A Comprehensive Glossary of Terms Related to:
Security safeguards designed to detect and deny unauthorized access and permit authorized access to an information system
The process of verifying the identity of a user, device, or system before granting access to resources or information
Any unauthorized attempt to access, disrupt, steal, or damage computer systems, networks, or data
The practice of protecting information and devices from malicious actors. It involves processes employed to safeguard and secure assets used to carry information from being stolen or attacked
An incident where unauthorized individuals gain access to confidential data, resulting in potential exposure of sensitive information
The process of converting information into a coded format to prevent unauthorized access during storage or transmission
A security system that forms a virtual perimeter around a network of workstations, preventing viruses, worms, and hackers from penetrating
A person who tries to gain unauthorized access to a network or computer system
Malicious software designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. Includes viruses, worms, trojans, and ransomware
A security process requiring users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a system, adding an extra layer of protection beyond passwords
A cyber attack method where attackers impersonate legitimate entities via email, text, or websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers
A type of malware that encrypts a victim’s data and demands payment (ransom) for the decryption key
Manipulation techniques used by attackers to trick individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security
A security process requiring two different authentication factors to verify a user’s identity, typically something you know (password) and something you have (phone code)
An encrypted connection over the internet from a device to a network, ensuring private and secure data transmission
The illegal trade of human beings through abduction, use of threat or force, deception, fraud, or “sale” for purposes of sexual exploitation or forced labor
Under U.S. law, anyone under 18 who is in prostitution is considered a trafficking victim, regardless of force, fraud, or coercion
The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act
An individual is considered a victim of trafficking if they are coerced, forced, or deceived into engaging in a commercial sex act, or maintained in prostitution through one of these means
As defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA):
The three methods traffickers use to control victims:
A condition of servitude due to any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that, if they did not enter into or continue the servitude, they or others would suffer serious harm
Any sex act performed in exchange for anything of value (money, drugs, food, shelter, etc.)
Trading sex for food, clothing, shelter, and other basic needs
People who exploit others for profit. They can be any demographic—individuals, groups, street gangs, or organized crime networks
The first comprehensive federal law (2000) to address human trafficking, creating new criminal offenses and establishing victim protections. It uses a three-pronged approach: prevention, protection, and prosecution
A crime that happens online when an adult convinces a person who is under 18 to share sexual pictures or perform sexual acts on a webcam
A type of blackmail in which the victim is enticed into sharing intimate images, then coerced into continually sharing more (often increasingly sexually extreme) images or videos, or is financially extorted by paying money to prevent the sharing of the images
A variant of sextortion where perpetrators use stolen or AI-generated images (often of attractive individuals) to approach victims, steer conversations toward sexual topics, request mutual exchange of intimate photos, then threaten to share the victim’s images with parents or others unless money is paid
An individual communicating with someone believed to be a child via the internet with the intent to commit a sexual offense or abduction. This broad category includes sextortion and grooming across every platform: social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, etc.
Any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor (person under 18 years of age). Also known as child pornography. Production, distribution, and possession are federal crimes
Contact and soliciting of nudes, partial nudes, or child sexual abuse material (CSAM). May happen one time or repeatedly
The process by which a predator builds a relationship with a child to gain their trust before exploiting them. This requires the formation of a relationship or building of trust, often happens over a period of time, and may lead to online sexual solicitation or real-life contact and abuse
Key characteristics:
For Parents to Identify:
When someone creates a fake online identity to deceive others, often used in grooming scenarios where predators pretend to be peers
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) reporting system for suspected child sexual exploitation. Parents and adults can confidentially report illegal images or suspected exploitation.
Report at: https://report.cybertip.org/
NCMEC’s free service that assigns a unique digital fingerprint (“hash value”) to explicit content. Online platforms use this hash to find and automatically block/remove matching content without requiring the victim to upload images publicly.
Access at: https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/
A unique digital fingerprint assigned to images or videos that allows platforms to detect and remove content without viewing the actual material
The trail of data and information left behind by a person’s online activity, including social media posts, browsing history, and shared content.
Controls available on devices, apps, and platforms that allow users to manage who can see their information, contact them, or track their activity.
Software or settings that allow parents to monitor, restrict, or filter content and activities on children’s devices.
A setting available on search engines that filters explicit or inappropriate content from search results, particularly important for children’s online safety
The responsible and appropriate use of technology, including ethical behavior online, respect for others, and protection of personal information.
If you or someone you know is experiencing online exploitation, sextortion, or trafficking:
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 | Text: 233733
CyberTipline (NCMEC): https://report.cybertip.org/
Take It Down Service: https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
This glossary was compiled from authoritative sources including:
Spread awareness. Stop abuse. Keep kids safe.