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Cyber glossary

Cyber glossary: understand the key terms to help protect your business or organisation

Read time: 4 mins Added date: 28/05/2024

Cybersecurity can be challenging enough, without having to translate all the specialist terms used by the experts. This glossary explains the most common cyberthreat and cybersecurity terms you’ll come across. It will make it easier for you to understand what you are up against, and what you can do to better protect your business or organisation.

In collaboration with Norton

This article is developed in collaboration with Norton – one of the leading cyber safety providers, offering antivirus and device security plans.

Cyber threats

When hackers and others use various methods to try to exploit IT vulnerabilities and infiltrate computer networks.

Computer virus

A computer virus behaves like a virus in humans. It infects your computer, attaches itself to other programs, files, and documents, makes copies of itself, modifies what it is attached to, then carries on spreading.

Dark web

Part of the web made up of intentionally hidden sites that can’t be found through conventional search engines. Users can be anonymous, and their locations can be hidden. Cyber criminals use the dark web as a marketplace to buy and sell stolen information.

Data breach

A malicious data breach or accidental data leak allows your data to be accessed, modified, or deleted without authorisation, usually due to cybersecurity weaknesses.

Malware

Any type of malicious software designed to infiltrate your device without your knowledge, then cause damage or disruption to your system, or steal data. Adware, spyware, viruses, botnets, trojans, worms, rootkits, and ransomware are all types of malware.

Phishing

A cyber crime technique using fraud and deception to manipulate you into clicking malicious links or disclosing sensitive personal information.

Ransomware

A type of malware that uses encryption to block access to your files and computer systems unless a ransom is paid. Ransomware attacks target all kinds of files, from personal to business-critical.

Scareware

A cyber attack scam whereby hackers scare you into downloading malware, clicking on dangerous links, or visiting infected websites. When relatively harmless, it will simply disrupt your browsing experience. When more malicious, it can result in a malware [see above] infection that damages your device.

Social engineering

Using psychological techniques to manipulate your behaviour. Exploiting human error and encouraging you to act against your own interests – such as revealing your private data (login details or financial information).

Spyware

A specific type of malware that hides on your device, secretly recording information and tracking your online activity. It can monitor and copy text entered, apps used, websites visited, and documents read. Some spyware can also access your device’s camera and microphone to watch and record.

Cybersecurity

Also known as IT security, this is the practice of protecting critical data on your devices, networks and in programs, from unauthorised access and attacks (cyber threats).

Dark web monitoring

Automatic scanning of the dark web [see above] for data leaks. Whenever your personal information is detected, you receive notifications to help you take swift action to secure your accounts, update your passwords, and protect your identity.

Encryption

Protecting your data by scrambling it from plain text into ciphertext, using an encryption algorithm. This scrambled data is unreadable except by someone with the correct decryption key to decode it.

Endpoint security

Also known as endpoint protection. Protecting your business network while it’s being accessed by remote, wireless, or mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, and mobile phones

Firewall

A digital security system that keeps unauthorised traffic out of your business network. It checks incoming and outgoing traffic against a predefined set of rules established by you or your network administrator, and only communications deemed safe are allowed in.

Server security

Processes and tools used to protect data and assets held on your servers, and to protect the server’s resources. Your servers hold sensitive information, so are frequently targeted by cyber criminals looking for security weaknesses.

Two-factor authentication

Also known as 2FA or dual authentication. Increases your account security by requiring two methods to verify identity – such as a second layer of security in addition to a password.

VPN

Virtual Private Network. A service which encrypts the connection between your device and the internet, to ensure online privacy. This secure connection provides a private tunnel for your data and communications while you use public networks.

To find out more about staying one step ahead of the cyber criminals, take a look at our guide on Cybersecurity for your small business or organisation.

Norton Small Business can help protect you

Through our collaboration with Norton, you can benefit from a 60-day free trial and get special discounts on Norton Small Business plans.

Important Legal Information

Calls may be monitored or recorded in case we need to check we have carried out your instructions correctly and to help improve our quality of service.

Lloyds and Lloyds Bank are trading names of Lloyds Bank plc, Bank of Scotland plc, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc and Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH.

The products and services outlined on this site may be offered by legal entities from across Lloyds Banking Group, including Lloyds Bank plc and Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc. Lloyds Bank plc and Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc are separate legal entities within the Lloyds Banking Group.

Lloyds Bank plc. Registered Office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales no. 2065. Bank of Scotland plc. Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Registered in Scotland no. SC327000. Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc. Registered office 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales no. 10399850. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 119278, 169628 and 763256 respectively.

Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets plc. Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH has its registered office at Thurn-und-Taxis Platz 6, 60313 Frankfurt, Germany. The company is registered with the Amtsgericht Frankfurt am Main, HRB 111650. Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH is supervised by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht.

Eligible deposits with us are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). We are covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). Please note that due to FSCS and FOS eligibility criteria not all business customers will be covered.

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Cyber glossary: understand the key terms to help protect your business or organisation

In collaboration with Norton

Cyber threats

Computer virus

Dark web

Data breach

Malware

Phishing

Ransomware

Scareware

Social engineering

Spyware

Cybersecurity

Dark web monitoring

Encryption

Endpoint security

Firewall

Server security

Two-factor authentication

VPN

Norton Small Business can help protect you

Important Legal Information

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