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What should my SMTP (outgoing) server be set to?
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What should my POP3 (incoming) mail server be set to?
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Where can I find information to help me set up my SpeedStream 6520 or SE 567's wireless connection?
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How do I set up my e-mail in Outlook Express version 5, 5.5, or 6?
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What requirements must my computer and Internet connection meet to use Live Chat?
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Group By Page
| Adware |
| A software program that displays banners or pop-up windows containing commercial advertising. Adware typically appears on your monitor when you view a web site, preview a software program prior to purchase or use "sponsored" software that is available for free, but with the ads embedded in it. The justification for adware is that it helps recover programming development costs and holds down prices for users. Some adware, however, does more than display ads; it can track your navigation of the Internet and pass the information on to others without your knowledge. Used in this way, adware falls into a category of malicious software called spyware.
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| Anchor |
| Anchors are the same as hyperlinks (also called hypertext links) -- the underlined words or phrases you click when viewing a web site in order to jump to another spot within the site or to a completely different site. The word "anchor" is used less often than "hyperlink," but it does maintain the seafaring theme of navigating and surfing the Internet. |
| Anonymous File Transfer Protocol (Anonymous FTP) |
| Part of the Internet's appeal is the huge variety of information (in the form of individual "files") that can be accessed on your personal computer. FTP is the near-universal computer program that makes this happen by connecting your computer with another computer (a server). The server delivers, or "serves," the appropriate file. Anonymous FTP is a form of FTP that allows anyone to download files from a properly configured server. This lets a user without a password-protected FTP account to access files by entering the username, "anonymous," along with his or her own email address as a password. |
| Application (Applet) |
| These terms all refer to simple, single-function programs that are often included along with a larger software product. Programs such as Windows Calculator, File Manager, and Notepad are examples. |
| American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) |
| A computer language developed by the American National Standards Institute to define how computers write and read data. ASCII (pronounced ASKee) is commonly used to save text files that don't contain complicated formatting. It consists of a 128 characters -- letters, numbers, punctuation, and control codes (such as a character that marks the end of a line). Each letter or other character is represented by a number: an uppercase "A," for example, is represented by the number 65; a lowercase "z," by 122. Most computer operating systems use the ASCII standard, except for Windows NT, which uses the larger and newer Unicode standard. |
| Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) |
| No, it's not the bank machine that spits out cash; this ATM is a computer protocol used for transmitting data. Specifically, it's a standard packet switching protocol -- meaning that it moves data via routes shared with other traffic, as opposed to circuit switching, which moves data between computers on designated "private" lines. The ATM protocol uses 53-byte cells, each consisting of a 5-byte address header and 48 bytes of related data. These short, standardized cells are processed very quickly at data transmission speeds over 600 mbps. ATM can support many uses, including voice, graphics, data, and full-motion video. It also allows telephone and cable TV companies to dynamically assign bandwidth to individual customers. |
| Attachment |
| Any file -- a text document, photograph, graphic image, audio or video file -- that is transmitted along with an email message. Attachments are linked to your email in a way that allows them to remain as separate entities with all their characteristics intact; you can save them on your personal computer. Many email packages use MIME encoding to attach files. |
| Audio/Video Interleave (AVI) |
| When you see a video clip on your PC, there's a good chance that it's an AVI file. AVI is the file format used by Microsoft's Video for Windows, one of three video technologies used on personal computers. (The others are MPEG and QuickTime.) In AVI, picture and sound elements are interleaved -- arranged so that audio and video files are stored in alternating chunks -- which enhances their performance. The result: the video and audio match up. |
| Byte (B) |
| A byte, aka an octet or a word, usually denotes 8 bits (a bit being the smallest unit of data in computing). The computer treats a byte as a single unit. Longer sequences of 16 or 32 bits are also possible. As the number of bytes increases, other units based on the byte are used. They are loosely described in decimal terms (for example, a kilobyte is about 1,000 bytes), but their actual values are calculated as binary numbers, based on the number 2 (so a kilobyte is actually 1,024 bytes or 2 to the 10th power). The following table shows standard measures of data based on bytes:
Term |
Abbreviation |
Approximate Value |
Precise Binary Value |
Byte |
B |
8 bits |
|
Kilobyte |
K or KB |
1,000 bytes |
1,024 bytes
or 2 to the 10th power |
Megabyte |
M or MB |
1 million bytes |
1,048,576 bytes
or 2 to the 20th power |
Gigabyte |
G or GB |
1 billion bytes |
1,073,741,824 bytes
or 2 to the 30th power |
Terabyte |
TB |
1 trillion bytes |
1,099,511,627,776 bytes or 2 to the 40th power |
|
| Bandwidth |
| The capacity to carry a quantity of information. The term can apply to telephone or computer network wiring, as well as radio frequency signals and other computing components. It has also come to mean a person's capacity for dealing with multiple projects ("I'd like to update this database, but I don't have the bandwidth."). Bandwidth is most accurately measured in cycles per second, or hertz (Hz), a unit of measure that tells the difference between the lowest and highest frequencies transmitted. But it's also common to use bits or bytes of data per second instead. |
| Binary Group |
| A binary group is a kind of newsgroup -- an interactive online discussion group – that typically uses graphics and non-text media. (The other basic category of newsgroup is a text group.)
|
| Binary Digit (Bit) |
| The smallest unit of data in computing, with a value of either 0 or 1. Whenever you see a lowercase b associated with a number, it's likely to be a bit. Prefixed with "kilo" (kilobit), it means 1,024 bits; prefixed with "mega" (megabit), it refers to 1,024 x 1,024 bits. The term sometimes finds its way into data transfer speeds (such as 14.4 kilobits per second, typically shortened to 14.4 kbps). |
| Bits Per Second (bps) |
| The speed at which a specified number of bits -- the smallest unit of data in computing -- is transmitted from one computer to another. (For very high numbers, bits are converted into kilobits, or units of 1,024 bits). Your modem's speed is measured in bps or kbps; if it is rated at 28,800 bps or less, it moves information rather slowly. 56 kbps is the premium modem speed. |
| Browser |
| If you can read this, it's likely you're using a Web browser. A browser is a software application that acts as your entry to the World Wide Web; when you type in the address of a web site (alternately called a hypertext link or uniform resource locator -- URL), your brower makes a connection that lets you see the site on your computer monitor. It also lets you interact with a web site and navigate between sites by means of hyperlinks (the underlined words or phrases you find on many Web pages). Among the companies that produce browsers are NCSA Mosaic, Netscape, and Microsoft, as well as commercial services like America Online. While many people think of browers as Web tools, they are also used as file managers within your computer. |
| Cache |
| A means of storing information so it can be retrieved quickly. When you visit a web site, your browser cache temporarily stores the site's data -- text, graphics, sounds, and URLs -- on your computer's hard drive. That way, when you visit the site again, you don't have to go through time-consuming Internet access. But caching isn't just for the Internet; you can cache data within your computer. Example: Access to your hard drive (aka hard disk) is slower than access to RAM (Random Access Memory -- the computer's short-term memory), so disk caching stores data from your hard disk in faster RAM. |
| Common Gateway Interface (CGI) |
| A computing standard that sets the rules for connecting, or interfacing, your personal computer with a Web server. The CGI enables the server to respond to your request to connect to a web site and communicates information back to whatever computer software that you are using (called an external program). CGI can be slow on busy web sites. An alternative is the API, or application program interface, a more complex technology, but one that works more directly with the Web server, so it's faster. |
| Coder/Decoder or Compression/Decompression Algorithm (Codec) |
| True to their name, codecs are used to encode and decode (or compress and decompress) various types of data -- particularly sound and video files that would use up inordinate amounts of space on your computer. Codecs typically convert lengthy analog signals into compressed digital signals, such as MPEG for video and Real Audio for audio. Codecs can be used with either streaming (live) or file-based content. |
| Cookie |
| Cookies, aka HTTP cookies or Web cookies, are small data files that are automatically entered into your computer's hard drive by some web sites you visit. They enable those web sites to track such things as your passwords, other web sites you've connected with, and the dates when you last looked at certain sites. Cookies have been criticized for intruding on computer users' privacy. There are anti-cookie functions available for personal computing, but some web sites, such as those that sell products, won't work if your computer won't accept their cookies. |
| Central Processing Unit (CPU) |
| The CPU -- a highly complex silicon chip ranging from the size of a matchbook to the size of a wallet -- is your computer's brain. Along with memory and input-output function, it is one of the three key components of a computer. The CPU takes requests from various software applications and then processes them so that the computer can perform the actions, known as operations, that you have requested. The faster your CPU, the more operations it can execute per second, and the faster things happen: Computer games play more smoothly, spreadsheets calculate more quickly, etc. Sometimes the term CPU is also used to describe the whole box that contains the chip along with the motherboard, expansion cards, disk drives, power supply, and so on. Both uses are widespread, but only the first -- the chip -- is really accurate. |
| Dynamic HTML (DHTML) |
| Dynamic HTML combines a variety of computing languages including HTML, style sheets, and scripts to make Web pages interactive and/or animated. This combination is what makes a DHTML Web page respond to your "clicks of the mouse" and allow you to interact with it. (HTML is the language used to create the basic "static" Web page.) |
| Domain Name System (DNS) |
| When you send email or instruct your browser to access a web site, you likely type an address, or domain name based on words (such as yourusername@frontier.com or www.frontier.com). The DNS translates the address into a series of numbers called an Internet Protocol (IP) address, which might look something like this: 123.123.23.2. These numbers comprise a code recognized by the Internet's computing system, which then sends your mail or connects you to the web site. |
| Denial of Service Attack (DoS Attack) |
| A malicious attack against a computer network that is intended to bring its operations to a halt by flooding it with useless traffic.
|
| Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) |
| DSL is a form of telephone technology that carries data at high speeds over standard copper telephone wires. With DSL, data can be delivered about 30 times faster than through a 56-bps modem, which uses traditional telephone technology. Also, DSL users can receive voice and data simultaneously, so you can leave your computer plugged into the Internet without interrupting phone connections. xDSL is the collective term for variations of DSL, such as ADSL and HDSL. |
| Dynamic Internet Protocol Address (Dynamic IP Address) |
| A temporary Internet Protocol address assigned to your computer hardware at the start of your High Speed Internet session. IP addresses are numerically coded addresses that link your computer to others on the Internet. The dynamic IP address is engineered specially for high-speed transmissions and is assigned from a pool of addresses owned by one's own Internet Service Provider. This address remains the same throughout your Internet session. When you disconnect, it is returned to the pool for assignment to another customer. When you reconnect to the Internet, you are again assigned a dynamic IP address. Dynamic IP addresses from the pool are assigned to just one customer at any one time, ensuring the uniqueness of the address on the Internet. |
| Firewall |
| A software program or hardware device that acts as a barrier between the Internet and your computer or networked server (a computer that "serves" multiple computers). A firewall prevents unauthorized access to your computer or server (by both software programs and unauthorized Internet users) and hides your Internet-connected computer from view. All information leaving and entering your computer must pass through the firewall. It ultimately helps keep hackers away from your personal and confidential data. |
| Freeware |
| Freeware is software you can download, pass around, and distribute without paying for it. It's still copyrighted, however, so you can't turn around and sell it as your own (as you can with a public domain software program). |
| File Transfer Protocol (FTP) |
| FTP is the computer program that lets you download information (in the form of files) from the Internet, by connecting your computer with another computer (a server). The server delivers, or "serves," the appropriate file to your computer. With FTP you can transfer files between networked computers. You can also connect to FTP sites using a Web browser. |
| Gigabyte (G or GB) |
| A unit of measure for a chunk of data totaling about 1 billion bytes (1,073,741,824 bytes, or 2 to the 30th power, to be exact, because bytes are calculated as binary numbers, based on the number 2). The following table shows standard measures of data based on bytes:
Term |
Abbreviation |
Approximate Value |
Precise Binary Value |
Byte |
B |
8 bits |
|
Kilobyte |
K or KB |
1,000 bytes |
1,024 bytes
or 2 to the 10th power |
Megabyte |
M or MB |
1 million bytes |
1,048,576 bytes
or 2 to the 20th power |
Gigabyte |
G or GB |
1 billion bytes |
1,073,741,824 bytes
or 2 to the 30th power |
Terabyte |
TB |
1 trillion bytes |
1,099,511,627,776 bytes or 2 to the 40th power |
|
| Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) |
| A form of data file that contains color images and background graphics. Most of the color images you find on the Web are GIF files. Once the most popular format for online color photos, this compact file format is ideal for graphics that use only a few hues or consist of line drawings. It has lost ground to the JPEG format for photos, however, because GIF images support 256 colors, while JPEGs can contain some 16-24 million colors and can look almost as good as photographs. Some still consider GIF better than JPEG for simpler images. |
| History List |
| While it sounds like something to do with school homework, a history list is actually a drop-down menu in a Web browser that contains a log of the document titles and URLs you have visited during your Web session. It's a convenience feature that lets you jump back to where you've been without having to click repeatedly on the Back button or retype Web addresses each time. |
| Host |
| In Internet usage, a host is any computer that has full two-way access to other computers via the Internet. Each host has a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address. The term also describes a computer equipped with with a server that delivers, or "serves," the pages of a web site to a browser that requests them. Companies that provide this service are also called hosts; the service is called hosting. For large organizations that use complex mainframe computers, the host is the mainframe itself (now usually referred to as the large server). In this context, the mainframe has intelligent or "dumb" workstations attached to it, to which it provides various services. In other contexts, a host is a device or software program that provides services to a smaller or less capable device or software program.
|
| Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) |
| The computing protocol used to transmit and receive all data over the World Wide Web. When you type a Web address (aka a domain name or URL) into your browser, you're actually sending an HTTP request to a Web server for a page of information (that's why Web addresses technically begin with "http://" -- although some software packages add this code automatically for you). |
| Instant Message Access Protocol (IMAP) |
| One of two forms of technology that allow your computer to retrieve email messages from the Internet or a network of computers. The other, older protocol, is POP (Post Office Protocol). Outbound messages are sent with SMTP (Simple Message Transport Protocol). |
| Internet Network Information Center (InterNIC) |
| InterNIC is a web site that provides information on domain names (web site addresses). Visit www.InterNIC.org to: search the registry for the availability of the domain name you want (click on Registry Whois); contact a registrar; file a registrar complaint; or report inacurate registry data. InterNIC is operated by a public-private partnership called the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Visit www.icann.org for more information. |
| Internet Protocol Address (IP Address) |
| Just as each building on a street has a unique address, so does each computer, server or other destination on the Internet. The IP address is an numerical address scheme that allows computers or servers to distinguish between each other. IP addresses are expressed as a series of four numbers that look like this: 66.133.128.140. Becauses these numerical series would be hard for people to remember and transcribe, they are translated into Domain Names -- words that describe the computer, web site or email they are naming. |
| Internet Server Application Program Interface (ISAPI) |
| An application program interface (API) designed for use with Microsoft's Internet Information Server; it's a computing protocol that sets the rules for connecting, or interfacing, your personal computer with a Web server. ISAPI helps you connect with the Web faster than the traditional CGI (Common Gateway Interface) and other APIs. ISAPI uses Windows' dynamic link libraries (DLLs) to make processes faster than regular APIs. |
| Java |
| A programming language developed by Sun Microsystems for adding animation and other action to web sites, Java was designed as a simplified language to help programmers avoid errors. Small Java-based software applications (called Java applets) can play back on your computer if your Web browser is Java compatible. (The leading browsers, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape, are compatible.) |
| Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG or JPG) |
| A file format for color images developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group committee. JPEG compresses graphics of photographic color depth better than competing formats like GIF, and it retains a high degree of color fidelity. (It can contain 16-24 million colors, compared to GIF's 256.) JPEG's smaller files are also quicker to download than GIF. You can choose how much to compress a JPEG file, but the smaller you compress it, the more color information you will lose. For this reason, GIF is considered better for simple line drawings and images with just a few hues, because such images can't afford to lose detail. |
| Kilobyte (k or kb) |
| A unit of measure for a chunk of data totaling about 1,000 bytes (1,024 bytes, or 2 to the 10th power, to be exact, because bytes are calculated as binary numbers, based on the number 2). The following table shows standard measures of data based on bytes:
Term |
Abbreviation |
Approximate Value |
Precise Binary Value |
Byte |
B |
8 bits |
|
Kilobyte |
K or KB |
1,000 bytes |
1,024 bytes
or 2 to the 10th power |
Megabyte |
M or MB |
1 million bytes |
1,048,576 bytes
or 2 to the 20th power |
Gigabyte |
G or GB |
1 billion bytes |
1,073,741,824 bytes
or 2 to the 30th power |
Terabyte |
TB |
1 trillion bytes |
1,099,511,627,776 bytes or 2 to the 40th power |
|
| Kilobits Per Second (Kbps) |
| A unit of measure that tells the number of kilobits of data that can be transferred in a second (a bit being the smallest unit of data and kilobit being 1,024 bits). Your modem's speed is measured by how many bits it can transfer in a second; those that can transfer kilobits are standard. |
| Local Area Network (LAN) |
| A local area network is a short-distance system used to link a group of computers together. The most commonly used form of LAN is the 10BaseT Ethernet. A piece of hardware called a hub serves as the common wiring point, enabling data to be sent from one machine to another over the network. LANs are typically limited to distances of less than 500 meters and provide low-cost, high-bandwidth networking capabilities within a small geographic area. |
| Linux |
| What do you do if you're not happy with the computer operating systems on the market? You build your own, of course. That's exactly what Linus Torvalds did. He created an open-source operating system: "open source" meaning that it's available to all (unlike proprietary systems tied to individual brands) and "operating system" meaning the computer's fundamental programming. His freely distributed, Intel-processor-based system is now used around the world. While Linux (pronounced LIH-nucks) began life primarily as a hobby for supergeeks, it has made inroads into corporate life, particularly as an inexpensive substitute for high-priced Unix operating system-based Web servers. Linux is available from a number of vendors for several hardware platforms, including Intel x86, DEC Alpha, Sun Sparc, and Motorola PowerPC. It is compatible with Windows. |
| Megabyte (M or MB) |
| A unit of measure for a chunk of data totaling about 1 million bytes (1,048,576 bytes, or 2 to the 20th power, to be exact, because bytes are calculated as binary numbers, based on the number 2). The following table shows standard measures of data based on bytes:
Term |
Abbreviation |
Approximate Value |
Precise Binary Value |
Byte |
B |
8 bits |
|
Kilobyte |
K or KB |
1,000 bytes |
1,024 bytes
or 2 to the 10th power |
Megabyte |
M or MB |
1 million bytes |
1,048,576 bytes
or 2 to the 20th power |
Gigabyte |
G or GB |
1 billion bytes |
1,073,741,824 bytes
or 2 to the 30th power |
Terabyte |
TB |
1 trillion bytes |
1,099,511,627,776 bytes or 2 to the 40th power |
|
| Malware |
| Malware is a kind of software program whose name derives from the words "malicious" and "software" -- and that is just what it is. Malware is typically transmitted via the Internet or a computer network, and can damage or destroy the infected computer or network. Malware comes in several forms: viruses, worms, zombies, Trojan Horses, and spyware. Each form is engineered differently, but all are destructive. Software is available to protect against malware. |
| Megabits Per Second (Mbps) |
| A unit of measure that tells how many megabits of data can be transferred from one computer to another in a second (a bit being the smallest unit of data and megabit being about 1 million bits). Typically used to measure the rate at which information travels over the Internet. |
| Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) |
| MIME has absolutely nothing to do with Marcel Marceau. It's a way to extend the power of the Web to handle graphics, sound, multimedia, and non-text (non-HTML-based) data, or in the case of email, to handle text that is based on the ASCII computer language. |
| Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) |
| MPEG is a standard for compressing sound and movie files into a format for downloading -- or even streaming it live -- across the Internet. It is one of three major video technologies for computing. (The others are Video for Windows and QuickTime.) There are three versions of MPEG. MPEG-1 moves video and sound data at 150 kilobytes per second (the same rate as a single-speed CD-ROM drive), which it manages by taking key frames of video and filling only the areas that change between the frames. But MPEG-1 produces only adequate-quality video, far below that of standard TV. MPEG-2 compression improves things dramatically, providing near-laserdisc clarity with a CD-quality stereo soundtrack. For that reason, modern video delivery media, such as digital satellite services and DVD, use MPEG-2. MPEG-4 combines the technology of the other two with that of QuickTime and uses narrower bandwith. |
| News Reader |
| A software program that connects you to the interactive online discussion group known as a newsgroup.
|
| Newsgroup |
| An interactive online discussion group, also called a forum. Think of newsgroups as worldwide bulletin boards, organized more or less stringently around a particular topic. They use the Network News Transfer Protocol technology. You need a news reader software program, such as Outlook Express and Forte FreeAgent, to view the discussion and add your comments. |
| Open Proxy, Open Proxy Server |
| A proxy server is a kind of server (a computer that delivers or "serves" information to other computers). The proxy links the user (often the Web browser on your personal computer, or a computer in a network or group) and another main server. The proxy can store information, so that if more than one user requests the same data, it delivers it, eliminating the need to tie up the main server with duplicated requests. The proxy can also filter transmissions, and is often used in workplace networks to screen out unwanted communications. An open proxy will accept connections from any network address, acting as a blind intermediary to virtually anybody. On the Internet, an open proxy can allow various kinds of malware (viruses, etc.) to be transmitted. |
| Portable Document Format (PDF) |
| A format for computer documents that allows them to be viewed and printed with a wide variety of software packages. The format was developed by Adobe Systems and requires that you have the company's Adobe Acrobat Reader software -- which it makes available for free. |
| Phishing |
| An Internet scam in which unscrupulous parties "phish" (pronounced "fish") for your personal information by attempting to lure you to click on a link in an email. You will then be directed to what looks like an official web site, where you'll be encouraged to enter personal information. The fake web site appears as though it is that of a real company (with which you might have a relationship) but it is merely a means to steal information.
A few things to keep in mind so that you are not lured into a scam:
- Always be suspicious of any email that asks for personal account information, such as your username, password, account number or any other personal data. Just because it looks like it came from an authentic source, doesn't mean that it did.
- Be aware that we at Frontier never ask customers for password information via email.
- Also, Frontier will never ask for billing or payment information via email.
- Always ensure that you're using a secure server when submitting credit card information online. To make sure you're using a secure server, check the beginning of the web address in your browser's address bar -- it should be https:// rather than just http://.
- Contact your bank or credit card company if you think you may have replied to a fraudulent email with sensitive personal information.
You can find more information on "phishing" by visiting:
Web sites that are commonly spoofed by scammers are:
|
| Post Office Protocol (POP) |
| One of two forms of technology that allow your computer to retrieve email messages from the Internet or a network of computers. The other, newer protocol is IMAP (Instant Message Access Protocol). Outbound messages are sent with SMTP (Simple Message Transport Protocol). |
| Pop-up |
| A pop-up is a small window or mini-Web page that "pops up" on your monitor when you visit a web site or click a link that activates it. Pop-ups are best known for displaying advertising on web sites, but they are also used to present photo enlargements (when you click on a thumbnail photo), or as small control panels conveniently separated from a main page. You can close a pop-up by clicking a button or link word; some are programmed to close after a set number of seconds or minutes. A pop-up is essentially the same as any other web page except that it usually appears in a much smaller format and contains only content -- no tool panels, status bar, etc. |
| Port 25, Port 25 Blocking |
| Port 25 blocking prevents spammers from sending masses of unauthorized junk email. Port 25 is the port, or connection, on your computer through which most outgoing emails must pass. |
| Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) |
| PPP is the standard for the Internet data transfer technology known as serial communications. Its predecessor, SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol), was less stable and had fewer functions. PPP defines how your modem connection exchanges packets of data with other systems on the Internet; it can also compress data and detect errors in the transmission. |
| Proxy, Proxy Server |
| A proxy server is a kind of server (a computer that delivers or "serves" information to other computers). The proxy links the user (often the Web browser on your personal computer, or a computer in a network or group) and another main server. The proxy can store information, so that if more than one user requests the same data, it delivers it, eliminating the need to tie up the main server. The proxy can also filter transmissions, and is often used in workplace networks to screen out unwanted communications. |
| QuickTime |
| Developed by Apple Computer, QuickTime is a method of storing sound, graphics, and movie files. It is one of three major video technologies for computing. (The others are Video for Windows and MPEG.) If you see a filename that ends with the extension .mov on the Web or on a CD-ROM, you'll know it's a QuickTime file. Although QuickTime was originally developed for Apple's Macintosh computer, software for it is now available for Microsoft Windows and other platforms. If you don't have a QuickTime player, you can always download it from Apple's web site. |
| Search Engine |
| A computing program that enables users to locate information on the World Wide Web. The user types in keywords relating to a particular topic, and the search engine combs through multiple web sites looking for those keywords. It then returns a list of web sites in which those words are used. Currently, three of the most popular search engines are Google, MSN, and Yahoo. |
| Serial Port |
| The communications connection, or port, on your computer. It sends instructions from your computer to your mouse, your modem and other components. It's also known as the COM or RS-232 port, after the names of the computing technologies it uses. It's called serial because, although it is composed of nine pins and many wires, the computer sends data on only one of these wires and receives data on one other. All the bits of data have to follow one another on the single wire (in a series), as opposed to the parallel port, where eight separate wires transfer the data. |
| Server |
| A server is the "master computer" that directs traffic between computers that are hooked up to a particular system. |
| Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) |
| When you are exchanging email on the Internet, SMTP is the computing technology that keeps the process orderly. SMTP allows emails to be sent (outbound) via the Internet or a network of computers. Emails are retrieved on the inbound side by one of two protocols: POP (Post Office Protocol) or the newer IMAP (Instant Message Access Protocol). |
| Spam |
| The junk mail of the Internet; unwanted mail that comes to your email address. Spammers often use bulk email programs to send out their unsolicited messages to lists of email addresses. Spammers often obtain these addresses without the recipients' knowledge, by "harvesting" them from web sites, mailing lists and newsletters, newsgroups and bulletin boards and other sources. Spam content ranges from ads and promotions to consumer scams. Many Internet Service Providers offer a spam filtering service that isolates spam from your legitimate email messages.
|
| Spyware |
| A wide variety of non-viral but nevertheless malicious software programs that are typically loaded onto a personal computer without the user's knowledge, via an Internet or network connection. Spyware can steal your personal information, switch your homepage, redirect your Web searches, display annoying ads, slow your PC to a crawl, or even control it remotely. Spyware comes in many shapes and sizes; some forms are simply an annoyance, while others threaten security. Some common types of spyware are: General Spyware, which tracks information about you, your computer, and your surfing habits; Adware, which displays unwanted advertising that can slow your computer to a crawl; Keyloggers, which can record every keystroke you make, then steal your passwords and other personal data; Browser Hijackers, which can change your homepage and search results; Remote Access Trojans (RATS), which allow attackers to remotely control your computer. Software programs called firewalls are available to protect against spyware. |
| Secure Socket Layer (SSL) |
| The Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is a commonly used protocol for managing the security of a message transmission on the Internet. |
| Terabyte (TB) |
| A unit of measure for a chunk of data totaling about 1 trillion bytes (1, 099,511,627,776 bytes, or 2 to the 40th power, to be exact, because bytes are calculated as binary numbers, based on the number 2). Computers with the capacity to hold terabytes of data are a more recent addition to the market but are gaining popularity. The following table shows standard measures of data based on bytes:
Term |
Abbreviation |
Approximate Value |
Precise Binary Value |
Byte |
B |
8 bits |
|
Kilobyte |
K or KB |
1,000 bytes |
1,024 bytes
or 2 to the 10th power |
Megabyte |
M or MB |
1 million bytes |
1,048,576 bytes
or 2 to the 20th power |
Gigabyte |
G or GB |
1 billion bytes |
1,073,741,824 bytes
or 2 to the 30th power |
Terabyte |
TB |
1 trillion bytes |
1,099,511,627,776 bytes or 2 to the 40th power |
|
| Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) |
| The computing communications technology used along with Internet Protocol (IP) to transmit information over the Internet. TCP is capable of streaming data, while IP divides it into chunks called packets.
|
| Teletype Network (Telnet) |
| A software program that runs on your computer and connects you to a server (a computer that "serves" other computers) on a network (a group of linked computers). You type in commands on your computer through the Telnet program, which then executes them as if you were entering them directly on the server. This enables you to control the server and communicate with other servers (and computers) on the network. You must have a valid username and password to start a Telnet session. |
| Text Group |
| A text group is a kind of newsgroup -- an interactive online discussion group –- that typically communicates via text only. (The other basic category of newsgroup is a binary group, which incorporates graphics and non-text media into the discussion.)
|
| Trojan Horse |
| In computing, a Trojan Horse is a malicious software program that is typically transmitted via the Internet or a network. It can damage or destroy an infected personal computer. Like the Trojan Horse of Greek mythology, it infiltrates by attaching itself, unseen, to a harmless software program. Software is available to protect against Trojan Horses. A Trojan Horse is a form of malware (from the words "malicious" and "software"). Other forms of malware include computer viruses, worms, zombies and spyware.
|
| Universal Serial Bus (USB) |
| A form of data bus -- a system of wiring that transmits information between the components of a computer. A data bus can be either internal or external; the latter connects to peripherals such as the mouse, printer, keyboard, etc. USB is an external data bus designed by a consortium of computer makers including Compaq, Digital, and IBM. It can connect to as many as 127 peripherals and enable you use them all at once. It supports data transfer rates up to 12MB/sec, making it suitable for even high-bandwidth applications such as video. |
| Virus |
| A computer virus is a malicious software program that is typically transmitted via the Internet or a network. It can damage or destroy an infected computer or network. The virus usually attaches itself to another program or document to gain entry and can replicate itself. Anti-virus software is available to protect against viruses. It is a form of malware (from the words "malicious" and "software"). Other forms of malware include worms, Trojan Horses, zombies and spyware. |
| Virus Hoax |
| A false warning about a computer virus, worm or other malicious software program. Typically transmitted en masse via email or computer network. These warnings are usually forwarded using large distribution lists, and they will typically suggest that the recipient forward the warning to other distribution lists. If you get a warning message about a new virus, you can check it out by visiting one of several web sites that keep up with viruses and virus hoaxes such as www.ciac.org and hoaxbusters.ciac.org. |
| Waveform (WAV) |
| Pronounced "wave," this is the Windows standard for Waveform Sound File, a file format for storing audio files on a personal computer. WAV filenames predictably end with the extension .wav. |
| Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) |
| A security protocol for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs -- a group of computers linked without cabling). WEP was defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers in the 1990s and is designed to provide the same level of security as that of a wired Local Area Network (LAN). LANs are protected by their physical structure and their cabling, which is located in full or in part inside a building that can be secured from unauthorized access. WLANs transmit information over high-frequency radio waves, which makes them more vulnerable to tampering. WEP aims to provide security by encrypting data during transmission -- that is, transmitting it in a secure code. |
| Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) |
| A group of computers linked without cabling. WLANS transmit data via high-frequency radio waves. Because information transmitted this way is vulnerable to tampering, it can be encrypted, or coded, to make it more secure by means of a system called Wired Equivalent Priacy (WEP). |
| Worm |
| A computer worm is a malicious software program that is typically transmitted via the Internet or a network. It can damage or destroy an infected personal computer or network. Worms are engineered to use email to spread quickly. A worm usually attaches itself to another program or email to gain entry. Software is available to protect against computer worms. The computer worm is a form of malware (from the words "malicious" and "software"). Other forms of malware include computer viruses, Trojan Horses, zombies and sypware. |
| What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) |
| A catchphrase from the old TV show, "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In," that became a desktop publishing byword. WYSIWYG (pronounced "whizzy-wig") refers to any technology that enables you to see images and text onscreen exactly as they will appear when printed out. As scalable screen and printer fonts have become more sophisticated, and as graphical user interfaces have improved their display, people have come to expect everything to be WYSIWYG. But it isn't always the case -- and certainly wasn't in the 1980s, when this term was first applied. |
| Extensible Markup Language (XML) |
| A system for defining specialized markup languages that are used to transmit formatted data. Markup languages are the codes that are combined with text to tell the computer what format -- boldface, italic, etc. -- to present that text in. One of the best known markup languages is HTML, which is used to format Web documents. XML is related to HTML, but XML is not itself a markup language; it's a metalanguage, a language used to create other specialized languages. |
| Zombie |
| In computing, a zombie is a malicious software program that is typically transmitted via the Internet or a network. A zombie can install itself on a PC and remain dormant until an external event triggers it. It can damage your PC, steal your personal information and send it to an unauthorized email account, or even open up remote control access to your PC. It usually attaches itself to another program or an email to gain entry. Software is available to protect against zombies. The zombie is a form of malware (from the words "malicious" and "software"). Other forms of malware include viruses, worms, Trojan Horses and spyware.
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