Glossary

The use of different character sets, such as lower-case alphabetical characters (a-z), upper-case alphabetical characters (A-Z), numeric characters (0-9) and special characters.

A type of software that offers greater security through the capability to generate unique, strong, easily-changed passwords for all online accounts and the secure encrypted storage of those passwords either through a local or cloud-based vault.

An attack that attempts to access a large number of accounts with some commonly-used passwords.

Authentication that does not involve the use of something people know. Passwordless authentication may be single-factor or multi-factor, with the later often referred to as passwordless multi-factor authentication.

Multi-factor authentication using something people have that is unlocked by something people know or are. Note, while a memorised secretpassword may be used as part of passwordless multi-factor authentication (e.g. to unlock access to a cryptographic private key stored on a device) it is not a primary authentication factor.

A piece of software designed to remedy vulnerabilities or improve the usability or performance of operating systems, applications, IT equipment or OT equipment.

A metallic (copper) or fibre-optic cable used for routing signals between two components in an enclosed container or rack.

A group of sockets or connectors that allow manual configuration changes, generally by means of connecting patch cables.

The action of updating, fixing, or improving a computer program.

Part of digitally transmitted data that is the fundamental purpose of the transmission. In the cyber security context, normally the part of a malware program that performs a malicious action.