Dictionary of Computing Terms
If you can't find the term you're looking for please send it to me at content@dtex-consulting.co.uk and I'll try and include it.
A
Adware
Often considered a form of Spyware or malware this is software that gets installed on your PC and displays ads. Often bundled with free or shareware downloads it is usually seemingly harmless, however, some adware programs can track your surfing habits.
Anti-Spyware Software
Software that detects and removes spyware from your computer. While there are many legitimate and effective anti-spyware products there are also many ineffective ones that can employ adware to pursuade you to buy them. Top
B
Backup
A backup is a copy of the information stored on your Hard Disk Drive. Performing a backup is the process of creating this copy. Bsckups should be performed regularly to devices such as CD. DVD or tape to ensure that information is not lost if there is a problem with your computer.
Browser Hijackers
A form of spyware/malware that makes changes to your browser settings. They often change your home page and redirect your browser to undesirable sites. Sometimes also called Home Page Hijackers.
Burning
A term typically used to refer to the process of writing information onto a CD or DVD. It comes from the fact that a laser is used to 'burn' the information onto the media. Top
C
Cookie
A small text file stored on your computer by websites. The majority of cookies are completely harmless and are needed to surf websites (e.g. this site stores a small cookie temporarily to enable you to login and access the resources on the site). Unfortunately, a few sites store cookies on your computer that can be used to track the sites you visit on the internet.
CPU
Central Processing Unit - the part of a computer that does most of the work. Also known as the processor and for PCs likely to be manufactured by Intel or AMD. Top
D
DHCP
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol - A service running on a network that assigns IP Addresses. When a computer connects to a network with this service it will ask for an IP Address (if it is set up to do so) and a DHCP server is responsible for assigning one.
Dialer
A malicious program that can disconnect your dial-up internet connection and reconnect using a premium rate number. Computers infected with rogue dialer software can result in extremely high phone bills!
Computers connected to the internet via broadband and that don't have a dial-up modem connected to a phone socket are not at risk from dialers.
DNS
Domain Name Service - A service on the internet that resolves website names to IP Addresses.
When you visit a website the name you enter must be translated into an equivalent IP Address so that your computer can communicate with the computer hosting the website. This translation is done by servers running DNS.
Domain Name
The textual description of a location on the internet. A domain name will map to a specific IP Address and is used to simplify addressing across the network.
Drive-by Download
When programs are downloaded without the user's knowledge or consent. Most often accomplished when the user clicks to close or eliminate a random advertisement or other dialogue box. Top
E
Encryption
The method of scrambling data so that if monitored it is difficult to unscramble and understand. Top
F
Firewall
Either a program or a piece of hardware that protects a computer or network from unauthorised access or network communication. A firewall monitors all the traffic passing through it and matches it against predefined rules. Any traffic that doesn't match these rules is rejected.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
a protocol used to download and upload files across the internet. Top
G
TopH
Home Page Hijackers
(see Browser Hijackers)
HTTP (Hyper Text Control Protocol)
method used to transmit information stored in web pages. Top
I
ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol)
Protocol used by routers to exchange information with each other.
IP (Internet Protocol)
the main delivery method for information over TCP/IP networks such as the internet.
IP Address
An address that allows equipment attached to a network to be recognised. Any equipment attached to a TCP/IP network must have an IP Address and that address must be unique amongst all other equipment connected to the same network.
ISP (Internet Service Provider)
A company that provides access to the internet (usually for a price!). Examples of ISPs are BT, Virgin, NTL, Tiscali etc... Top
J
TopK
Keylogger
A type of spyware that runs on your computer without your knowledge, monitoring your keystrokes and sending them to a central location.
Keyloggers are an extremely dangerous form of spyware that can result in a third party being able to view sensitive information such as login details, banking details or credit card details.
A good quality spyware removal program should always be installed to prevent infection from spyware.
TopL
TopM
TopN
TopO
Operating System
The software running on a computer that allows you to interact with it. The operating system controls communication between the computer and attached devices including disk drives and manages the tasks and processes running on the computer. Top
P
Packet
Information sent across a network is split up into smaller units called packets. Top
Q
TopR
"Remove Me"
An option appearing on many spam emails which is often fake. In fact, by clicking the link and supplying your email you often get added to more spam lists which leads to even more spam email.
Router
A piece of equipment that routes network traffic between different networks. Top
S
Shareware
Software that is made available free for evaluation. The licensing of shareware allows you to use the application for free for a limited period. At the end of the period you are required to pay the author or delete the application. Continuing to use shareware at the end of the evaluation period without paying is piracy.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol
Protocol used to send email.
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
Protocol used to collect information about equipment connected to a network.
Spam
Unsolicited marketing email that is sent in bulk. Spam wastes internet resources as well as the recipients time.
Spyware
Spyware is any application that makes potentially unwanted changes to your computer while collecting information about your computer activities. This information may then be sent to a third party for malicious purposes, without your knowledge or consent. Spyware arrives bundled with freeware or shareware, through e-mail or instant messenger, as an ActiveX installation, or by someone with access to your computer. Unlike traditional personalization or session cookies, spyware is difficult to detect, and difficult (if not impossible) for the average user to remove.
To read more about Spyware click here.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
A protocol developed by Netscape to transmit private information via the internet. Used by sites that require personal or sensitive information. Websites implementing SSL can be recognised by the fact that their address starts with HTTPS:// rather than the more common HTTP://
System Monitors
A type of spyware that can monitor your computer activity. Examples of the things that different types can monitor are: keystrokes, emails, websites visited, internet chats, applications run, usernames and passwords. The information monitored may be sent to a remote server or via email and can be used by third parties to monitor your personal details. Top
T
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
used to break apart and rebuild information that travels over TCP/IP networks such as the internet.
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol - the set of rules that define how information is formatted and transmitted over a TCP/IP network.
TCP/IP is one of a number of network types, however as the internet is a TCP/IP network it has become the de facto standard for networks.
Telnet
Protocol used to perform commands on a remote computer.
Trojan Horse (also known as Trojan or backdoor Trojan)
A program that allows a hacker to make changes to your ocmputer. Different from a virus in that it can't generally replicate itself to other computers and is usually disguised as a harmless program that is often distributed via email.
Usually installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent it has the ability to manage files on your computer, including creating, deleting, renaming, viewing, or transferring files to or from your computer. It may utilize a program manager that allows a hacker to install, execute, open, or close software programs. The hacker may have the ability to open and close your CD-ROM drive, gain control of your cursor and keyboard, and may even send spam by sending mass e-mails from your infected computer. Trojans have the ability to run in the background, hiding their presence.
TopU
UDP (User Datagram Protocol)
Protocol used to transfer information that requires no response, such as streaming audio and video.
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
A technology for connecting equipment to your computer. USB has grown in popularity to the point that it is now the standard way to connect most peripherals (e.g. cameras, modems, MP3 players, keyboards, mice, joysticks, printers etc.. etc..) to your computer. Top
V
Virus
A program that has the ability to 'infect' other programs, or areas of your hard disk. The ability to replicate itself enables a virus to spread rapidly between computers and while many just replicate themselves most will also cause damage. Top
W
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
A technology to encrypt information over a wireless network. WEP was the original wireless encryption protocol introduced in 1997. However, it has been found to be easily creacked enabling access to a wireless network with little effort. WEP has now been replaced by much more secure technology (see WPA).
Worm
A program that replicates itself over a computer network and usually performs malicious actions, such as using up the computer's resources or shutting the system down. A recent example of a worm is the Sasser worm (or W32.Sasser.A and its variants) that affected millions of corporate and private computer systems. Earlier in 2004, the Netsky worm (or W32/Netsky) spread by mass email using addresses obtained from infected computers. Worms also spread via local networks by trying to copy themselves to shared folders on available drives.
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
A technology designed to provide security on wireless networks by encrypting the information sent across the network. WPA (or it's later variant WPA2) replaces the WEP technology and provides a much stronger, more effective and secure connectin than WEP. Top