What is Security: Definition and 187 Discussions

Security is freedom from, or resilience against, potential harm (or other unwanted coercive change) caused by others. Beneficiaries (technically referents) of security may be of persons and social groups, objects and institutions, ecosystems or any other entity or phenomenon vulnerable to unwanted change.

Security mostly refers to protection from hostile forces, but it has a wide range of other senses: for example, as the absence of harm (e.g. freedom from want); as the presence of an essential good (e.g. food security); as resilience against potential damage or harm (e.g. secure foundations); as secrecy (e.g. a secure telephone line); as containment (e.g. a secure room or cell); and as a state of mind (e.g. emotional security).
The term is also used to refer to acts and systems whose purpose may be to provide security (e.g.: security companies, security forces, security guard, cyber security systems, security cameras, remote guarding).
Security is not only physical but it can also be Virtual.

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  1. fluidistic

    Enforce the use of different sets of characters for passwords?

    Why do most websites enforce the use of different sets of characters when creating a password? This is less secure than choosing a password from different sets of characters uniformly randomly. If we take an example of a 2 characters password and the 2 sets "letters" and "digits", if we use the...
  2. U

    Can I use VPN at this forum?

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  3. DaveC426913

    What is the advantage of the app?

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  4. W

    Apps having access to Android Camera

    Should any Android apps be given access to its( Android) camera? Re a blackmailing email I recently received, I want to cover as many security angles as possible. So I recently checked the list of apps in my Android that have access to my camera. There were a few, WhatsApp and Google being...
  5. shivajikobardan

    Why should not I add current directory to PATH in Linux?

    I get that if I put current directory in PATH like said above, I can execute commands from any directory. But what's the problem in that? How's other person able to come and execute it? Why does it makes system unsecure compared to the case where we don't put current directory to PATH? Can you...
  6. M

    A computer security question: Too many 'date modified folders'?

    Hello. I need to ask about my folders. My 26,263 folders became 'date modified' in 8 minutes. I created those folders and I am aware they stood there. I think any human being can't be so quick. It seems that this is a good news bad news scenerio, and the only good reason I can think of for...
  7. shivajikobardan

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  8. anorlunda

    Personal Internet Security Tips

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  9. kyphysics

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  10. B

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  11. Wrichik Basu

    10-year old security vulnerability in sudo fixed (CVE-2021-3156)

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  12. S

    Raspberry Pi : Security of online account logins

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  13. Z

    Physics Security Clearance required when applying for jobs related to math and physics?

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  14. S

    Comp Sci RSA system with p=17, q=11 and e=3. Find m corresponding to c=156

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  15. nomadreid

    Johns Hopkins Global Security Index

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  16. fluidistic

    Amazon's Kindle security isn't top

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  17. anorlunda

    Security Versus Programming Language

    The following quote caught my eye. I presume that buffer overflow, heap management, and pointer validation are the shortcomings of C that lead to insecurity. But the broader implications make me curious. What other features of a programming language directly aid security of the products...
  18. B

    How Did a Catfish Hack Into a Google Account Without a Password?

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  19. T

    Forensic analysis using Memory Dump

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  20. E

    Calculators Anti-virus and Internet Security Software

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  21. C

    Can Glass Registers Enhance Quantum Computer Security?

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  22. R

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  23. Wrichik Basu

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  24. kyphysics

    Genetic Engineering of Intelligence & National Security

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  25. M

    Being a PC/IT Security Professional

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  26. Wrichik Basu

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  27. S

    Security alert for python libraries

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  28. M

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  29. W

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  30. V

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  31. B

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  32. G

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  33. sunbeam667

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  34. S

    Engineering Security Clearance in Aero/Mech Industry: Criminal Background & No Conviction

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  35. J

    Bug Trace of a Bug Observed: Unsent Forum Messages

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  36. PhotonSSBM

    News Michael Flynn has resigned from the National Security Council

    For those out of the loop, it was shown that he broke a law(s) outlined in the Logan Act by performing diplomatic duties in contacting Russian government officials. There are a lot of rumors about what he said and the implications it has on how Trump is viewing his relationship with Russia...
  37. S

    NIST SP 800-160, Systems Security Engineering

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  38. G

    Java Almost all older useful (physics) java applets blocked

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  39. A

    How to reset admin password of my Acer computer?

    My GF forgot the password of her old acer laptop, which she didn't use much. Now she asked to me to help her recover the password. I only know reinstall the os but this will erase the data on the computer. What is the method i can use to reset the password without losing any data?
  40. M

    Introductory books on computer security

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  41. M

    An HTML and computer securIty question

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  42. Sophia

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  43. G

    Engineering Nuclear Engineering Level "Q" Security Clearance?

    Hello, I'm a freshman in college, currently dual majoring in Nuclear Engineering and Physics. Recently, it has been brought to my attention that to secure an internship in the nuclear (or some physics) fields, I would need to obtain level L security clearance with the DOE, and further on to get...
  44. J

    Getting into internet/network security

    Lately I have been getting interested in internet/network security (an area of study which I am guessing is a subset of computer security). I use to do a little bit of programming a long time ago, but since it has been so long, let's assume that I have no programming experience. I am a math...
  45. C

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  46. J

    Physics behind magnetic security gates?

    Hello, I recently walked through the gates of my local library with my hard drive magnets clipped onto my fingers, and I noticed that they were vibrating. I've been looking on the internet and I also found radio-frequency identification systems. Could someone please explain the physics behind...
  47. Alexi-dono

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  48. P

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    Hello! First of all, I am relatively new to these forums. I had a few nagging questions. I think this is the right place to post this thread...? But anyways, in college, I am currently pursuing a degree in Information Technology. I'm planning on focusing more on cyber security as I've always...
  49. Lizabella

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  50. A

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