DynaPass Authentication Glossary


Posts Tagged ‘data breaches’

Hacking

Hacking is utilizing information or techniques to gain access to confidential systems or networks through bypassing security. Hackers are not always synonymous with sophisticated computer users however. Sometimes the hacking is done by a person privy to confidential information that may be used to defraud security. Traditional hacking is done many times by someone with computer knowledge looking to fraudulently access a system for personal gain or pleasure and often leads to data breach. Common hacking phrases are malware, phishing and pharming.

Phishing Attacks

In internet security phishing refers to a cyber attack where criminals identify themselves fraudulently as a company you do business with through emails, on websites or even through hacked software. An attacker will illegally brand their website or correspondence, possibly with a large corporations branding, and solicit information that can be used during an authentication process. Phishing is a play on the word fishing because hackers are baiting the victim into divulging confidential information which could be used for data breaches. Due to phishing attacks companies will add a warning to any information sent to customers or during login which disclaims anyone from or associated with the business asking for private data.

See DynaPass Two-Factor Authentication

Malware

Malware is a term used to describe malicious software such as worms, viruses, backdoors, trojans and rootkits which are created by an attacker to either collect data or disrupt the flow of information, sometimes disabling a users computer altogether. Malware that steals data is a major issue when it comes to authentication and has been a large part of recent data breaches since many factors of authentication are transmitted to and from our computers.