Determine the contextual meaning of 'compromise' in the following cybersecurity report:
'A zero-day exploit in the firmware allowed hackers to compromise the integrity of the hospital's patient records database.'
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. weaken or expose to hazard
Answer: weaken or expose to hazard. Why not the others: The common meaning 'to settle a dispute by mutual concession' does not apply to a cyberattack; 'negotiate an equitable treaty' is unrelated; 'restore to functionality' is the opposite of a security breach.
- Step 1: Contextualize the verb: hackers exploited a firmware vulnerability, resulting in unauthorized access and violation of database integrity.
- Step 2: In security and engineering, 'to compromise' means to weaken, imperil, breach, or expose to risk or damage.
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