Z Terms — Election Security Glossary

An attack that exploits a previously unknown hardware, firmware, or software vulnerability.

To fill unused storage locations in an information system with a numeric value of zero.

Report produced prior to tabulation to check that there are no stored votes.

A tape that is printed by an electronic voting machine or electronic ballot tabulator before the machine or tabulator is to begin accepting ballots. The zero tape verifies that zero votes have been ta…

A computer-software vulnerability unknown to the manufacturer, typically used in targeted attacks

A counterintuitive protocol by which a party is able to prove that a statement is true without revealing any information about the statemen t except its truth. Zero-knowledge proofs are important in a…

A method of erasing electronically stored data, cryptographic keys, and credentials service providers (CSPs) by altering or deleting the contents of the data storage to prevent recovery of the data.

To remove or eliminate the key from a cryptographic equipment or fill device.

A program that is installed on a system to cause it to attack other systems. (SP 800-83) (NISTIR)

Three dimensional space surrounding equipment that processes classified and/or controlled unclassified information (CUI) within which TEMPEST exploitation is not considered practical or where legal au…