The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

Prototyping: The process of creating a preliminary or working model of a product or system for the purpose of testing and evaluating its design and functionality. This is commonly used in the development of software and hardware products to ensure that the final product meets the desired specifications and requirements. Examples include paper prototypes and beta versions of software products.

Packet: A unit of data routed between an origin and a destination in a network. Packets are the basic units that carry data in network communications, enabling information to be segmented, transmitted, routed, and received across diverse systems and devices. The security of packet transmission can be enhanced with various mechanisms like encryption to protect the data from interception or tampering during transit.

Packet Filtering: A technique where packets of data are analyzed while they are traversing a network interface. Depending on predefined criteria such as IP addresses, protocols, port numbers, or other packet attributes, the packet filter can block or allow packets to pass through. This is commonly used in firewalls and routers as a basic method to control incoming and outgoing network traffic, providing a first line of defense against malicious activities.

Packet internet groper (PING): A utility used to test the reachability and round-trip time of a network host. PING is commonly used by IT professionals to diagnose network connectivity issues and monitor the performance of a network. For example, a user may use PING to check if a website is online, measure the response time of a server, or verify that a remote device is reachable.

Packet Sniffing: The process of monitoring and capturing all data packets passing through a given network using a software tool known as a packet sniffer. It is commonly used for troubleshooting network issues and detecting security threats. Packet sniffing can reveal valuable information, such as usernames and passwords, which is why it's crucial to employ encryption measures when transmitting sensitive information.

Packet Switching: A mode of data transmission where a message is broken into several packets. Each packet is then sent individually, possibly via different routes, and reassembled at the destination. This method is efficient and robust, allowing for rerouting of packets if a connection is lost or if there is a more efficient route. In contrast to circuit-switching, which requires a dedicated connection, packet switching allows networks to handle more traffic with the same resources.