Encryption Backdoor

What Does Encryption Backdoor Mean?

An encryption backdoor is a technique in which a system security mechanism is bypassed undetectably to access a computer or its data. The backdoor access method is sometimes written by the programmer who develops a program.

Advertisements

An encryption backdoor is also known as a trapdoor.

Techopedia Explains Encryption Backdoor

Encryption backdoor threats increase when multiuser and networking operating systems are used by many organizations. In a login system, an encryption backdoorused for system access may be in the form of a hard-coded username and password.

A network administrator (NA) may intentionally create or install an encryption backdoor program for troubleshooting or other official use. Hackers use backdoors to install malicious software (malware) files or programs, modify code or detect files and gain system and/or data access. Even encryption backdoor installed by network administrators pose security risks because they provide a mechanism by which the system can be exploited if discovered.

Advertisements

Related Terms

Latest Cybersecurity Terms

Related Reading

Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…