Key Terms:
Parity Check – A method used to check if data has been transferred
correctly; it makes use of even parity (an even number of 1-bits) or odd
parity (an odd number of 1-bits).
Parity Bit – A bit (either 0 or 1) added to a byte of data in the most
significant bit position; this ensures that the byte follows the correct even
parity or odd parity protocol.
Parity Block – A horizontal and vertical parity check on a block of data
being transmitted.
Parity Byte – An extra byte of data sent at the end of a parity block; it is
composed of the parity bits generated by the vertical parity check of the
data block.
Checksum – A verification method used to check if data transferred has
been altered or corrupted; calculated from the block of data being sent; the
checksum value is sent after each data block.
Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) – A method of checking transmitted
data for errors; it makes use of acknowledgement and timeout to
automatically request re-sending of data if the time interval before positive
acknowledgement is too long.
Acknowledgement – A message sent to the receiver indicating that data
has been received correctly (used in the ARQ error detection method).
Timeout – The time interval allowed to elapse before an acknowledgement
is received in the ARQ error detection method.
Echo Check – A method used to check if data has been transferred
correctly; data is sent to a receiver and then immediately sent back to the
sender; the sender then checks if the received data matches the sent data.
Check Digit – An additional digit appended to a number to check if the
entered number is error-free; a check digit is a data entry check and not a
data transmission check.
Eavesdropper – Another name for a hacker who intercepts data being
transmitted on a wired or wireless network.
Encryption – The process of making data meaningless using encryption
keys; without the correct decryption key, the data cannot be decoded
(unscrambled).
Plaintext – The original text/message before it is put through an encryption
algorithm.
Ciphertext – Encrypted data that is the result of putting a plaintext
message through an encryption algorithm.
Encryption Algorithm – A complex piece of software that takes plaintext
and generates an encrypted string known as ciphertext.
Symmetric Encryption – A type of encryption in which the same
encryption key is used to encrypt and decrypt a message.
Asymmetric Encryption – A type of encryption that uses public keys and
private keys to ensure data is secure.
Public Key – A type of encryption key that is known to all users.
Private Key – A type of encryption key which is known only to the single
computer/user.
Quantum Computer – A computer that can perform very fast calculations;
it can perform calculations that are based on probability rather than simple
0 or 1 values; this gives a quantum computer the potential to process
considerably more data than existing computers.