ITSD Review

SSD

Fast type of storage that saves data electronically

RAM

volatile memory that stores data ready to be used by our system

VGA

Analog video cable that has 15 pins

Gyroscope

The internal device determining what direction you are holding your mobile device

PS/2

This is the older/legacy way to connect a mouse or keyboard

Component cable

A/V connection consists of 3 video cables and 2 audio cables

Open Source Software

Software such as Linux that includes its source code which can be modified and distributed by anyone

Windows Guest Account

Account that is a minimal and heavily restricted account with no real permissions

Multi-User License

Software license that allows a specific number of copies to be used at one time.

.ISO File

The file type for installing a image of a Windows OS

.DMG File

The file type for installing a image of a Mac OS

Host-Based Firewall

A piece of software running on a single host that can restrict incoming and outgoing network activity for that host only.

Network-Based Firewall

A firewall, generally hardware-based, that protects a network of computers as opposed to one computer.

Switch

A device that creates networks via wired ethernet connections

Router

This is a device that forwards packets between networks

Modem

A device on the edge of a network that converts analog to digital and the reverse

NFC (Near Field Communication)

Mobile technology that enables short-range wireless communication between mobile devices.

Bluetooth

Wireless technology that once paired, transmits signals over short distances between mobile devices

DNS (Domain Name System)

Service responsible for resolving FQDNs to IP addresses

Cloud Storage

Best way to collaborate on files from multiple locations with the highest availability

NAS

Storage device attached to the network that allows multiple computers in one location to save data efficiently with high availability

ARP

Protocol for mapping IP addresses to their MAC addresses

Social Engineering

Techniques that trick a person into disclosing confidential information (Hacking the human)

Shoulder Surfing

Gaining compromising information through observation as they are typing.

Ransomware

Software that encrypts programs and data until a ransom is paid to remove it.

Touchpad (Trackpad)

A small flat-panel pointing device that is sensitive to light pressure. The user can accidentally have their palm hit this while typing and it will cause the cursor to jump

Automatic Updates

Feature allowing updates for Windows to be retrieved automatically over the Internet and installed.

Shareware

A temporary, or limited use of a program to let you try it out. You may only get a certain number of attempts to use it before you have to activate a license key.

Cookies

Can be used to track your path through a web site, the time you spend there, what links you click, and other details that the company wants to record.

Display Resolution

The number of pixels that can be displayed on a digital screen, usually quoted as width x height. Can affect how big or small the text and icons appear and the viewing area.

Cellular Signal

Provides the best network availability while the user is traveling

Cloud Backups

Offsite backup that has high availability and is cost effective

Spyware

A type of Malware that locates and saves data from users without them knowing about it.

Keylogger

A small hardware device or a program that monitors each keystroke a user types on the computer's keyboard. Often used to capture logins

Clearing Browser Cache

Erasing information your browser saves from websites in its cache and cookies. Can be done to fix certain problems, like loading or formatting issues on sites. And is a good security step on shared computers.

Disable Browser Autofill

Makes it so that browsers will not save any information typed into fields on webpages, like usernames, passwords and addresses.

Airplane Mode

A setting within a mobile device that disables the cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth antennas so the device cannot transmit signals. Everything else will function, you just won't get any connectivity.

HTTPS

A secure way to transfer information or files over the internet (tax documents, banking statements, etc)

Video Card Driver

Software, or code, that allows our computer to utilize all features of our card and can be done to fix certain errors.

PSU

Unit that provides power to the Motherboard and all peripherals, this wattage provided needs to be taken into account when upgrading components.

Power Supply Voltage Switch

Toggles between US and EU voltage amounts, may need to be checked if purchasing equipment online or from another region.

Processor (CPU)

Interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer. (Brain of the PC)

Worm

Malware with the ability to self-replicate across network devices without human intervention.

Anti-Malware

Software that prevents attacks by a wide range of destructive, malicious, or intrusive programs. Can also be used to remediate systems that are already infected.

File and Print Sharing

A feature allowing users to share files and printers among machines on the same network.

WAP (Wireless Access Point)

A device that provides a connection between wireless devices to the wired network.

WEP

Legacy/Outdated wireless network encryption system. If you must use this then bundle it with other features like MAC Filtering or Disabling the SSID.

SSID (Service Set Identifier)

A unique character string used to identify an access point on a wireless network. It is the name of the network. Can be disabled from being broadcast to be more secure.

MAC Filtering

A method used to filter out which computers can access the wireless network based on the MAC addresses.

Link Light

An LED on NICs, switches, and routers that lights up to show a good connection between the devices.

Phishing

A technique used to get users to compromise sensitive information, usually by means of fraudulent e-mail

SSL/TLS

An encryption method used to secure information sent from/to webpages.

Compression

An algorithm used to reduce the overall size of the information. Typically used for archival purposes.

Password Cracking

Software ran for the purposes of stealing passwords, and decrypting them to access system programs, files, and data.

Adware

Software that automatically displays or downloads advertising material (often unwanted) when a user is online. Typically utilizes pop-ups.

Malware

Software that is intended to damage or disable computers and computer systems.

Spam

Large amounts of unwanted e-mail (usually of a commercial nature sent out in bulk)

Network Discovery

A setting that when turned on allows a computer to see other computers and devices on a network and to be seen by those other computers.

RAID

Making multiple physical separate disks act as one logical disk, usually for a performance or fault tolerance gain

Workgroup

Individually setup machines with separate settings, typically used for network sharing

Domain

Centralized setup of computers with centralized settings and accounts

Proxy Servers

A device/computer that all other computers must go through before accessing the Internet. Typically used for security or performance reasons.

Certificate Authority (CA)

An entity trusted by one or more users as an authority in a network that issues, revokes, and manages digital certificates.

Symmetric Encryption

An encryption method whereby the same key is used to encodes and to decodes the data

Asymmetric Encryption

two keys are used; one key encodes the message, and the other key decodes the message

Third-Party Cookies

A cookie that was created by a third party (not the company running the website) that tracks you across multiple websites.

T568B

Current standard for wiring twisted-pair network cabling and RJ-45 connectors

IEEE 802.11

Wireless Ethernet standard more commonly known as Wi-Fi.

IEEE 802.3

Ethernet standard

SOHO

small office/home office devices that performs multiple networking functions

SMTP

Outgoing Mail protocol, port 25

POP3

Incoming Mail Protocol, Not Dynamically Synching, Port 110

IMAP

Incoming Mail Protocol, Dynamically Synching, Port 143

MAC address filtering

A technique used by a router or wireless access point to allow access to only certain computers or devices on a network.

MAC Address

a 48-bit hexadecimal address that is bound to a specific NIC

IPv4 Address

A logical 32-bit DDN address assigned to a device on a network

IPv6 Address

A logical 128-bit Hexadecimal address assigned to a device on the network