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Hackers

Hackers are people who try to enter into systems and gain access to data that they are not authorized to obtain or access. The hackers’ motivation has usually been more targeted at notifying people of security gaps than at causing damage (this, however, can give other people criminal ideas).

Hard Disk Encryption

This process is used to protect confidentiality of the data stored on a computer hard disk.

Hash Function

A function which forms a fixed-size value (the hash value) from an arbitrary amount of data (which is the input). These functions are used to generate the electronic equivalent of a fingerprint. The significant factor is that it must be impossible to generate two entries which lead to the same hash value (so called collisions) or even to generate a matching message for a defined hash value. Common hash functions are RIPEMD-160 and SHA-1, each having hash values with a length of 160 bits as well as the MD5, which is still often used today having a hash value length of 128 bits.

HBCI

HBCI (Home Banking Computer Interface) is the specification of a standardized interface between customer products and (German) financial institutions.

HSM (High Security Module)

High Security Modules (HSMs) are modules to save and process sensitive data and cryptographic keys. Some commercial use of this term is defined as "hardware security interface", a specific form factor of an HSM.

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