the money of those who must pay to read news or receive mail.
Spoof. To make a transmission appear to come from a user other than the user who performed the action.
Spyware. Software that can collect information about you, or change settings on your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent. Like many recent viruses, however, spyware exploits infected computers for commercial gain. Typical tactics furthering this goal include delivery of unsolicited pop-up advertisements; theft of personal information (including financial information such as credit card numbers); monitoring of Web-browsing activity for marketing purposes; or routing of HTTP requests to advertising sites.
Streaming. Instead of being required to transfer a file in its entirety before viewing it, streaming allows data to be downloaded in the background. Data appears to be displayed more quickly as a result
Swap file. A swap file allows an operating system to use hard disk space to simulate extra memory. When the system runs low on memory it ‘swaps’ a section of RAM that an idle program is using onto the hard disk to free up memory for other programs. Then when you go back to the swapped out program it changes places with another program in RAM. This causes a large amount of hard disk reading and writing which slows down your machine considerably. This combination of RAM and swap files is known as Virtual Memory. The use of Virtual Memory allows your computer to run more programs than it could run in RAM alone.

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