IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1 Definitions Worksheet: 5.2 Digital Currency and 5.3 Cyber Security (Modules 520–546)
Name:
Date:
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Key terms
Write what each term means, in your own words.
1
balance
2
double spending
3
key terms and reasons
4
Trojan horse
5
adware
6
DDoS attack
7
DNS server
8
pharming
9
phishing
10
process and aim
Answer Key
IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1 · Modules 520–546 · Student wording will vary for definitions
1balance — The amount of digital currency a person owns, found by adding up all the money they received and taking away all the money they sent in the blockchain records, in time order.
2double spending — Spending the same digital currency twice. Blockchain stops it: each spent payment is already in the shared ledger, so a second payment of the same money is refused.
3key terms and reasons — A full-mark answer uses digital currency, ledger, time-stamp and blockchain correctly, and links each point to a reason, using linking words such as because or so that.
4Trojan horse — Malware disguised as useful or harmless software. The user installs it willingly, then it secretly does harm, such as opening a back door or stealing data. It does not replicate itself.
5adware — Software that shows unwanted adverts, such as pop-ups, often installed with free programs, to earn money for its creator. It can slow a device, redirect searches and track users.
6DDoS attack — A botnet of infected computers floods one server with requests at the same time, so it cannot respond to real users and the website goes offline.
7DNS server — A domain name server translates a domain name typed in a browser, such as example.com, into the IP address of the web server that holds the website.
8pharming — An attack that redirects a user to a fake website, even when they type the right address, using malicious code or DNS poisoning, so the site can steal their login and payment details.
9phishing — Sending many fake emails that look genuine to trick users into clicking a link or replying with personal details, so criminals can steal passwords and bank details.
10process and aim — Match a threat by finding its process (how it works) and its aim (why the attacker does it), e.g. phishing: fake emails trick users to steal login details.