What does whitelisting mean?
Whitelisting refers to the practice of specifying a list of approved entities, such as websites, email addresses, or IP addresses, that are allowed to interact with a system, network, or application. This approach is used to prevent unauthorized access, reduce the risk of cyber threats, and ensure that only trusted sources can communicate with a system. Whitelisting is commonly used in cybersecurity, email filtering, and access control, and is often implemented in conjunction with blacklisting or other security measures. By maintaining a curated list of approved entities, organizations can improve their security posture and reduce the risk of data breaches or other security incidents.
nounThe practice of allowing access or interaction only with a pre-approved list of entities, such as websites, email addresses, or IP addresses.
- The act of creating or maintaining a whitelist.
- A specific whitelist or list of approved entities.
"The company's cybersecurity policy included whitelisting of approved software vendors."
"The IT department implemented whitelisting to prevent unauthorized access."
"The email server used whitelisting to filter out spam messages."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of whitelisting
The term 'whitelisting' originated in the early 2000s, likely as a counterpart to 'blacklisting', which has a longer history dating back to the 17th century. The concept of whitelisting is related to the idea of 'white hat' security, which refers to approved or authorized security measures. The term 'whitelisting' is composed of 'white', which implies approval or permission, and 'listing', which refers to the act of creating or maintaining a list.
How whitelisting is actually used
Whitelisting is often used in cybersecurity, email filtering, and access control. It is a more specific term than simply 'allowing' or 'permitting', as it implies a deliberate and curated list of approved entities.