How to express you are not familiar with a field

Question

I want to use this phrase: a lack of knowledge in (  ), but I'm not sure if it is typical.
I got stuck in a lab assignment that required some background knowledge of computer security, and I would like to get the background info from teaching assistants.
Can I use this sentence?  "Hi, I have a lack of knowledge in computer security, and I've searched the term XXX online, but I still didn't get it. Can you please explain to me what XXX means and where I suppose to look for XXX on the terminal."

Cosmopolitan · Answer

If you're completely ignorant of the subject, you ought to say:
I'm unacquainted with computer security...
or
I'm unfamiliar with computer security...

Decapitated Soul · Answer

In a comment, Jim wrote:

I’d probably say that I was not well-versed in computer security and I’ve searched for the term.

If you're not well-versed in something, you don't know much about it.

How to express you are not familiar with a field

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