Data security is more critical than ever in our increasingly tech-reliant world. To better protect your company’s data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction, you need to understand essential data security terms.
If you’re not tech-savvy, don’t worry! This quiz is designed to simplify complex IT jargon and help you learn the basics of data security. Take the quiz now and see how well you know your data security terms.
1. ______ involves tricking victims into divulging confidential information by pretending to be a trustworthy entity.
A. Spoofing
B. Encryption
C. Phishing
Correct answer: C. Phishing
Phishing emails are designed to look like they are from a legitimate source, such as an online retailer, a logistics company, or a government agency. They often contain links that, when clicked, take victims to spoofed websites where they enter their sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or Social Security numbers.
Phishing attacks are extremely effective since they exploit human nature. People are more likely to trust a message and follow its instructions if they think it’s from a legitimate source. In fact, Proofpoint’s 2023 State of the Phish report revealed that 44% of people consider an email safe when it displays familiar branding. However, in 2022, cybercriminals sent out over 30 million malicious messages with Microsoft branding or products.
2. What type of cyberattack involves overwhelming a system or website with a flood of traffic or requests, causing it to become unavailable?
A. Phishing attack
B. DoS attack
C. Malware attack
Correct answer: B. DoS attack
DoS (denial-of-service) attacks can be carried out in a variety of ways, but some of the most common methods include:
- Flooding attacks: The attacker sends a huge volume of traffic to the target, overwhelming its resources and preventing it from responding to legitimate requests.
- Amplification attacks: The attacker exploits vulnerabilities in protocols or systems to generate large amounts of traffic from a single request.
- State-exhaustion attacks: The attacker attempts to exhaust the target’s resources by opening numerous connections or consuming a large amount of memory.
These attacks often target websites, online services, and critical infrastructure, and they can be extremely disruptive and costly for victims.
3. What does SSL stand for and what is it for?
A. Secure Sockets Layer, encrypting data during transmission
B. Safe and Secure Logging, recording user activities
C. System Security Layer, protecting against malware attacks
Correct answer: A. Secure Sockets Layer, encrypting data during transmission
Secure Sockets Layer is a protocol that encrypts data during transmission over a computer network. It is commonly used to secure websites and other online transactions, such as credit card payments and bank transfers. SSL works by creating a secure tunnel between the client and the server. This tunnel is encrypted using a cryptographic algorithm so that any data transmitted through the tunnel cannot be read by anyone else.
When you visit a website that is using SSL, you will see a lock icon in the address bar of your web browser. This indicates that the website is secure and that your data is encrypted.
| Read also: 6 Business data loss stories |
4. Which type of malware looks like legitimate software but performs malicious activities in the background?
A. Spyware
B. Adware
C. Trojan horse
Correct answer: C. Trojan horse
A Trojan horse appears harmless but contains malicious code, allowing unauthorized access or activities on the affected system. It is often spread through email attachments, peer-to-peer file-sharing networks, malicious websites, and USB drives or other removable media.
5. What is the purpose of a CAPTCHA?
A. Protecting against Trojan horse attacks
B. Identifying phishing emails
C. Verifying that the user is human
Correct answer: C. Verifying that the user is human
A CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) test often involves typing in distorted letters or numbers or clicking on pictures of objects. CAPTCHAs are designed to be unreadable for computers, but they’re easy for humans to solve. They are often used to protect against automated attacks, such as bots that try to guess passwords or spam websites.
6. What is a zero-day vulnerability?
A. An unknown software bug
B. A vulnerability that has been present for zero days
C. An undisclosed software vulnerability that has not been patched
Correct answer: C. An undisclosed software vulnerability that has not been patched
Zero-day vulnerabilities can be extremely dangerous because they can be used to exploit systems and steal data before the vendor has a chance to patch them. Cybercriminals often sell zero-day vulnerabilities to other criminals or use them to carry out targeted attacks.
How did you do?
5–6 correct answers: Outstanding! You have an excellent understanding of various data security concepts.
2–4 correct answers: Well done! You possess a solid foundation in data security, with room for continuous learning.
0–1 correct answer: It’s time to delve deeper into data security. Consider consulting with IT professionals or exploring comprehensive cybersecurity resources to enhance your knowledge.
Want to boost your business’s security posture? SpectrumWise offers a comprehensive, seven-layered cybersecurity strategy that covers information security policies, physical security, network and system security, software updates, access controls, data protection and backup, and system monitoring and testing. Schedule a consultation with us to learn more.
