From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
security
n 1: the state of being free from danger or injury; "we support
the armed services in the name of national security" [ant:
insecurity]
2: defense against financial failure; financial independence;
"his pension gave him security in his old age"; "insurance
provided protection against loss of wages due to illness"
[syn: security, protection]
3: freedom from anxiety or fear; "the watch dog gave her a
feeling of security"
4: a formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to
finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive
interest or dividends; "he held several valuable securities"
[syn: security, certificate]
5: property that your creditor can claim in case you default on
your obligation; "bankers are reluctant to lend without good
security" [syn: security, surety]
6: a department responsible for the security of the
institution's property and workers; "the head of security was
a former policeman" [syn: security, security department]
7: a guarantee that an obligation will be met [syn: security,
surety]
8: an electrical device that sets off an alarm when someone
tries to break in [syn: security system, {security
measure}, security]
9: measures taken as a precaution against theft or espionage or
sabotage etc.; "military security has been stepped up since
the recent uprising" [syn: security, security measures]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Security \Se*cu"ri*ty\, n.; pl. Securities. [L. securitas: cf.
F. s['e]curit['e]. See Secure, and cf. Surety.]
1. The condition or quality of being secure; secureness.
Specifically:
(a) Freedom from apprehension, anxiety, or care;
confidence of power or safety; hence, assurance;
certainty.
[1913 Webster]
His trembling hand had lost the ease,
Which marks security to please. --Sir W.
Scott.
[1913 Webster]
(b) Hence, carelessness; negligence; heedlessness.
[1913 Webster]
He means, my lord, that we are too remiss,
Whilst Bolingbroke, through our security,
Grows strong and great in substance and in
power. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
(c) Freedom from risk; safety.
[1913 Webster]
Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard,
From firm security. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Some . . . alleged that we should have no
security for our trade. --Swift.
[1913 Webster]
2. That which secures or makes safe; protection; guard;
defense. Specifically:
(a) Something given, deposited, or pledged, to make
certain the fulfillment of an obligation, the
performance of a contract, the payment of a debt, or
the like; surety; pledge.
[1913 Webster]
Those who lent him money lent it on no security
but his bare word. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
(b) One who becomes surety for another, or engages himself
for the performance of another's obligation.
[1913 Webster]
3. An evidence of debt or of property, as a bond, a
certificate of stock, etc.; as, government securities.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Protection; defense; guard; shelter; safety; certainty;
ease; assurance; carelessness; confidence; surety;
pledge; bail.
[1913 Webster]
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008) [foldoc]:
security
computer security
<security> Protection against unauthorized access to, or
alteration of, information and system resources including
CPUs, storage devices and programs.
Security includes:
* confidentiality - preventing unauthorized access;
integrity - preventing or detecting unauthorized
modification of information.
* authentication - determining whether a user is who they
claim to be.
* access control - ensuring that users can access the
resources, and only the resources, that they are authorised
to.
* nonrepudiation - proof that a message came from a certain
source.
* availability - ensuring that a system is operational and
accessible to authorised users despite hardware or software
failures or attack.
* privacy - allowing people to know and control how
information is collected about them and how it is used.
Security can also be considered in the following terms:
* physical security - who can touch the system to operate or
modify it, protection against the physical environment - heat,
earthquake, etc.
* operational/procedural security - who is authorised to do or
responsible for doing what and when, who can authorise others
to do what and who has to report what to who.
* personnel security - hiring employees, background screening,
training, security briefings, monitoring and handling
departures.
* System security - User access and authentication controls,
assignment of privilege, maintaining file and filesystem
integrity, backup, monitoring processes, log-keeping, and
auditing.
* network security - protecting network and
telecommunications equipment, protecting network servers and
transmissions, combatting eavesdropping, controlling access
from untrusted networks, firewalls, and intrusion detection.
Encryption is one important technique used to improve data
security.
OWASP is the free and open application security
community.
(2007-10-05)