AP® Cybersecurity glossary

Knowledge factor

Also called: something you know

Course: AP® Cybersecurity Shows up in: Unit 4: Securing Devices

An authentication factor the user knows, such as a password, personal identification number (PIN) or answer to a challenge question.

Appears in the course and exam description (CED): 4.2.C.14.2.C.2

Why it matters in Unit 4

There is a trade-off: the harder a secret is for an adversary to guess, the more likely the user forgets it or writes it down.

Example

A six-digit PIN to unlock a phone.

Related terms

• Authentication factor
• Multifactor authentication (MFA)
• Password policy