Computer Science Flashcards

What does LAN stand for?

Answer: Local Area Network

LAN stands for Local Area Network, a network connecting devices within a limited geographical area such as a school or office.

Which protocol is primarily used for sending emails?

Answer: SMTP

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol used for sending email messages across the internet.

What is phishing?

Answer: A fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information by posing as a trustworthy source

Phishing involves attackers impersonating legitimate organisations via email or fake websites to trick users into revealing passwords or personal data.

What is the purpose of encrypting data?

Answer: To convert data into a coded format so only authorised parties can read it

Encryption transforms readable data (plaintext) into an unreadable format (ciphertext) that can only be decoded with the correct key.

Which network topology connects all devices to a single central hub or switch?

Answer: Star

In a star topology, every device connects to a central hub or switch, making it easy to add devices and isolate faults.

What is the main role of a firewall in a network?

Answer: To monitor and filter incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules

A firewall acts as a security barrier that inspects network traffic and blocks unauthorised or suspicious connections.

What does DNS stand for and what is its function?

Answer: Domain Name System — translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses

DNS (Domain Name System) acts like a phone book for the internet, converting domain names (e.g. google.com) into the numerical IP addresses computers use.