TechSphere Crossword puzzle

5. Process of encoding information to make it secure.
7. Study and practice of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties.
8. Authentication techniques based on unique biological characteristics such as fingerprints or retinal scans.
11. Practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks.
16. Secret code used to gain access to a computer, network, or service.
18. Malicious software that encrypts files and demands payment for their release.
19. Process of confirming the truth of an attribute of a single piece of data.
20. Software update designed to fix problems with, or improve a computer program or its supporting data.
21. Malicious software that replicates itself and spreads to other computers.

1. Incident where sensitive, protected, or confidential information is accessed or disclosed without authorization.
2. Weakness in a system's defenses that can be exploited by a threat.
3. Network of private computers infected with malicious software and controlled as a group.
4. Person who uses technical knowledge to gain unauthorized access to computer systems.
6. Security system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network.
7. Deliberate exploitation of computer systems, networks, or technology-dependent enterprises.
9. Malicious software disguised as legitimate software.
10. Software intended to damage or disable computers and computer systems.
12. Software designed to detect and remove computer viruses and other malicious software.
13. Attempt to obtain sensitive information by disguising as a trustworthy entity in electronic communication.
14. Secure network connection that allows users to access the internet privately.
15. Interconnected group of computers and other devices capable of exchanging data.
17. Unsolicited or undesired electronic messages, typically advertising.