Internet Security Terms & Definitions
Presented by Warren Franklin of Complete Internet Protection
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Daemon - Pronounced “demon” or “damon,” daemon is a process that runs in the background
and performs a specified operation at predefined times or in response to certain
events. Sometimes referred to as System Agents and services. Typical daemon processes
include print spoolers, e-mail handlers, and other programs that perform administrative
tasks for the operating system.
Data - Computer-based information. Data is information that has been translated
into a form that is more convenient to move or process.
Data Mirroring - The act of copying data from one computer to another computer storage
device in real time. Because the data is copied in real time, the information stored
from the original location is always an exact copy of the data from the production
device. Data mirroring is useful in the speedy recovery of critical data after a
disaster. Data mirroring can be implemented locally or offsite at a completely different
location.
Data Transmission - Sending data over any communications network such as the Internet
or a local area network.
DDoS - Distributed Denial of Service attack. The same hacker techniques as the Denial
of Service, but involves tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting
computers around the world to crash a targeted server. Web servers or other computer
servers cannot handle the large volume of requests sent through a DDoS attack.
Decrypt - To unscramble data that has been encrypted. Decryption is the act of unscrambling
data so that it can be understood.
Dial-Up Modem - Converts a digital signal coming from a computer to an analog signal
so information can be passed over the conventional copper twisted pair telephone
line. Usually processes data transmission or downloads at slower speeds than DSL
or other broadband connections. Typical dial-up speeds are 28.8k and 56 kbps (kilobits
per second).
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Internet Security Terms & Definitions
Digital Certificate - An attachment to an electronic message used for security purposes.
The most common use of a digital certificate is to verify that a user sending a
message is who he or she claims to be, and to provide the receiver with the means
to encode a reply.
Digital Port - Commonly known as “logical ports.” Virtual ports or “doors” to a
computer. Logical ports are software-based doors that allow information to be passed
in and out of the computer. All programs such as web browsers, email and instant
messenger are different and specific logical ports to communicate through the Internet.
There are over 65,000 logical ports on any computer.
Digital Signature - A digital code that can be attached to an electronically transmitted
message that uniquely identifies the sender. Like a written signature, the purpose
of a digital signature is to guarantee that the individual sending the message really
is who he or she claims to be.
Domain Name - An official web-based name that identifies a web site or IP address.
Domain names are used in URLs to identify particular web pages. Domain names are
used in URL’s to identify particular web pages. For example, in the URL http://www.completeinternetprotection.com,
the domain name is completeinternetprotection.com.
Dormant - Asleep or not active. Some viruses remain dormant on a computer’s hard
drive until discovered by an anti-virus program.
DOS - Disk Operating System. The first widely installed operating system for personal
computers. It uses a command line structure to accept requests from users.
DOS Mode - Refers to being in the DOS part of the computer’s operating system. When
a user is accessing programs through DOS, they are in DOS mode. The user may have
booted directly to DOS.
DoS (Denial of Service) Attack - An attack against a server computer where it is
overloaded with requests or messages by other computers over the Internet resulting
in the server’s inability to perform its usual services. This type of attack quickly
crashes the target computer. See also DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service).
DSL - Digital Subscriber Line. A technology that allows high-speed broadband communication
to be passed over ordinary copper telephone lines. DSL can carry both voice and
data signals at one time, and the data signal is continuously connected. DSL and
other broadband connections have a fixed or static IP address, and are “always on”
even when the user is not logged on to the Internet – making it easier to attack.
Inexpensive and popular with small businesses and homes.
Dynamic IP Address - Dial-up connections give the user a dynamic IP address each
time they log on to the Internet. That means they get a different IP address each
time they log on to the web. This is more difficult for a hacker to identify a constant
computer address to target and attack. The opposite of dynamic is static.
