KBA

Knowledge Based Authentication, is a security measure that identifies end users by asking them to answer specific security questions in order to provide accurate authorization for online or digital activities.

Kbps

Kilobits per second.

KBS

Knowledge Based System, is a computer system which generates and utilizes knowledge from different sources, data and information, often using AI.

KDE

K Desktop Environment. A network-transparent contemporary desktop environment for UNIX workstations. KDE is part of the free software, or open source, movement, which competes with the more common commercial operating system / desktop platforms on the market.

Kerberos

An authentication system developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Kerberos is designed to enable two parties to exchange private information across an otherwise open network. It uses the DES cryptographic algorithm.

Kermit

A protocol, and the name of the program that employs this protocol, for the transferring of files from one computer to another. It is commonly used on BBS systems.

Kernel

The central module of an operating system. It is the part of the operating system that loads first, and it remains in main memory. Because it stays in memory, it is important for the kernel to be as small as possible while still providing all the essential services required by other parts of the operating system and application. Typically, the kernel is responsible for memory management, process and task management, and disk drive management.

Keylogger

A keylogger is a program that records the keystrokes on a computer. Keylogger programs are often deemed spyware because they usually run without the user knowing it.

Keyword

(1) In text editing and database management systems, a keyword is an index entry that identifies a specific record or document.

(2) In programming, a keyword is a word that is reserved by a program because the word has a special meaning. Keywords can be command or parameter. Every programming language has a set of keywords that cannot be used as variable name. Keywords are sometimes called reserved names.

(3) A word used by a search engine in its search for relevant Web pages.

Kilobyte

A collection of 1,024 bytes.

KIP

Kinetics Internet Protocol, is a protocol for encapsulating and routing Appletalk datagrams over an IP internet.

Kotlin

Kotlin is a statically typed programming language that runs on the Java virtual machine and also can be compiled to JavaScript source code or use the LLVM compiler infrastructure.

KPI

Key Performance Indicator, is a measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives.

KPIV

Key Process Input Variable, is the most important input(s) to a process.

KPOV

Key Process Output Variable, is the most important output(s) of a process.