Quick Basic Computer Reference:
Internet Terms
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Internet - A network of networks that was created in 1969, by the United States military. Today, the Internet spreads across the globe and consists of countless networks and computers, allowing millions of people to share information. The Internet and the World Wide Web are the same thing. The World Wide Web is what you are browsing right now. It is one of the many features of the Internet, like E-mail and Instant Messaging,
WWW - World Wide Web The World Wide Web or just "the Web" is not a synonym for the Internet. It is a subset of the Internet. The Web consists of pages that can be accessed using a Web browser. The Internet is the actual network of networks where all the information resides.
HTTP - HyperText Transfer Protocol This protocol is used to transfer data over the World Wide Web. That's why all Web site addresses begin with "http://".
HTML - Hyper-Text Markup Language This is the language that Web pages are written, also known as hypertext documents. Web pages must conform to the rules of HTML in order to be displayed correctly in a Web browser.
Hardware Terms
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Network - Connects multiple computers, printers and devices so that data can be passed between them
LAN - Local Area Network A computer network limited to a small area such as an office building, university, or even a residential home to share information. Currently, the most common type of LANs are Ethernet-based, but with the emergence of wireless networking, wireless LANs have become a popular alternative.
Server - A computer that serves information to computers that connect to it. When users connect to a server, they can access programs, files, and other information from the server. Common servers are Web servers, mail servers, and LAN servers.
Switch - A hardware device that is used to network multiple computers together.
Router - A hardware device that routes data (hence the name) from a local area network (LAN) to another network connection.
Firewall - A computer firewall limits the data that can pass through it and protects a networked server or client machine from damage by unauthorized users. Firewalls can be either hardware or software-based.
Software Terms
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Malware - Malicious Software A software program designed to damage or do other unwanted actions on a computer system. Common examples of malware include viruses, worms, trojan horses, and spyware.
Virus - A small program or script that can negatively affect the health of your computer. These malicious little programs can create files, move files, erase files, consume your computer's memory, and cause your computer not to function correctly.
Spyware - Software that "spies" on your computer. Spyware can capture information like Web browsing habits, e-mail messages, usernames and passwords, and credit card information. If left unchecked, the software can transmit this data to another person's computer over the Internet.
Adware - Free software that is supported by advertisements. Common adware programs are toolbars that work in conjunction with your Web browser. Most adware is safe to use, but some can serve as spyware.
Rootkit - A software program designed to provide a user with administrator access to a computer without being detected. Rootkits are are considered one of the most serious types of malware since they may be used to gain unauthorized access to remote systems and perform malicious operations.
AntiVirus - A software utility used for scanning and removing viruses from your computer. While many types of antivirus (or "anti-virus") programs exist, their primary purpose is to protect computers from viruses and remove any viruses that are found.
