Taken from PC World Magazine, January 2012 Edition

Like many other topics we cover here, security has a language all its own. Listening to a group of security experts carry on a conversation, for instance, can be a frustrating experience for mere mortals. And sometimes, technical jargon seeps into everyday security news. Knowing what the following five key security terms mean, however, can help you stay better informed about the threats around you.

ZERO DAY = The expression refers to anyt newly discovered software security flaw that has yet to be fixed by the software’s maker.

REMOTE CODE EXECUTION = This is a fancy way of saying that a cybercriminal could use a vulnerability to gain access to your computer from afar and run malware on it.

SANDBOXING = This technique isolates apps and other software processes in such a way that, even if attackers figure out a security hole in a piece of software, they can’t exploit it to install malware on your computer.

SSL = Stands for Secure Socket Layer, is a way of securing the information being passed between you and the site you’re visiting.

CERTIFICATES = A digital document – or ID badge – that verifies a site’s identity… issued by organizations known as “certificate authorities”.