802.x

The set of IEEE standards for defining LAN protocols.

Anti-virus software

Computer programs designed to detect the presence or occurrence of a computer virus. The software subsequently signals an alert of such detection via any of a variety of mechanisms and, in many commercial products, can then be used to delete the virus.

(Asynchronous Transfer Mode)

High speed network protocol especially good for real time voice and video.

Backup

To make a copy of a file or program for the purpose of restoring the data if the masters were to be lost, damaged, or otherwise unavailable for use. To be most effective from a security standpoint, backup files are frequently stored at off-site locations.

Bandwidth

The amount of data that can be moved through a particular interface in a given period of time.

Bookmark

A shortcut to an Internet site that is stored and accessed via a Web browser (also called "favorite").

Cache

An area of disk space which stores the text and graphics of a viewed web page. When the web page is revisited, the Web browser will retrieve the data from the cache instead of downloading it again to save time.

Client/server network

A configuration where all people store their files on a central computer, and files are accessed directly from where they are stored on the central computer. The central computer is the server, and the client is the computer that can access the information from the central computer.

Cookie

A string of text relating to your activity at a particular World Wide Web site that is downloaded to your hard disk and accessed by that site the next time you visit.

Digital certificate

An attachment to an electronic message that allows the recipient to authenticate the identity of the sender via third party verification from an independent certificate authority. Digital certificates are used to identify encryption and decryption codes between message senders and recipients.

Downloading

The process of transferring information from a remote computer to yours.

(Digital Subscriber Lines)

This technology uses existing copper pair wiring that exists in almost every home and office. Special hardware attached to both the user and switch ends of line allows data transmission over the wires at far greater speed than the standard phone wiring.

(EDI)

A format that prescribes how specific elements of data should be combined and formatted for computer-to-computer exchange.

E-mail address

An identifying address for a user's mailbox; characters identifying the user are followed by the @ symbol and the address of the mailbox's computer.

Encryption

The process of translating a file into an apparently unintelligible format (i.e., to encode it) via the use of mathematic algorithms or other encoding mechanisms. In general terms, the recipient of an encrypted message must possess a matching key to decrypt and read the message.

Extranet

The part of a company or organization's internal computer network which is available to outside users, for example, information services for customers.

Firewall

an electronic boundary that prevents unauthorized users and/or packets of data or information (e.g., files and programs) from accessing a protected system

Gateway

an electronic device that allows for two different computer or networks to connect (i.e., it "translates" between networks that use different protocols

Hub

a device that links all client computers to the server

Internet

A world-wide network of computer networks through which people can exchange data and communications.

(IE)

The most widely used World Wide Web browser. It comes with the Microsoft Windows operating system and can also be downloaded from Microsoft's Web site.

Intranet

localized network of computers that is used to communicate electronically within that specific area

(Integrated Services Digital Network)

A digital phone line that can transmit data, video and voice.

(Internet Service Provider)

An entity that provides commercial access to the Internet.

Kernel

The essential part of a program or operating system, which performs the basic functions.

MP3

Motion Picture Experts Group, Audio Layer 3.A popular music download format.MP3 produces CD-quality music in a compressed file that can be transferred quickly, and played on any multimedia computer with MP3 player software.

Network

- A group of computers connected to each other to share computer software, data, communications and peripherals. Also, the hardware and software needed to connect the computers together.

Online

status of being connected to a computer or having information available through the use of a computer

Peer-to-peer network

a configuration where people store their files on their own computers, and anyone on the network can access the files stored on the other networked computers

Remote access

The act of accessing a computer or network from a location that is removed from the physical site of the computer or network.

Router

Specialized computer that stores and forwards data packets between networks, first determining all possible paths to the destination address and then picking the best route based on traffic load and number of hops. A router can be a hardware device or a combination of hardware and software.

Search engine

Software that searches for specific information or files on the Internet using search criteria that you enter.

Topology

The geometric configuration of a computer network, or how the network is physically laid out.

(Uniform resource locator)

Web browser

(WWW)