The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

Spear phishing: A targeted form of phishing where attackers use specific information about the victim to make their emails more convincing. It is used in cyber-attacks to gain sensitive information from individuals or organizations. Examples include using an individual's name and job title in the email or tailoring the email to match the victim's company's branding.

Spike: A sudden increase in traffic on a network or system, potentially causing it to crash or slow down. It is used in network analysis and monitoring to detect potential security threats or performance issues. Examples include a spike in web traffic during a cyber-attack or a spike in database queries during peak usage hours.

Spim (Spam over Instant Messaging): Unsolicited messages sent over instant messaging platforms, similar to email spam. These messages may contain advertisements, phishing attempts, or links to malware. The term "spim" is less commonly used today as generalized terms like spam or phishing often encompass this activity.

Spoofing: The act of impersonating another entity to gain unauthorized access to systems or trick users into revealing sensitive information. Common examples include email spoofing for phishing attacks and IP address spoofing to bypass network security measures.

Spread spectrum: A method of transmitting radio signals by spreading the signal across a wide frequency band. It is used in wireless communication to improve security and reduce interference. Examples include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology, which use a spread spectrum to transmit data between devices.

Spyware: A type of malicious software that covertly collects information about a user or organization without consent, often for personal or financial gain. Spyware can monitor and capture keystrokes, web browsing history, passwords, and other sensitive data. Anti-spyware tools and best practices in cybersecurity hygiene are essential to protect against such invasive software.