Glossary

Term Definition
ADSL Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines than a conventional dial-up modem can provide. It does this by utilizing frequencies that are not used by a voice telephone call. A splitter or micro filters allow a single telephone connection to be used for both ADSL service and voice calls at the same time. Because phone lines vary in quality and were not originally engineered with ADSL in mind, it can generally only be used over short distances, typically less than 5 km.
Adware Adware is software installed on a computer to deliver advertisements or other content which encourages you to purchase goods or services. It is often installed through downloading free software.
Antivirus Anti-virus software is a class of program that searches computer memory, hard drives and floppy disks for any known or potential viruses, and removes or disables the virus.
Back-up Making copies of data so that these additional copies may be used to restore the original data in case the computer crashes. These additional copies are typically called "backups".
Botnet Botnet is a jargon term for a collection of zombie computers i.e a compromised computer attached to the internet, that can be used to send spam or launch denial of service attacks. A botnet's orginator can control the group remotely and usually does so for malicious purposes.
Broadband Broadband internet is a high data-transmission rate internet connection. ADSL, wireless and cable are popular consumer broadband technologies. They are typically capable of transmitting 256 kilobits per second or more, starting at approximately four times the speed of a modem using dial-up.
Browser A program that allows a user to find, view, hear, and interact with material on the Internet.
Cookie A cookie is information that a web site puts on your hard disk so that it can remember something about you at a later time. Typically, a cookie records a user's preferences when using a particular site and allows the web site server to store its own information about a user on the user's own computer.
Denial-of-Service Attack A denial-of-service attack (abbreviated DoS attack) is an attack on a computer system or network that causes a loss of service to users. This is achieved by ‘flooding’ a system with useless data or requests for data, which causes an overload of the system or computer.
Dictionary attack A dictionary attack is a technique for defeating a password by searching a large number of possibilities using normal or dictionary words.
Domain A segment of internet space, denoted by the function or type of information it includes; current domains include ".com" for commercial sites, ".gov" for governmental ones, and ".org" for non-commercial organizations.
Download To copy files from one computer to another; to view a website or other web material with a browser.
EFTPOS Electronic Funds Transfer Point of Sale. It is a bank card-based system which allows the holder to purchase goods without cash.
Email Email (electronic mail) is the exchange of computer-stored messages by telecommunication. Email can be distributed to lists of people as well as to individuals. 
Encryption Encryption is the process of transforming documents and files into a secret code for safe transmission over a public network. The information is then converted or deciphered back into its original format.
e-Security Electronic security, or online security.
File sharing This is the practice of making files available for other users to download over the internet or between computers.
Firewall A firewall monitors information going in and out of your computer. It can be in the form of a software program or a piece of hardware. It is designed to let through the websites and files you want to view on the internet and block those that you don't.
Flash drive Flash drive is a small piece of hardware which stores large amounts of data, using what is called "flash memory". It means that the hardware doesn't need to spin in order for a computer to read the information on it, that is, the information can be read in a 'flash'. Flash drives are generally small, lightweight and removable from a computer. Generally used in USB drives.
Freeware Freeware is copyrighted computer software which is made available for use free of charge, for an unlimited time.
Hacker Someone who attempts to gain unauthorized access to a computer system, often for fraudulent purposes.
Hardware The mechanical parts of a computer system, including the central processing unit, monitor, keyboard, and mouse, as well as other equipment like printers and speakers.
Hoax email Hoax emails or "phishing" emails (pronounced fishing) are fraudulent email messages used to gain access to personal information for illegal purposes, such as transferring funds or purchasing goods.
Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Information technology (IT) or information and communications technology (ICT) is the technology required for information processing. In particular the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and retrieve information from anywhere, anytime.
Internet  The total of interconnected computer networks the world over, linked together for the purpose of exchanging information among people. Also referred to as the world wide web or web. It can be used to share thoughts and ideas; buy and sell; and experience sound and vision from ten feet or ten thousand miles away.
Internet Service Provider An internet service provider (ISP) is a company that provides access to the internet.
Jump drive Some people use the term jump drive to describe USB-type drive sticks.
LAN (Local Area Network) A network of connected computers that are generally located near each other, such as in an office or company.
Laptop A laptop computer, or simply laptop (also notebook computer or notebook), is a small mobile computer which can easily be carried outside the office.
Licence Agreement A software license agreement is a memorandum of contract between a producer and a user of computer software which grants the user a software license. Most often, a software license agreement indicates the terms under which an end-user may use the licensed software, in which case the agreement is called an end-user license agreement or EULA.
Malicous Software (Malware) Malware is malicious software inserted into a computer system for the purpose of causing harm, such as stealing personal and financial information to conduct fraud and can deny users access to information and services.
Memory stick Memory Stick (sometimes abbreviated as MS) is a removable flash drive format. The copyright to this term is owned by Sony.
Memory storage device A term sometimes used to describe a USB-type drive.
Mobile device A term used to describe portable devices (e.g. mobile phone, laptop computer) and/or removable memory devices such as USB-drives etc.
Modem A modem is a device that is used to connect your computer to the internet.
MP3 player MP3 player is a portable, handheld digital music player that stores, organizes and plays MP3 music and often other audio files. Sometimes called Personal Media Players (PMP).
Online Connected to the Internet.
Online security Security of your computer when connected to the internet.
Padlock When using the internet, a padlock is a security device located in the bottom right of your screen. It is used to tell you that the website you are using is secure when the padlock is closed. If the padlock is open, the website is not safe to transmit information over, such as your credit card details.
Password A word or code that protects against unauthorised access to data. The word or code is entered in order to access the data.
Patches A fix for a software program, also known as a software update.
PDA Personal digital assistant (PDA) refers to handheld computers that were originally designed as personal organisers but are now used as pocket computers or palmtop computers and can connect to the internet.
Peer-to-peer file sharing network Usually file sharing follows the peer-to-peer (P2P) model, where the files are stored on and served by personal computers of the users.
Pen drive Another name for a USB-type memory drive.
Phishing Phishing refers to fraudulent email messages used to gain access to personal information for illegal purposes such as transferring funds or purchasing goods over the internet.
Pop-Up A pop-up is a graphical user interface (GUI) display area, usually a small window, which suddenly appears ('pops-up') in the foreground of the normal screen.
Portable device A term used to describe mobile devices (e.g. mobile phone, laptop computer) and/or removable memory devices such as USB-drives etc.
Remote Access Refers to communication with a computer, network, or data processing facility from a remote location or facility through a link such as the internet or mobile phone.
Scam A commonly used term to describe a confidence trick, relying on email or a website to deliver the trick to unsuspecting users.
Search Engine A search engine is a program that search websites for information you requested and returns the results to you in an index.
Software A computer program with instructions that enable the computer hardware to work. System software — such as Windows or MacOS — operate the machine itself. Applications software — such as spreadsheet or word processing programs — provide specific functionality.
Spam Spam is an attempt to force an advertising message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it, using email, sms or junk mail into your letterbox. Most email spam is commercial advertising, often for dubious products, get-rich-quick schemes, or quasi-legal services.
Spyware Spyware is software that is installed on a computing device and takes information from it without the consent or knowledge of the user and gives that information to a third party.
SSID Service set identifier (SSID) is a code attached to all packets of information on a wireless network.The code is commonly used for laptop computer users attempting to connect to the internet through a wireless connection (e.g. wi-fi).
SSL (Secure Socket Layer) The most widely used security protocol on the internet, often used for online shopping sites. SSL creates a secure channel over which data can be exchanged.
Trojan Horse A 'trojan' is malicious code which is hidden in a computer program or other computer file which may appear to be useful, interesting, or at the very least harmless to you when using your computer. When this computer program or file is run, the malicious code is also triggered, resulting in the set up or installation of the malicious trojan horse program.
URL Universal Resource Locator is the technical term for a website address.
USB USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a common term for a mass storage device, particularly flash drives, which are replacing floppy disks for data transport.
Virus A virus is a computer program designed to 'infect' and corrupt a computer. The virus will disrupt programs installed on a computer and spread to other computer users via email, hidden within downloads, or on diskettes or CDs.
VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the routing of voice conversations over the internet. This is distinct from a telephone call which is made from your home or office phone which goes through the Public Subscriber Telephone Network.
Wi-Fi A Wi-Fi device such as a laptop or PDA can connect to the internet when within range of a wireless network connected to the internet. The area covered by one or more wi-fi access points is commonly called a hotspot.
Wireless The term wireless is normally used to refer to any type of electrical or electronic operation which is accomplished without the use of a "hard wired" connection. In internet-related terms, it is used to describe connections which are made without plugging into anything, such as when using a laptop computer to connect through wi-fi to the internet. It can also be used to describe 3G mobile network connections, or mobile phones.
Worm A worm is a self-replicating virus that does not alter files but resides in active memory and duplicates itself.
Zombie A zombie computer, abbreviated zombie, is a computer attached to the internet that has been compromised by a security hacker, a computer virus, or a trojan horse. Generally, a compromised machine is only one of many in a "botnet", and will be used to perform malicious tasks of one sort or another under remote direction. Most owners of zombie computers are unaware that their system is being used in this way.