Cybersecurity terminology
The language of cybersecurity has its origins in the military. So, for example, if you have installed lots of plugins that you don’t use, then the effect is to increase your installation’s attack surface. To understand this concept, let’s consider the famous drawing of the arrangement of opposing naval fleets immediately before the Battle of Trafalgar, as shown here:
Figure 2.1 – Reducing the British fleet’s attack surface by arranging ships in single file
It is very clear from Figure 2.1 that Admiral Nelson arranged the British naval fleet to ensure as small an attack surface as possible. Imagine being on a ship of either the French or Spanish fleet. Your view of the British columns would be limited to the ships leading the columns.
Without spies or detailed reconnaissance, the French and Spanish would have no appreciation of the threat coming up at the rear of the British columns. Compare...
