Persistence Glossary

Browse 20 persistence terms defined in plain English, from the cultural dictionary of computing.

20 Persistence Terms

Advanced Persistent Threat
Advanced Persistent Threat is a long-running intrusion campaign in which a capable adversary maintains stealthy access to a target over time. Security teams...
APT
Advanced Persistent Threat — a prolonged, targeted cyberattack in which an attacker (often state-sponsored) gains and maintains unauthorized access to a...
Backdoor
Backdoor in cybersecurity is a covert method of bypassing normal authentication or security controls to gain unauthorized access to a computer system, network,...
Backdoor Detection
The process of identifying hidden unauthorized access mechanisms left in software, systems, or malware infections. Backdoor detection often requires behavioral...
Boot Sector Virus
Malware that infects the boot sector or master boot record so it executes before the operating system fully loads. Boot sector viruses were especially...
Chase the Bug
To follow a bug through logs, environments, and code paths over time until the real cause is found. In engineering slang, chasing the bug usually implies a...
DLL Hijacking
A technique that causes a Windows application to load a malicious dynamic-link library instead of the intended legitimate one, often by abusing search order or...
Grinding
Pushing steadily through repetitive or difficult work over time, often with a sense of endurance rather than inspiration. In engineering slang, grinding can be...
Hardware Implant
A malicious physical modification or added component placed inside hardware to spy, alter behavior, or maintain covert access. Hardware implants are rare but...
Implant
A malicious payload placed on or in a compromised system to provide persistence, remote access, surveillance, or later-stage attack capability. The term is...
JPA
The Java Persistence API, a specification for mapping Java objects to relational database tables and managing entity lifecycle, queries, and transactions....
Persistent Backdoor
A covert access mechanism designed to survive reboots, user logouts, or normal cleanup attempts so an attacker can return later. Persistent backdoors may be...
Persistent Threat
A threat actor or campaign characterized by maintaining access, returning repeatedly, or operating over a long period instead of acting once and disappearing....
Push Through
To continue despite friction, doubt, or pain, often with a sense of determination and sometimes with a risk of missing the need to pause. In engineering slang,...
RDB
Redis Database file — a compact, point-in-time binary snapshot of the entire Redis dataset written to disk. RDB persistence is configured to trigger after N...
Rootkit
Rootkit is a type of malicious software designed to gain and maintain privileged, persistent access to a computer system while actively concealing its presence...
Serialization
The process of converting an in-memory data structure or object graph into a linear byte or text format (JSON, Protobuf, MessagePack, etc.) so it can be stored...
State Restoration
The process of saving an application's UI state — such as scroll position, navigation stack, and in-progress form data — before the app is suspended or...
SwiftData
Apple's declarative data persistence framework introduced in iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma that uses Swift macros (like @Model) to turn plain Swift classes into...
Third Time's the Charm
A hopeful comment made before another attempt after earlier failures. In engineering slang, it is often said with equal parts optimism and exhaustion.

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