decrypting…# 📘 Acronyms & Keywords Glossary #CS Welcome to the **Acronyms & Keywords** reference page! This repo contains a growing list of essential terms used across **Cybersecurity** 🛡️ and **General Computing** 💻 domains. Whether you're a SOC Analyst, Penetration Tester, or simply curious, this guide will help you stay sharp and in-the-know. 🚀 --- ## 🛡️ Cybersecurity Acronyms & Keywords | **Acronym** | **Meaning** | **Description** | |---|---|---| |**SIEM**|_Security Information and Event Management_|Tools used to collect, analyze, and respond to security data.| |**IOC**|_Indicator of Compromise_|Evidence of potential intrusion, like malicious IPs, hashes, or domains.| |**IOA**|_Indicator of Attack_|Behavioral evidence that an attack may be occurring, often used proactively.| |**IOP**|_Indicator of Presence_|Evidence suggesting a threat actor or malware remains active in a system.| |**EDR**|_Endpoint Detection and Response_|Advanced monitoring and protection on endpoint devices.| |**TTP**|_Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures_|The behavior patterns of threat actors.| |**MITRE ATT&CK**|_MITRE Adversarial Tactics, Techniques & Common Knowledge_|A framework for understanding cyber adversary behavior.| |**APT**|_Advanced Persistent Threat_|Long-term targeted attacks by well-funded adversaries.| |**TA**|_Threat Actor_|An entity that is responsible for a malicious incident.| |**CVE**|_Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures_|Publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities.| |**CVSS**|_Common Vulnerability Scoring System_|A standardized method for rating IT vulnerabilities.| |**DLP**|_Data Loss Prevention_|Technologies that prevent unauthorized data transfers.| |**XDR**|_Extended Detection and Response_|Integrated approach to threat detection across multiple sources.| |**OSINT**|_Open Source Intelligence_|Collecting information from publicly available sources.| |**SOC**|_Security Operations Center_|Centralized team for monitoring and responding to security incidents.| |**NIDS**|_Network Intrusion Detection System_|Tool for monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity.| |**IPS**|_Intrusion Prevention System_|Actively blocks potential threats in network traffic.| |**MFA**|_Multi-Factor Authentication_|Extra layer of authentication beyond username and password.| |**RBAC**|_Role-Based Access Control_|Controls access based on a user's role in an organization.| |**BEC**|_Business Email Compromise_|Phishing attack targeting businesses via email.| |**FUD**|_Fully Undetectable_|Malware not detected by antivirus tools.| |**LOLBins**|_Living Off the Land Binaries_|Legitimate tools abused by attackers to avoid detection.| |**C2**|_Command and Control_|Communication channel used by attackers to control compromised systems.| |**TLP**|_Traffic Light Protocol_|A color-coded system for sharing sensitive information.| |**RAT**|_Remote Access Trojan_|Malware that allows attackers to control systems remotely.| |**UBA/UEBA**|_User (and Entity) Behavior Analytics_|Analyzes patterns to detect anomalies in user behavior.| |**FIM**|_File Integrity Monitoring_|Detects changes to critical files or configurations.| |**STIX**|_Structured Threat Information Expression_|A standardized language for cyber threat intel sharing.| |**TAXII**|_Trusted Automated Exchange of Intelligence Information_|Protocol for exchanging cyber threat intel.| |**CISA**|_Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency_|U.S. agency for cyber and infrastructure protection.| |**MDM**|_Mobile Device Management_|Admin tools for securing and managing mobile devices.| |**SSL/TLS**|_Secure Sockets Layer / Transport Layer Security_|Protocols for encrypted communications.| |**PKI**|_Public Key Infrastructure_|Framework for managing digital certificates and encryption.| |**MITM**|_Man-in-the-Middle_|Attack where a third party intercepts communication.| |**SI**|_Security Incident_|Any event that may indicate a breach or policy violation.| |**ROE**|_Rules of Engagement_|Pre-defined guidelines for testing or responding to threats.| |**NIST**|_National Institute of Standards and Technology_|U.S. agency publishing cybersecurity frameworks.| |**FISMA**|_Federal Information Security Management Act_|Law requiring federal agencies to secure information.| |**OWASP**|_Open Web Application Security Project_|Nonprofit focused on improving software security.| |**GDPR**|_General Data Protection Regulation_|EU regulation for data protection and privacy.| |**HIPAA**|_Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act_|U.S. law for protecting health information.| |**SSO**|_Single Sign-On_|Authentication scheme allowing one set of credentials to access multiple systems.| |**WORM**|_Write Once, Read Many_|Storage that can be written once and read multiple times for data retention.| > ✨ _More terms added regularly – stay tuned!_ --- ## 💻 General Computing Acronyms & Keywords | | | | |---|---|---| |🔤 Acronym|🧠 Meaning|📝 Description| |**CPU**|_Central Processing Unit_|The main processor handling all instructions.| |**RAM**|_Random Access Memory_|Temporary storage used for active processes.| |**IP**|_Internet Protocol_|A unique address for a device on a network.| |**DNS**|_Domain Name System_|Converts domain names to IP addresses.| |**HTTP**|_HyperText Transfer Protocol_|The foundation of data communication on the web.| |**HTTPS**|_HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure_|Secure version of HTTP using TLS encryption.| |**SSD**|_Solid State Drive_|High-speed storage with no moving parts.| |**HDD**|_Hard Disk Drive_|Traditional mechanical data storage.| |**API**|_Application Programming Interface_|Interface allowing apps to communicate.| |**GUI**|_Graphical User Interface_|Visual interface for user interaction.| |**CLI**|_Command-Line Interface_|Text-based interface to interact with a system.| |**BIOS**|_Basic Input/Output System_|Firmware used to perform hardware initialization.| |**OS**|_Operating System_|Software that manages hardware and applications.| |**LAN**|_Local Area Network_|Network confined to a small geographical area.| |**WAN**|_Wide Area Network_|A large-scale network over broad areas.| |**VPN**|_Virtual Private Network_|Encrypted tunnel for secure internet access.| |**URL**|_Uniform Resource Locator_|The address of a web resource.| |**MAC**|_Media Access Control_|Unique identifier for network interfaces.| |**SSH**|_Secure Shell_|Protocol for secure remote access.| |**SQL**|_Structured Query Language_|Language for managing relational databases.| |**JSON**|_JavaScript Object Notation_|Lightweight data interchange format.| |**XML**|_eXtensible Markup Language_|Structured format for storing and transporting data.| |**VM**|_Virtual Machine_|A software-emulated system acting like a physical computer.| |**ISO**|_ISO Disk Image_|Archive file containing all data of an optical disc.| |**SaaS**|_Software as a Service_|Cloud-based delivery of software applications.| |**IaaS**|_Infrastructure as a Service_|Cloud-hosted infrastructure resources.| |**PaaS**|_Platform as a Service_|Cloud platform for developing and deploying applications.| |**UX**|_User Experience_|The overall experience of a person using a system.| |**UI**|_User Interface_|The interface through which a user interacts with software.| |**DPI**|_Dots Per Inch_|Measure of screen or image resolution.| |**CAD**|_Computer-Aided Design_|Software for design and drafting.| |**FTP**|_File Transfer Protocol_|Protocol to transfer files over a network.| |**IMAP**|_Internet Message Access Protocol_|Email protocol for retrieving messages.| |**SMTP**|_Simple Mail Transfer Protocol_|Protocol for sending email.| |**IPV4**|_Internet Protocol Version 4_|Fourth version of the Internet Protocol.| |**IPV6**|_Internet Protocol Version 6_|Successor to IPv4 with a larger address space.| |**POSIX**|_Portable Operating System Interface_|Standard for maintaining compatibility between operating systems.| |**DPI**|_Deep Packet Inspection_|Technique for inspecting data packets.| |**AI**|_Artificial Intelligence_|Machines that simulate human intelligence.| |**ML**|_Machine Learning_|Subset of AI using data to improve performance.| |**IoT**|_Internet of Things_|Network of connected devices exchanging data.| |**TLD**|_Top-Level Domain_|The last part of a domain name (.com, .org).| > 💡 _Designed for clarity and speed — perfect for quick reference!_ Yes