Z

Zachman Framework – this is an integrated framework for structuring the key processes inside an organisation, particularly the IT processes, and is an important part of any approach to IT governance.

Zero day exploit – this is an exploit that takes advantage of a vulnerability on the same day that it is announced (or becomes generally known). Anti-virus companies and software manufacturers have zero days’ grace in which to develop and launch a fix or a patch.

Zip – compressing data to a format that uses less memory than in the unzipped state.

Zombie – this, as you might expect, is a once independent computer that is now under the discretionary, malign control of another computer somewhere else in the world. A remote user can take advantage of inadequate anti-virus and firewall defences to install remote control software on other computers. This remote control software enables the remote user to use your computer (without you even being aware of it) for the mass forwarding of spam or as part of a massive, co-ordinated attack on another website (a Distributed Denial of Service attack). In the long run, the future of electronic communication depends on every computer being sufficiently well protected that none can be used as zombies.See Distributed Denial of Service attack.