MTU – Maximum Transmission Unit

Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) is a fundamental concept in networking that refers to the largest size of a packet or frame that can be sent over a network. This size is specified in octets, which are eight-bit bytes. Understanding MTU is crucial for new networking students, as it plays a significant role in the efficiency Read More …

Understanding Cisco Platform Exchange Grid

Cisco Platform Exchange Grid (pxGrid) is an innovative framework designed to enhance collaboration among security products by enabling them to share data seamlessly. Built on a Publish-Subscribe model, pxGrid allows data providers to publish information to specific topics, while consumers can subscribe to those topics to receive relevant updates. This architecture fosters a more integrated Read More …

TTL – Time to Live

Time to Live (TTL), often referred to as hop limit, is a crucial mechanism used in computer networking to manage the lifespan of data packets as they traverse through a network. The primary purpose of TTL is to prevent data packets from circulating indefinitely, which can occur due to routing errors or network loops. By Read More …

ICMP – Internet Control Message Protocol

The Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) is a fundamental protocol used in the Internet Protocol (IP) suite. It is primarily designed for network devices to communicate error messages and operational information regarding the status of the network. While ICMP is not used for transmitting data like TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol), Read More …

Neural Networks: The Foundation of Deep Learning

The quest to replicate the remarkable learning capabilities of the human brain has long been a central theme in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Neural networks, inspired by the structure and function of biological nervous systems, represent a significant step towards achieving this goal.  Their evolution, culminating in the powerful techniques of deep learning, Read More …

CNN – Convolutional Neural Networks

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) were inspired by the way the human visual cortex works, CNNs are a specialized type of neural network particularly adept at analyzing and understanding images. They are the engine behind many impressive AI applications, from recognizing faces in photos to powering autonomous vehicles.  Traditional neural networks, while powerful, can struggle with Read More …

CDN – Content Delivery Network

A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a distributed network of servers strategically located across various geographic locations. Its primary purpose is to deliver web content, such as images, videos, stylesheets, and scripts, to users more efficiently and quickly. By caching content on multiple servers, a CDN reduces the distance data must travel to reach end-users, Read More …

Conference Video – Why We are Not Building a Defendable Internet

In IT security, offensive problems are technical – but most defensive problems are political and organisational. Attackers have the luxury to focus only on the technical aspects of their work, while defenders have to navigate complex political and regulatory environments. In a previous talk (“Rearchitecting a defendable internet”) I discussed what technical measures would yield Read More …

DDoS – Distributed Denial of Service

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal functioning of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming it with a flood of internet traffic. DDoS attacks are executed using multiple compromised computer systems, often referred to as a botnet, which are controlled by the attacker. These botnets Read More …

What is Network Address Translation

Network Address Translation (NAT) is a method used in networking to modify the IP address information in the headers of data packets as they traverse a router. NAT allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address, facilitating efficient use of IP address space and adding a layer of security Read More …