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A up
ActiveX
A Microsoft technology that allows
small programs to run inside your browser.
Add-on
A supplement to a piece of software
that gives an added layer of functionality: for example, add-ons in
Mozilla Firefox can allow you to take pictures of the screen or
remove adverts.
Address book
Part of your email software where you
store details of your friends' and contacts' e-mail addresses so you
don't have to remember them.
Adobe Flash
Used to create and play interactive
videos, games and other multimedia items on the internet. You may
need to install a plug-in to view Flash content on your browser.
Adobe Photoshop
Software which you can use to view and
edit images.
ADSL
'Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line' -
a type of broadband technology used for connecting to the internet.
ADSL filter
Plugs in to your telephone line to stop
broadband and telephone signals from getting mixed up, or interfering
with each other.
ADSL router
Also known as a DSL modem, this is used
for connecting a computer to the internet.
Adware
A form of spyware which installs
programs which generate advertising on your computer (often in the
form of pop-up windows).
Alt
Letters at the start of the
"alternative" user-originated newsgroups ranging from
alt.bill-gates to alt.yoga. Can also mean 'alternative'.
Alt tag
The text which appears when you roll
the mouse over a picture. This is the alt tag in HTML and is useful
for people who view pages in text-only mode, or who are blind or
visually impaired.
Android
An operating system developed by Google
for mobile phones and other hand-held devices.
Animated GIF
Short for 'Graphics Interchange
Format', a GIF is a type of image file. When it is animated it might
blink, flash or have moving elements.
Animation
Pictures which are combined in a
certain way so they appear to move. Cartoons are animations.
Anti-spyware
Anti-spyware software helps stop
malicious programs stealing confidential information from your
computer.
Anti-virus
Security software that helps protect
your computer from viruses spread online.
AOL
Formerly known as American Online, this
company used to be the world's largest Internet Service Provider
(ISP).
Apache
Free open-source software used on over
50% of the internet's web servers.
Apple
A company set up by Steve Jobs, Steve
Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in 1976, which makes computers (such as
Macs), MP3 players (iPods), software (such as iTunes) mobile phones
(iPhones) and more.
Apple Macintosh
A series of computers made by Apple.
The first Macintosh was released in 1984.
Application
Another word for a computer program.
For example, Microsoft Word (which is used for creating text
documents) is a word processing application.
Archive
The place on a website where you find
old news, articles, stories etc.
Archiving
To move old files which may not still
be in use or relevant to a separate storage area.
ASCII
A computer code that represents letters
as numbers. For example, the letter A is ASCII code 65.
ASCII art
When plain text characters are arranged
on the screen in such a way that they create an image.
Attachment
A file which has been attached (sent
with) an email. This could be an image, a video or any other
document. You can usually attach a file to an email by clicking an
icon in the shape of a paperclip.
Auction site
A website (such as eBay) where people
can bid money on different items for sale.
Audio clip
A sound file (for example, music or
spoken word) which has been placed on the internet to either download
or listen to online.
Auto connect
When your computer has been set to
automatically connect to a service (for example, the internet)
whenever it detects that it is available.
Avatar
A picture or cartoon of yourself or a
favourite character that you use to represent yourself in games, on
message boards or on social networking websites.
B up
Back up
To save files to a CD or USB drive so
that they are kept in more than one place.
Back up service
A service (such as a website) that you
can use to back up your data so that it is kept safe.
Bandwidth
The amount of data that can be carried
per second by your internet connection. Usually measured in kilobytes
per second (kBps).
Banner
A rectangular shaped advert or heading
normally at the top of a web page. On the WebWise website, this
includes our logo, tagline and the illustrations directly to the
right of these.
Baud Rate
The speed at which your modem can
transmit and receive information. Nowadays it's more usual to use the
term bps (bits per second) or Bps (bytes per second).
BBS (Bulletin Board System)
A system for posting messages so other
people on a message board can read them and reply, which you access
by phoning the BBS and connecting using special software. This system
is not commonly used any more.
Bcc
Blind Carbon Copy. The Bcc box allows
you to send an e-mail to more than one person but their e-mail
addresses are hidden from other recipients.
Bebo
A social networking website popular
with teens and young people, where people can meet online and share
photos and videos.
Berners-Lee, Tim
The man credited with creating the
internet in its current form. He is the founder and director of
several organisations which oversee the development of the internet.
Beta version
A software program (or website) that
hasn't been tested enough to be on general public release. When you
use it the company will use your experience of bugs to iron out the
product's problems.
BETSIE
BBC Education Text to Speech Internet
Enhancer. Software running on the BBC website to help blind and
visually impaired people. On most BBC pages it's on the top left hand
side (click on 'text only').
Bitmap
A format used to save images. The file
contains a colour value for each pixel in a picture. Bitmap files
tend to be very large, and it is often better to save images as GIFs
or JPGs.
Bitrate
Also 'bits per second (bps)' - the
speed at which information in a file is read by a specific piece of
hardware. A 'high bitrate' file will contain more detailed data but
will take longer to be processed.
BitTorrent
A company, but also a relatively fast
method of transferring files across the internet by connecting to
multiple computers all sharing the same file (which has been broken
down into lots of smaller parts).
Blog
Short for 'weblog', a blog is an online
personal diary with thoughts and opinions on life as well as links to
other websites the author likes.
Blogger
Someone who writes for or owns a blog.
Blogging
Writing an online diary with personal
thoughts and opinions.
Bluetooth
A wireless network which can be used to
transfer data (like photos and videos) between mobile phones over
very short distances.
Blu-ray
Much like DVD, a type of disc that can
hold files (like films and music) - but Blu-ray disks can hold up to
ten times more information than a standard DVD.
BMP
Stands for 'bitmap' - a type of image
file. Bitmap images can be very large, and it is often better to save
images as jpgs or gifs.
Bookmark/favourite
A web link you have saved to your
browser that you can easily get to that web page again without having
to type in the whole address or use a search engine.
Boolean operators
Language you can use to refine search
results - so, 'cats AND dogs' will bring up links to pages referring
to both of these animals, but 'cats NOT dogs' will bring up pages
about cats which don't mention dogs.
Bot
Also 'robot' - a piece of software that
runs throughout the internet doing specific tasks, such as looking
for information about web pages.
Bps (bits per second)
Also 'bitrate' - the speed at which
information in a file is read by a specific piece of hardware. A
'high bitrate' file will contain more detailed data but will take
longer to be processed.
Broadband
A permanent high-speed internet
connection. It receives digital information about 100 times faster
than an old dial up modem and is always on.
Broadband provider (ISP)
A company which provides a broadband
connection to the internet.
Browser
A software program that allows you to
view files (including web pages, PDFs, images, video and audio) over
the internet. It is likely that you are viewing this text as part of
a web page file on the internet via your browser right now.
Browser settings
Settings which allow you to change how
your browser works, including how it displays files and how it
connects to the internet.
Browser window
The part of your browser which displays
files. The browser window you are currently looking at starts above
the BBC banner at the top of this page and ends under the black bar
at the bottom of it.
BT Vision
An internet service provider (ISP) that
provides access to the internet.
Bug
An error in a piece of software that
stops it from working the way that it should do.
Bundled software
Different types of software sold
together as one package. This may also be called a 'suite' of
software. Examples of this include Microsoft Office and Adobe
Creative Suite (CS).
Burn/burning (CD/DVD)
To save ('write') files to a CD or DVD
using your computer.
Byte
One of the smallest units data can be
measured in. Usually, a byte consists of eight 'bits'. A byte is
generally measured by the amount of data required to save just one
character of text.
C up
Cable
Literally, a wire insulated with
plastic that is used to transfer electricity or information. Also a
type of television service that is transmitted via a physical cable
into your television.
Cached/caching
When your browser saves information
from web pages to help them load more quickly next time you visit
them.
Capped service
When there is a limit on how much you
can use a service: for example, how much data you can download in a
given month, or how much time you can spend accessing a wireless
service.
Captcha
A system that attempts to stop spammers
and bots by asking you to re-type letters and numbers shown in an
image to prove that you are a real person.
Cc
Stands for 'carbon copy', and is
similar to the 'To' field in an email. Putting someone's email
address in this field will send them a copy of the email.
CD
Stands for 'Compact Disc' - a nearly
ubiquitous form of data storage which can be accessed via a special
drive on your computer, or an external CD player. These can contain
any sort of information, but are primarily used for either music or
personal data files.
CD-R
Stands for 'Compact Disc - Recordable'.
A type of CD that can be permanently filled with data (like music,
videos and other files) on a home computer, then viewed by other
people.
CD-Rom
Stands for 'Compact Disc - Read Only
Memory'. A non-writeable disc, usually containing computer software
or games.
CD-RW
Stands for 'Compact Disc -
Re-Writable'. A CD which can be filled and re-filled with data
several times by different computers.
CGI
CGI stands for 'computer-generated
imagery' and relates to the creation of any special effects for film,
TV or games, using computers rather than video cameras.
Character
One letter or symbol of text. For
example, a single standard SMS text message can be a maximum of 160
characters in length.
Charges
Bills/costs incurred from using a
product.
Chat site
A website that allows people to send
each other messages in real-time, without having to download any
instant messaging software to their computer.
Chip
A small computer component (also known
as a microchip) which processes information.
Chrome
An internet browser made by Google.
Clean/cleaned
In computing, this means deleting or
reorganising data.
Cloud computing
Where the data is stored and accessed
by the internet ('clouds') instead of on your computer: this can
include online storage and online applications.
Cloud-based storage
When data you upload online is kept not
on single servers but across lots of different ones at the same time.
This means if one of the servers breaks, less data is lost as a
whole.
CMYK
Stands for 'cyan, magenta, yellow, key
black'. It is a way of combining colours to produce a full spectrum
of shades. Another commonly used way of doing this by using different
colours is RGB.
CNET
A news website which provides, amongst
other things, reviews of computer-related products and services, as
well as software downloads and technology stories.
Coaxial
A multi-layered cable which can supply
telephone, internet and television services.
Codec
A computer program which can encript
and decrypt (as well as translate) data, often used in video
conferencing and streaming videos.
Compression
When a file is made smaller by removing
some of the information/finer detail electronically. This is often
done to video and image files.
Content
Any significant information on the
internet - for example, an article/blog post, a video, an image or an
animation.
Cookies
Small files automatically downloaded to
your computer by websites, which can contain information about you
and what you've done on that website for the website to view next
time you go online.
CPU
Stands for 'central processing unit',
this is the 'brain' of the computer. When people talk about the speed
of a computer they are talking about the speed of the CPU.
Crash
When your computer temporarily stops
working. It may pause or 'freeze' up, or tell you to restart or quit.
Crawler
Also known as a bot or robot: a
computer program which runs through the internet collecting data,
often for search engines.
Creative Commons
An organisation which has released
freely-available copyright licences, allowing people to say how they
would like to share their work on the internet. These licences are
designed to help people share their creative works more easily.
Cross-posting
Posting the same message across
multiple platforms/websites: e.g. posting a status-update across
different social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
at the same time.
Crumb trail
A series of text links across the top
of a page that show you where you are on a website.
CSS
'Cascading Style Sheets' - a type of
code which works behind the scenes on a website to tell the browser
how a website should look, including text-formatting, background
colours and more.
Cursor
The flashing vertical line on the
screen that shows you where you are and where the next character you
type will appear.
Cut and paste
Taking information from one place and
putting it in another.
CVV2/CVC
The last part of the code above the
signature strip on modern credit and debit cards, which is often
required by online shops to verify that the card is genuine.
Cybercafé
Also known as an internet café - a
real café you can go to to drink coffee and buy internet access for
short periods of time.
Cyberspace
A term often used to describe the
internet/online environment, but which was originally invented to
describe an as yet non-existent wholly interactive virtual world.
D up
DAB
Digital Audio Broadcasting - a digital
system for transmitting radio signals. A special digital radio is
required to listen to DAB radio stations.
Data card
Also known as a connect card, this is a
modem that can be plugged into laptops and netbooks to help them
connect to the internet.
Data Protection Act
British legislation which says how
personal data should be treated, including what information can be
kept about people.
Database
A program which allows the storing and
organising of data so that it can be retrieved and used in a variety
of different ways.
Default settings
Non-customised settings: usually, when
installing a program or signing up to a service the company will make
assumptions about how you would like things to work, based on what
the majority of their users choose to do.
Defrag/defragment
Every time you use your computer the
data is stored on your hard drive is random places, meaning that it
can become 'fragmented'. Defragmenting your computer 'filters'
everything, putting all these bits of data back into one section so
that your computer can run much more effectively.
Desktop
A metaphor used to describe the way
different programs are laid out on your screen, which is similar to
how you might lay out documents and photos on a real desk.
Dial-up
An old-fashioned way of connecting to
the internet through a conventional phone line.
Digital camera
A camera which takes photos which are
stored on a memory card instead of a film, and which you need to
transfer to a computer to print out or edit.
Digital noise and grain
Fuzziness or lack of clarity on an
image or audio track.
Directory
A folder containing files: this is a
way of organising files into different groups so they are easier to
find and navigate.
DNS
Domain Name System: the method through
which human-readable web addresses (like bbc.co.uk) are re-directed
to the IP addresses the websites are hosted on (like 11.22.33.44).
Domain name
Another word for a web address: for
example, bbc.co.uk is a domain name.
Dongle
A small plug-in device (often like a
USB stick) that you can add to your computer to do a set function,
such as to provide access to a wireless connection (wireless dongle).
DoS (Denial of Service) attack
A malicious attempt to make a website
stop functioning, usually by overwhelming it with web traffic.
DOS (Disk Operating System)
A type of computer operating system
(OS) used from the 1980s to around 2000 but which is now rarely used.
Dotcom
A company which operates solely (or
mainly) from the internet.
Download
To transfer a file from the internet on
to your computer.
DPI
Dots per inch: often used in relation
to digital cameras and images, DPI refers to the amount of detail
contained in an image. A high DPI image will contain lots of detail.
Drag and drop
Moving files from one place to another
by clicking on them once, holding down the mouse button and dragging
them across your screen. You can drag and drop files from one window
to another.
Driver
A piece of software your computer uses
to communicate with hardware (like printers and scanners).
DRM
Digital rights management: a way of
controlling how different types of files are used eg, music tracks
bought via one company's software/music player might not be playable
by other types of software/devices.
DVD
Can stand for either 'Digital Video
Disc' or 'Digital Versatile Disc': a storage format much like a CD,
but with the ability to hold nearly seven times as much information.
Mainly used for video files, but can be used for most types of file.
E up
A way of sending messages (usually in
the form of text, with other files in attachments) electronically,
from one person to another.
Email attachments
Documents and files (such as images and
videos) which are sent along with an email.
Emoticon
A combination of characters used in
text messages which, when viewed from a certain angle, resembles a
facial expression. For example, :) is a 'smiley face' and :(
represents an unhappy face.
Encrypt/Encryption
To change/scramble information so that
it can't be read by anyone who doesn't know the password/key to
unscramble it. This makes the information more secure.
Error message
A message letting you know that
something has gone wrong or is not working as it should (often in the
form of a pop-up).
EXE
A file type which denotes an executable
file which when clicked will launch a computer program. You should
only open an EXE file if you are absolutely sure you know what it is
and trust the source you got it from, as this type of file can affect
the way your computer works.
Executable (program)
A computer program which is able to
perform tasks when asked to do so. All software which runs off your
computer hard drive will contain an EXE file.
Extranet
A private network or intranet which can
be viewed by people through the internet.
F up
A social network originally created for
college students to share information, which is now a place where
people can have their own page on the internet, play games and talk
to their friends.
FAQ
Stands for 'Frequently Asked Questions'
- a list of answers to commonly-asked questions put together in the
hope that it might save people the time it takes to ask them.
Farmville
A very popular MMORPG commonly played
on Facebook (but also available on other platforms), where players
can build a virtual 'farm' and share items with their Facebook
friends.
Favourites/Bookmarks
A web link that you have saved to your
browser so you can easily access the page without having to type in
the whole address or use a search engine.
Field
A space in which you can enter text,
usually as part of an online form.
File
A piece of information which can be
opened by a computer program; for example, an image, a text document,
or a video.
File download manager
Software which keeps track of documents
being downloaded from the internet to your computer.
File extension
The bit of text at the end of a file
which tells your computer which software program should open it.
File not found
This message means that your computer
or web browser can't find the file that you've asked it to look for.
File-sharing
Sharing files across the internet,
commonly using software such as BitTorrent.
Firefox
A popular type of internet browser,
made by an organisation called Mozilla.
Firewall
A piece of hardware or software that
controls what information passes from your computer to the internet,
and who or what can access your computer while you're connected.
Flash
Made by Adobe, Flash is used to create
and play interactive videos, games and other multimedia items on the
internet. You may need to install a plug-in to view Adobe Flash
content on your browser.
Flickr
A website where you can upload and
share photos and images for free.
Floppy disk
An old and now almost obsolete way of
storing data on a removable disk. The precursor to the CD-R and USB
mmemory stick.
Font
A specific typeface which sets out how
text looks on the page, for example, Arial is a popular typeface, and
Arial Narrow is a specific font.
Forum
Also known as a message board - a place
where people can leave messages for others to read, and hold
conversations about common interests online.
Frames
An old way of making websites, using
multiple HTML files on one page to create different areas on which to
put different types of information. For example, designers could put
navigation bars in one frame and blog entries in another.
Freeware
Free software. Make sure you trust
Freeware completely before using it, as it can contain malicious
code.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
A way of transferring files between
your computer and a web server.
G up
Gallery
A selection of photos or images.
GB
Gigabytes: a measure of computer
memory. A gigabyte is 1,000,000,000 bytes.
GIF
A file type for images, it stands for
'Graphics Interchange Format'. A GIF is most commonly used for
illustrations rather than photographs and can be made into
animations.
Gmail
A webmail service run by Google.
A company known for providing a popular
search engine, as well as a free webmail service and many other web
applications.
Google Chrome
An internet browser.
Googling/to Google
To search the web using the Google
search engine.
Graphics card
A piece of hardware inside your
computer which helps it to display high-quality images such as those
used in games and videos.
Grooming
Making friends with someone online
under false pretences in order to lure them into a difficult or
dangerous situation.
H up
Hard drive/hard disk
A magnetic hardware device which stores
data on a rotating disk. This way of storing information has been
used since 1956.
Hardware
The physical parts of your computer.
Hardware firewall
A piece of hardware that controls what
information passes from your computer to the internet, and who or
what can access your computer while you're connected.
HD (High Definition)
Very high quality graphics, which
require special screens to view.
History
A record which your browser or file
explorer keeps of places you have visited, either on the internet or
on your computer.
Hits
The amount of times a web page has been
visited by different people on the internet. Most websites keep a
record of who has visited their website so that they can see how
popular it is.
Homepage
The web page your browser automatically
displays when you start it up. Most browsers will allow you to change
your homepage.
Host
A computer or server connected to the
internet.
Hotmail
A free webmail service provided by
Microsoft. This is one of the first and most popular free webmail
services, and was started in 1996.
Hotspot
An area in which you can connect to a
wireless internet connection.
HTML
HyperText Markup Language: a universal
type of computer code used for making websites and controlling how
they are displayed, invented by Tim Berners-Lee.
HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol: the
letters at the start of a web address, which give a command to your
computer to request information from the website you want to look at.
HTTPS
See 'Hypertext Transfer Protocol',
above. The 'S' means that your connection to the website is secure.
Hyperlink
Text, which when clicked, takes you to
another web page. Hyperlinks (known mostly as 'links' will often
appear underlined either all of the time or when you move the mouse
over them.
Hypertext
Text which is arranged in a non-linear
fashion and which you continue reading by clicking on links.
I up
Icon
A small linked picture which represents
an action. The icons on your desktop represent what will happen if
you click on them - so a text document might be represented as a
piece of paper with words on it, or an image might be represented by
an icon showing a photo frame.
ID/identifier
In computing, a piece of code which
acts as a hidden label to single out something as being unique.
Image map
One image which has different clickable
areas (linking to different places, as opposed to just one place).
This is done by writing the coordinates of each area into a piece of
computer code.
IMAP
Internet Message Access Protocol: a
method used for transferring emails from one place on the internet to
another. Another way of doing this is known as POP, and also SMTP.
Inbox
The part of your emails program/webmail
where you can view all the emails you have received.
Infect/infection
When you computer is 'infected' with a
virus it means that malicious code has installed itself on your
computer and is adversely affecting the way your computer works.
Install
Transferring software onto your
computer and setting it up so that it can work properly.
Instant messaging (IM)
Sending messages between people
'instantly' using a program on a computer or a website - a lot like
very fast text messaging.
Internet
Millions of computers (and the data
stored on them) around the world connected together by telephone
lines, cables or satellites over which they can exchange information.
Internet café
A real café where you can go to to eat
and drink and buy internet access for short periods of time.
Internet Explorer
One of the most popular and oldest
internet browsers, which is usually set as the standard browser with
Microsoft computers.
Intranet
A private network within an
organisation where people can share information without it being
accessed by the rest of the internet.
IP/IP address
Internet Protocol: The numerical
address that every computer on the internet has. So, for example, the
IP address of one of the BBC's computers is 38.160.150.31.
IPTV
Internet Protocol television: a way of
viewing live TV and TV on demand on your TV through an internet
connection.
IRC
Internet Relay Chat. A real time chat
system using a program that allows you to talk to other people on
topic related channels by typing your comments in a chat window. IRC
used to be very popular but is now used mainly by people with
specialist interests, such as software development.
IRL
In Real Life: a term used to describe
things which occur off the internet as opposed to on it.
ISP (Internet Service Provider)
A company which provides access to an
internet connection.
iTunes
A software program that allows you ro
buy and play a variety of multimedia products, including music and
videos, and transfer them to products by Apple (such as iPods and
iPhones).
J up
Java
A programming language widely used on
the web to run small programs in your browser called applets.
JavaScript
A scripting language developed by
Netscape and Sun Microsystems which is used to do things like make
new browser windows 'pop up'.
JPG/JPEG
A file extension which denotes that the
file is an image. This format is most often used for photographs.
Junk email
Unsolicited or unwanted email.
K up
kBps
A measure of how fast information is
downloaded to your computer via a modem. kBps means a transfer rate
of one kilobyte per second.
Keyboard shortcuts
A way of quickly performing an action
by pressing a combination of keys on your keyboard at the same time.
For example on many software programs pressing 'Ctrl' and 'P' at the
same time will print what you're looking at.
Kilobyte (KB)
A measure of computer memory:
represents 1,024 bytes.
L up
LAN
Local Area Network: a small private
network of computers, for example in an office.
Laptop
A small computer which consists of a
screen and a keyboard which folds in half so that it can be easily
carried.
LCD screen
Liquid Crystal Display: a thin, flat
kind of electronic screen used in modern computer monitors and
televisions.
Link
A piece of text, image or other item on
a website which, when clicked on, takes you to a different web page.
A social network used to help people
make professional business connections.
Linux
A type of free, open-source operating
system made by the people who use it. It is most frequently used on
servers and as an alternative to Microsoft Windows. Popular versions
include Ubuntu, Fedora and Mint. Pronounced "LIN-ucks".
Log in/on
To sign in to a service by entering
your details and password.
Log off
To 'sign out' from a service so that
nobody else can access your data or pretend to be you.
LOL
Internet shorthand for 'Laugh Out
Loud', meaning that something you see on the internet or on your
computer made you laugh.
Lossless
A way of compressing files to make them
smaller without losing any of the data or fine detail when they are
reconstructed.
Lossy
A way of compressing files to smaller
sizes that will mean that some data or fine detail will be lost when
they are reconstructed.
M up
Mac OS X
An operating system for Apple Macintosh
computers.
Macro
A computer script which when run will
record a chain of actions and repeat them for you.
Mailbox
Another word for email inbox.
Mailing list
Multiple email addresses collected with
the intention of sending out newsletters or group emails.
Mailwasher
Software which filters out spam emails
before they go to your email program.
Malware
Malicious software specifically
designed to damage your computer or corrupt your data.
Media player
A software program which plays audio
and video content: RealPlayer, iTunes and Windows Media Player are
popular media players.
Megabyte (MB)
A measure of computer memory: 1,000
kilobytes (or a million bytes).
Memory
The storage and thinking parts of your
computer. More storage memory on your hard disk (ROM) means you can
save more files and more thinking memory (RAM) means your computer
can perform more complex tasks more quickly.
Memory stick
A small piece of hardware you can plug
into your computer through a USB port to store data.
Menu
Like a menu that you might find at a
restaurant, this is essentially a list of options available to you.
Message board
A website where people can come
together to post messages to one another about specific or general
subjects. These are saved to the message board so that people can
reply, starting discussions.
Meta search engine
A site which automatically submits a
search to several search engines at the same time and then comes back
with the results after only a few seconds.
Metadata
Information about a web page hidden
inside it to help search engines find it. It often includes a
description of the page which will be picked up by search engines.
MHz
Megahertz: a measure of how fast your
computer - specifically, your CPU - is.
Micro browser
An internet browser scaled down for use
on a mobile phone or other mobile devices.
Micro-blogging
A blog which features very short,
frequent posts. Twitter is one of the most popular examples of
micro-blogging.
Microfilter
A device which plugs in to your
telephone line to stop broadband and telephone signals from getting
mixed up, or interfering with each other. Also known as an ADSL
filter.
Microsoft
One of the oldest and largest computing
companies in the world: created the hugely popular operating system
Microsoft Windows, which comes as standard on most PCs, as well as a
great deal of widely-used software (such as Microsoft Office).
Microsoft Office
A suite of software created by
computing giant Microsoft, with software to create text documents,
spreadsheets, slide-shows, emails and more.
MIME
A standard for encoding information
other than text so that it can be attached to an email message and
sent across the internet.
mIRC
Instant messaging software created in
1995 and still popular today.
Mirror
An identical copy of a website held on
a different server to speed up download times by reducing the
congestion from many users accessing just one site at the same time.
MMORPG
Massively Multiplayer Online
Role-Playing Game. A computer game where users can connect to the
internet to play with others.
Modem
Hardware that allows your computer to
connect to the internet via a phone connection.
Moderator
Someone who manually monitors message
boards and similar online forums for inappropriate content and
deletes it.
Monitor
The electronic display/screen of your
computer: basically, the bit you look at!
Mouse pointer
The little arrow displayed on the
screen that you move by manually moving your mouse/using the touchpad
of your laptop.
Mouse wheel
The wheel in the middle of most
computer mice that allows you to scroll up and down the screen.
Mozilla Firefox
A popular type of internet browser.
MP3
A file extension which denotes an audio
track: usually one which is relatively small in terms of file size.
MP3 player
A device which will play audio tracks.
A personal MP3 player can be carried around with you, and you can use
it to listen to music through headphones. An iPod is a type of MP3
player.
MP4
A file extension which denotes a video
file.
MSN
Microsoft Network: a collection of
sites and services provided by Microsoft. One of the most popular is
MSN messenger, an instant messaging service.
Multimedia
The combination of different types of
media such as audio, video and text.
Multiplayer
A computer game which can be played by
more than one person at the same time.
MySpace
A popular social networking website
with a particular focus on music and bands.
N up
Navigate/navigation
To move within or between websites
using navigation bars and links.
Navigation bar
A set of links to the main sections of
a website which appears on each web page within that website. The
'nav bar' often appears at the top or left of a web page: WebWise's
navigation bar is underneath its banner and above this text, and
contains links to all the different sections of WebWise.
Netbook
A very small laptop that is lighter and
easier to travel with than a normal laptop. Netbooks have smaller
screens and keyboards than conventional laptops, and can often only
perform more basic functions - like writing this glossary!
Netiquette
A form of etiquette for the internet
which is understood by the majority of internet users. For example,
typing everything in CAPITAL LETTERS is considered to be akin to
shouting, and is not good netiquette.
Network
A group of computers communicating
together via a server along cables or wirelessly.
Network connections
Connections made from one computer to
another as part of a network.
New Media
A vague term referring to any new or
digital technology - including the internet, IPTV, digital radio and
more.
Newbie/noob
Someone who is very new to the internet
- this can sometimes be used negatively.
Newsgroups
Nearly obsolete forums for exchanging
information and views over the internet which are held on special
servers. When you post a message it is systematically copied to other
newsgroup servers around the world so other people can read it and
reply with their views.
Newsletter
A regular email sent out to lots of
people with news and information on a specific subject. You can sign
up to newsletters by submitting your email address to a company or
organisation and they will send you information about their services.
Newsreader
A dedicated program which enables you
to read and send newsgroup messages. It's often included within mail
programs such as Outlook Express, but is very rarely used.
articleHow can I find free software to
download?
Notepad
The most basic text-editing software
available on a PC. It comes as standard on computers with a Windows
operating system.
O up
Ofcom
The Office of Communications: the
official regulating body for TV, radio and other 'communication
industries' in the UK.
Offline
Not connected to the internet.
Offshore site
When a company based in one country
transfers its operations to another country - for example, many call
centres for British businesses are based overseas because it is
cheaper.
Online
Connected to/hosted on the internet.
Online attackers
People on the internet who might want
to attack you computer or gain access to your data.
Open-source
A collaborative approach to working,
mostly when developing software, where people share their work with
the rest of the internet in the hope of attracting more people to
work on the project and to develop a better product as a result.
Opera
An internet browser developed by Opera
Software.
Operating system
The basic software on your computer
which instructs all the different parts to work together. All
computers need an operating system (OS) to work. Popular operating
systems include Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
Opt-in
To choose to do something/be involved
with something.
Opt-out
To choose not to do something/be
involved with something.
ORPG
Online Role Playing Game: a game based
on the internet where you use an avatar to explore a virtual world,
either on your own or with other people. Also known as an MMORPG.
Outlook Express
Popular email software made by
Microsoft.
P up
Packet
When files are sent along the internet,
the data in them is divided into lots of small packets which are then
reassembled in the correct order at the other end.
Paint
Basic image editing software which
comes packaged with Microsoft Windows, which allows you to view, edit
and create images.
Pairing
Transferring data from one device to
another so that both devices have the same information.
Palm
A company which makes PDAs and
smartphones, as well as software to go on them.
Parental control software
Software which can help restrict what
children or vulnerable people can do and see on a computer and the
internet: for example, parental control software will filter
pornography websites.
Password
A secret combination of letters and
numbers (and sometimes other characters) which protects personal
information.
PayPal
A company which acts as an intermediary
between your bank and online retailers, meaning you can pay for
things online without having to trust retailers with your credit card
details.
PC
Personal Computer: also known as a
desktop computer. Usually a computer with a separate hard drive,
monitor, mouse and keyboard, which is suitable for using at home and
in the office.
PCI card
Part of your computer that allows you
to plug in extra hardware, like sound cards and modems.
PDA
Personal Digital Assistant: a handheld
device which allows you to do certain functions like edit documents
and keep notes.
A file extension by Adobe. PDFs are
formatted documents that have been fixed in place, and are difficult
to edit. This format is commonly used for brochures and formal
documents, so that they can be viewed and printed the way the creator
intended.
Perl
A complicated and popular software
programming language, much used on the internet.
Phish/phishing
Attempting to get someone to give you
their private data over the internet/email by posing as a reputable
company, commonly a bank or financial institution. Also known as
spoofing.
Photoshop
A software program made by Adobe which
you can use to view and edit images.
PHP
Web programming code used for making
advanced websites.
Picasa
A photo-sharing software programme and
website similar to Flickr.
PIN
Personal Identification Number: a
sequence of numbers which act as a password. If you have a credit
card you will be issued with a PIN number so that you can get money
out of cash machines.
Pixels
Each tiny unit of a digital image. When
you look at a picture on a computer you are looking at a collection
of hundreds, thousands or even hundreds of thousands of tiny coloured
dots.
Platform
A combination of hardware and software
which software can run on. Mobile phones, computers and PDAs are all
different platforms.
Plug-in
An extra bit of software code that
needs to be added to your browser before you can view certain types
of content - for example, you need a plug-in to view Adobe Flash
files.
PNG
A type of image file which allows
images to be transparent (so that other images can be seen beneath
them).
Podcast
A radio show specifically recorded for
the internet, which can be downloaded and listened to at any time.
POP
Post Office Protocol: a method used for
transferring emails from one place on the internet to another.
Another way of doing this is known as IMAP, and also SMTP.
Pop-up
An extra browser window that appears -
these can be good (like prompts from your banking website telling you
to log off) or bad (adverts and spam).
Portal
A page on the internet full of links to
and information about other web pages, with very little content of
its own. For example, bbc.co.uk/learning is a portal.
Predictive text
A setting when text messaging that
allows you to press each number only once with the phone guessing the
word you're typing from the combination of keys you press. This can
be much quicker than pressing each key several times.
Privacy software
Software which helps to keep your
information safe.
Profile page
A page on a social networking website
which lists information about someone - like their name, interests
and location.
Program
A software program is technology which
allows you and your computer to perform certain actions - like
creating a text document, viewing and editing an image, or watching a
video.
Programming code
The code used to create computer
software.
Project Canvas
Now known as YouView, Project Canvas
was an attempt by several major broadcast (including the BBC) to
create standard IPTV system.
Protocol
A set of rules that tell computers how
to transfer data between themselves.
Proxy server
A server on the internet that acts as
an intermediary. For example, it can be used to hide your real IP
address, or to temporarily store information about websites you visit
so that it can be loaded more quickly.
Public domain software
Software which is free to download and
use and which comes without any copyright restrictions: similar to
Freeware.
Pull-down menu
A menu which appears when you click on
or put your cursor over a link.
Q up
QWERTY (keyboard)
A standard keyboard, so named because
the main letters across the top happen to spell out 'QWERTY'. This
doesn't mean anything, but serves as a handy nickname.
R up
RAM
Random Access Memory: temporary space
on your computer used for programs which are currently running.
RAW
A type of file format for unprocessed
image files (for example, files which are still on your digital
camera).
Raw code
Also known as source code: code viewed
in its most basic format (text) without being processed by your
computer or browser. To view this web page's raw code in Internet
Explorer or Firefox, click 'View' in the browser menu and select
'Page source' or 'Source'.
RealPlayer
A popular media player
Recycle bin
A place files go to before being
permanently deleted, so that if you have second thoughts you can
'undelete' them.
Re-format
To re-build something which stores
information, like a memory card or hard drive. This involves deleting
all the data currently stored on it - so be careful before deciding
to re-format something!
Refresh/reload
To force a web page to load again, so
that you can see if it has been updated. Also useful if the page has
frozen or isn't working properly. In most browsers the keyboard
shortcut for this is the F5 button at the top of your keyboard.
Register
To sign up for a service by providing
your contact details (such as your email address, and a password).
Remote attack
When your computer is attacked through
the internet by a virus or hacker working on a different computer.
Resolution
The amount of detail being displayed:
the higher the resolution, the more detailed an image appears.
Re-tweet (RT)
Twitter language for taking a Tweet
somebody else has posted and posting it again so that your followers
can see it. It is good netiquette to credit the person who originally
tweeted the message by including their username in the tweet.
RGB
Red Green Blue: a way of combining
colours to produce a full spectrum of shades. Another commonly-used
way of doing this using different colours is CMYK.
Rip
To transfer data to a hard disk from
something else.
Roam
The ability to connect to a service
away from home - a roaming internet contract with a mobile phone
operator will allow you to use the internet at any location. This
word isn't used much any more now that such technology is relatively
common.
Robot
Also 'bot' - a piece of software that
runs on the internet performing specific tasks, such as looking for
information about web pages (bots made for search engines are also
known as spiders).
Router
A piece of hardware which decides the
next network point to which a packet of data on the internet should
be sent on its journey towards its final destination.
RSS
Really Simple Syndication: an RSS feed
is a list of information taken from a website or service, updated in
real-time with any new information added to the website.
Run-time environment
Run-time is literally the time during
which a software program is running: the run-time environment is the
area on your computer it uses to do so.
S up
Sandbox
A trial environment where you can test
something out online without worrying about breaking anything.
Sat Nav
Satellite navigation: software which
finds your physical geographical location then gives you directions
on which way to travel. This is most commonly used in cars as well as
mobile phones.
Scanner
Hardware which allows you to transfer
paper documents (like traditional photos) into your computer as
digital files. Many modern home printers come with attached scanners.
Scareware
Useless or dangerous software which is
sold to people by scammers, often by scaring them into thinking they
have a computer virus which can be fixed by buying their software.
Scart cable
An increasingly obsolete cable for
transferring audio and video data between things like DVD players and
TVs. It is flat and has 21 pins.
Screensaver
A small program that plays when you're
not using your computer screen, so that the screen is obscured from
view. Traditionally used to save old-fashioned, obsolete monitors
from damage caused by using too much light ('screen burn'), these are
now used mostly for security and also for fun.
Search
To look for something on the internet
using keywords typed into a search engine.
Search engine
A very large searchable database of
links to different websites, created by robots which trawl the
internet looking for information.
Second Life
A virtual world where people can take
on an avatar and interact with other people - characters can walk
around, drive, dance, fly and buy things with virtual money.
Secure
Something that is difficult or
impossible to access without the correct password.
Security patch
An update released by the maker of a
piece of software to fix small problems or security flaws.
Semantic web
A way of sorting information (like
text, videos and images) with metadata or tags which computers can
fully understand so that it becomes flexible enough to be used in
lots of different ways.
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
Things people who run websites do so
that their sites are picked up by search engines and displayed near
the top of search results. This can include making sure there are
lots of keywords and links in every page.
Server
A very simple, large computer used
simply for doing one or two set tasks - such as storing large amounts
of information and making it available to the internet.
Shareware
Free software which people can download
and use for free for a set period of time so they can try out some or
all of the features before they decide whether or not they wish to
pay for it.
Shockwave
A multimedia program made by Adobe
which allows people to view different types of multimedia files.
Shopping cart
A 'shopping list' you can build on an
online store so that you can buy all the items you want at once
instead of paying for everything separately.
Short URL service
An online service which will allow you
to make long web addresses much shorter so that you can send them to
people more easily. The website will create a new link on their own
server which redirects to your link. The BBC uses a service called
bit.ly to do this.
Shortcuts
Ways of getting to a program or a
folder on your computer without having to search through different
files, directories or options.
Signature
Text which is automatically added to
the bottom of emails or posts you make to message boards. You can set
this up so that you don't have to keep typing out things like your
name and personal details.
Silverlight
A plug-in by Microsoft which is similar
to Adobe Flash and which allows you to view multimedia files on the
internet.
SIM card
A small flat rectangular memory card
which fits inside your mobile phone and which tells it basic
information such as your phone number, and helps it connect to mobile
phone networks. It can also include telephone numbers you have stored
to your mobile phone's address book.
Skim
To quickly find the basic details of
something: so as you might skim-read a book, robots can skim and
compile information taken from websites.
Skype
A software program which allows people
to make phone and video calls over the internet.
Smartphone
A type of mobile phone which can also
perform some of the functions of a computer, like accessing the
internet, editing files, and playing games. Many smart phones also
have touch-screens.
SMS
Short Messaging Service (also known as
text messaging) - a way of sending short text messages from one
mobile phone to another through a traditional mobile phone network.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol: a method
used for transferring emails from one place on the internet to
another. Another way of doing this is known as IMAP, and also POP.
Snail mail
A derogatory term referring to the
traditional postal service.
Social networking
Using websites (like Facebook, MySpace
and Twitter) to connect to and share information with other people.
Social networking website
A website which allows you to meet up
existing friends online, as well as make new ones. Examples include
Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.
Software
Code which is run by your computer,
which tells it what to do. This can be anything from photo-editing
programs to browsers which allow your computer to view information
over the internet.
Software firewall
Software that controls what information
passes from your computer to the internet, and who or what can access
your computer while you're connected.
Sound card
A piece of hardware in your computer
which allows you to listen to sound.
Source code
Code viewed in its most basic format
(text) without being processed by your computer or browser. To view
this web page's raw code in Internet Explorer or Firefox, click
'View' in the browser menu and select 'Page source' or 'Source'.
Spam
Unsolicited or unwanted email.
Spam filter
Software or code attached to your inbox
which filters out spam emails from legitimate emails.
Spambot
A computer robot which automatically
sends out spam emails to people, on behalf of a hacker/human spammer.
Spammer
Someone who sends out spam emails, or
writes a spambot programme to do it on his/her behalf.
Spider
As known as a robot: a piece of
software which trawls the internet for information to send back to
search engines.
Splash page
A webpage which comes up when you first
visit a website, usually containing a logo and some basic information
about the website. This will then link to the main website.
Spoofing
Attempting to get someone to give you
their private data over the internet/email by posing as a reputable
company, commonly a bank or financial institution. Also known as
phishing.
Spyware
A type of virus software which hides on
your computer and gathers your personal data (like credit card
details) to send back to a hacker or spammer.
SSID
A code up to 32 characters long which
identifies a network, helping your computer to connect to it.
Streaming
When a sound or video file is played at
almost the same time it is being sent from a website. In this way you
don't have to wait for a clip to download - you just watch it as it
downloads.
Strong/secure password
A password which is very difficult to
guess or bypass - for example, one which contains a mixture of upper
and lower case letters and numbers.
Surf/surfing
To use the internet to go from website
to another, often without a specific purpose.
T up
Tab
Separate windows within your browser
which mean you can look at different pages on the internet without
opening up whole new versions of your browser. Try holding down the
'Ctrl' and 'T' buttons on your keyboard at the same time, and see if
a new tab opens up at the top of the browser window.
Tabbing
To move from one link/part of a page to
another using the Tab key on your keyboard (directly above the Caps
Lock button). A technique often used by people with disabilities
which prevent them from using a mouse, or by people who don't like
using a mouse.
Tablet computer
A keyboardless computer displayed on a
screen, which you use by touching it with your fingers or a stylus to
navigate around the desktop (instead of a mouse).
Tags/tagging
To label a piece of content (like an
image, blog post or video) with keywords so that it is easy to find
and ends up in search results.
TalkTalk
A TV, broadband and mobile phone
company.
TCP/IP
The combination of protocols that make
the internet. TCP deals with the process of dividing data into
packets of information. IP deals with the process of passing these
packets from one computer to the next until they reach their final
destination.
Technical support
A phone number you can call (given to
you, for example, by your internet provider) to receive help from a
human being if you get encounter problems or need assistance.
Text messaging
Also known as SMS - a way of sending
short text messages from one mobile phone to another through a
traditional mobile phone network.
Thread
A group of messages, often e-mail
messages or message board posts, linked by a common subject. A thread
is the online equivalent of a conversation. Many message boards
present messages on the same subject together - as a thread.
Toggle
A switch - if something is 'toggled
off' it simply means it is turned off.
Toolbar
A strip of menu options and buttons
which you will find across the top of many software programs - the
bar across the top of your browser which contains the backwards,
forwards, history and refresh icons is a toolbar.
Torrent
A very small file containing
information about where BitTorrent can find all the different parts
of the file you want to download.
Touchpad/trackpad
A small, smooth surface on your laptop
you can use instead of a mouse - touching it will move the cursor
like a mouse does.
Traffic
The amount of visitors to a website -
heavy traffic means lots of visitors.
Trial software
Software you can install on your
computer which will work for a limited time so you can try it after
which it will lock. In many cases if you decide to purchase you will
get a registration code which you type into the software to make it
work again.
Trojan
A program which appears harmless but is
carrying inside viruses, worms or even another program that will
damage your computer. A trojan is usually an attachment and is often
carrying a program which allows someone to hack into your computer.
Troll
A term widely used on the internet to
describe someone who deliberately posts contentious and inflammatory
remarks online in order to provoke others. These remarks can be on
internet forums, chat rooms or in comment fields of blog articles.
Tweet
A message on Twitter.
A social networking website where
people can only post short messages of 140 characters or less. You
can 'follow' other people, and their messages will appear on your
screen in a time line. A lot of people use Twitter on their mobile
phones, especially smartphones.
Twoosh
A Tweet which is exactly 140 characters
long (the maximum amount allowed) - no more, no less.
TXT
A file which contains nothing but text,
with no complicated formatting. TXT (or simply 'text') files can be
read by any text-editing software.
Typeface
A set of fonts (styles of letters) that
you can apply to text.
U up
UNIX
A computer operating system (OS) used
by most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) on their 'host' computers
as it allows many people to connect to the same resources at any
given time.
Unzip
To uncompress a file which has
previously been 'zipped up' or compressed in order to make it
smaller.
Upload
To post something onto the internet.
URL
Uniform Resource Locator: a web
address, eg www.bbc.co.uk.
USB
Universal Serial Bus: a standard type
of physical connection used for connecting hardware to your computer
via a cable.
USB modem
An external modem which connects to
your computer via a USB cable.
USB port
The place on your computer where you
can plug in a USB cable.
Usenet
A very old and now nearly obsolete
internet discussion system which was one of the precursors to the
internet as we know it today, where basic messages were sent from one
place to another via a variety of servers.
Username
An identifying name you give yourself
to log into services, which you can choose yourself and which does
not need to be your own name.
V up
Vector graphics
Images which are based on simple shapes
such as curves, straight lines and polygons generated by mathematical
equations. Because of this they can be stretched to any size without
losing image quality.
Video card
A piece of hardware inside your
computer which helps it to show you high quality video files.
Video clip
Video conferencing
Where two or more people talk to each
other on the internet using webcams (this term is usually used when
talking about business meetings).
Viral
Information which has spread through
the internet via 'word of mouth'.
Viral marketing
When advertisers try to spread
information about their products through word of mouth on the
internet. This is commonly done by creating funny or
thought-provoking videos.
Virus
A computer program which can copy
itself and spread from one computer to another, adversely affecting
the way that computer operates.
Vodcast
Like a podcast: a video available for
download on the internet. Internet television series are often
offered in this format. Vodcasts are much less popular than podcasts,
due to the fact that videos can more easily be hosted on
video-sharing websites like YouTube.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A system where people can access work
intranets and private networks over the internet.
W up
Wallpaper
Also known as a 'background' - the
picture behind your desktop, which you can personalise to suit your
tastes.
WAP
Short for Wireless Application
Protocol. WAP is an increasingly outdated technology which allows you
to access basic information on the internet from your mobile phone.
WAV
A type of very high-quality audio file.
WAV files can be very large.
Web browser
Software which allows you to surf the
internet - you are probably using a browser right now.
Web developer
Someone who codes up a website.
Web page
Any page on the internet. This page is
a web page.
Webcam
A small, usually cheap video camera you
can plug into your computer so that you can talk to people over the
internet.
Webcast
A pre-recorded or live video file
broadcast over the internet to lots of people at once: a bit like a
sort of internet television.
Webmail
An email service which you can log in
to through your internet browser so that you can send and receive
emails online, instead of having to install software on your
computer.
Webmaster
Someone who is in charge of what is on
a website, and who maintains the files kept on the server. If you
have a problem with a website, the webmaster might be your first
contact.
Whitelist
An approved list of websites. Some
parental control software use whitelists to limit what websites
people (and children) can access and which they can't.
WHOIS
A way of finding out who owns a
website: essentially, a protocol which can find this information.
Widget
A box containing information from
another site which you can change to suit your needs, and which you
can put on your desktop or embed onto another website. This could be
information from an RSS feed or Twitter account, for example.
Wi-Fi
A trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance which
is used as branding for devices which can access wireless networks
(such as wireless internet).
Wikipedia
The world's largest online
encyclopedia, it is a collaborative projected and can be edited and
amended by anyone.
WinAmp
A free media player, which can play
audio and video files.
Windows
A very popular operating system by
Microsoft.
Windows Explorer
A file manager that helps you to
navigate the files on your computer.
Windows Media Player
A media player by Microsoft which will
play video and audio files.
Winzip
Software by Microsoft which allows you
to compress files into ZIP files to make them smaller and easier to
send over the internet.
Wireless
A way of gaining access to a network
(such as the internet) without having to use a cable: the information
is transmitted through the air, like with mobile phones.
Wireless router
A piece of hardware which takes wired
internet access and makes it wireless. When you sign up to a
broadband internet service your internet service provider (ISP) will
often provide a wireless router so that you can connect to the
internet with a laptop or smartphone.
Wizard
A tool which helps you to set up
software on your computer and guides you step-by-step through an
otherwise complicated process.
Wordpress
A blogblogging website, which also
makes an open-source program that you can upload to your own server
to make a website for free.
Worm
A program that can reproduce itself
over a computer network. It usually attaches itself to another
software program and then proceeds to cause malicious damage to your
computer such as shutting it down.
WPA
Wi-Fi Protected Access: a way of
encrypting a wireless connection so that people can't hack into it
and steal information.
WYSIWYG editor
Stands for 'What You See Is What You
Get': a text editor which allows you to view and edit text as it will
eventually appear. This usually applies to blogging - you can either
edit the HTML code, or use an editor which looks a bit like a
software program like Microsoft Word.
XYZ up
XML
Extensible Markup Language: a type of
code used to create websites.
Yahoo!
A company which provides a search
engine, free webmail, advertising, and news portal and other
services. Yahoo! ran a website hosting service called Geocities,
which used to be the 3rd most visited website on the internet but
which was deleted in 2009.
YouTube
A very popular video hosting website
where people can upload, watch, share, comment on and rate videos.
Zip
To compress a file to make it smaller
and easier to transfer: also the file type (ZIP) that the file will
end up becoming. You can open a ZIP package with programs such as
Winzip.
Zombie computer
A personal computer connected to the
internet which has been unwittingly hijacked by a hacker and used to
do what the hacker wants without the owner even noticing - often to
run DoS attacks or to send spam emails.
