[ To find a specific security, legal, forensic, or computer-related term quickly, use
our search page | Last
Updated: 09/18/07 ]
[ We are not responsible
for any incorrect definitions or spellings in this glossary, but encourage and
welcome suggestions. ]
[ If you are looking for a comprehensive list of acryoyms and their meanings,
we encourage you to download Acronym
Genie. ]
[ Glossary Menu -
#
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
] |
| Word/Term |
Definition |
| [ P ] |
| Packet
Level Firewall |
A Packet
Level Firewall performs checks on every packet that passes
through the firewall in order to validate that the packets
have been pre-approved for passing through the firewall. If
the packets fail validation, then they are simply blocked.
A Packet Level Firewall can be configured based on port numbers,
certain attributes of packets, or even source IP addresses. |
| Password
Authentication Protocol |
The
Password Authentication Protocol (i.e., PAP) is a method used
in two-way security handshakes. |
| Penetration Testing |
This style of testing involves the running of known security exploits from the Internet against a network that one is permitted to access. This is different from the efforts that a malicious user would take because once a hole is found, it isn't exploited for malicious intent, but rather flagged for patching. |
| Pretty
Good Privacy |
Pretty
Good Privacy (i.e., PGP) has no centrailized server and uses
asymmetrical encryption. |
| Private Key |
Specific terminology has been standardized when it comes to discussing Public Key Infrastructure. When speaking about a private key, the exact definition refers to a key that is not public, but rather personal or "private." Merely calling a private key "personal" or "protected" over-generalizes the specific nature of the term. |
| Point-to-Point
Protocol |
Point-to-Point
Protocol (PPP) is a transport protocol used by users to dial-in
to a remote access server. |
| Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol |
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (i.e., PPTP) is a standard used to establish secure Virtual Private Networking (i.e., VPN) connections over a public network such as the internet. PPTP includes encryption capabilities. |
| Polymorphic
Virus |
A Polymorphic
Virus is a viral piece of code that can change its internal
code on the fly to escape detection. |
| Probable Cause |
Probable cause is not unfounded suspicion, but rather suspicion that has been substantiated in one way or another (i.e., the threshold of evidence necessary to obtain a search warrant). It requires further proof before it can be validated as beyond-a-reasonable-doubt. Probable cause is required to obtain a search warrant. |
| Processed Image |
A Processed Image is the result of the action taken to
capture the image (i.e., the original image). |
| Proxy
Server |
A Proxy
Server can be used as a form of security by hiding internal
network IP addressing behind a single external IP address.
It can also cache frequently accessed websites speeding up
the time that it takes internal hosts to access external websites. |
| Public Key Infrastructure |
Public Key Infrastructure is a combination of software, encryption technologies, and services that enables a network to protect the security of communication. Public Key Infrastructure's goals consist of authentication, verification, privacy assurance, access authorization, transaction authorization, and the support of non-repudiation. It does not ensure availability (i.e., that data is accessible in a timely fashion). |