Data level protection - Word Drop

A firewall is the first line of defence against cyber attacks. It can be ______ or software and sits between the local area network and an external connection. It controls the flow of incoming and outgoing ______ by checking each connection against an allowed list. Interface design can help or harm security. Obscuring data entry hides characters as they are typed, while ______ fills in data for the user. Staying logged in can leave an account open.

Anti-virus software scans files, links and removable storage to find ______, then removes anything infected so it cannot spread. Device hardening closes off ways an attacker could get in. It includes applying security ______ as they are released to fix known flaws. It also means closing unused ______ and removing unused software. Access rights follow the principle of least ______, so users only reach the data they need. A device can be locked to one person using ______, which is unique to that user.

A ______ copies data so it can be restored after a major system failure. Backups may run automatically on a ______ or be carried out by hand before an update.

Encryption uses an algorithm and a ______ to scramble readable plaintext. This creates unreadable ______, which cannot be read without the matching decryption key. Encrypting stored data, such as files or a whole drive, protects it if a laptop is stolen. Encryption also protects data while it is being ______ across a network.