Chapter 2 CCAS

access point

station that sends and receives data to and from a Wi-Fi network

adware

spyware that tracks web surfing or buying online

animation

rapid sequencing of still images to create the appearance of motion, as in a cartoon

applets

small programs that can be quickly downloaded and run by most browsers

B2B (business-to-business) commerce

electronic sale or exchange of goods and services directly between companies

bandwidth

expression of how much data—text, voice, video, and so on—can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of time

bits per second(bps)

eight bits make up a character

blogosphere

total universe of blogs

blog

internet journal

broadband

very high-speed connection

browser hijacker

damaging kind of spyware that changes settings in your browser without your knowledge

cable modem

device connecting a personal computer to a cable-TV system that offers an internet connection

client

computer requesting data or services

communications satellite

space station that transmits radio waves called microwaves from earth-based stations

cookies

little text files, such as your log-in name, password, and preferences, that are left on your hard disk by some websites you visit, websites retrieve data when you visit again

dial-up connection

use of a telephone modem to connect a computer to the internet

domain

location on the internet, the particular web server

download

transmit data from a remote computer to a local computer

DSL (digital subscriber line)

hardware and software technology that uses regular phone lines to transmit data in megabits per second

e-commence (electric commence)

conducting business activities online

email program

enables you to send email by running email software on your computer, which interacts with an email server at your internet access provider to send and receive email

FAQs (frequently asked questions)

guides that explain expected norms of online behavior for a particular group

flaming

writing an online message that uses derogatory, or inappropriate language.

frame

independently controllable section of a web page

FTP (file transfer protocol)

method whereby you can connect to a remote computer called an FTP site and transfer publicly available files to your own microcomputer’s hard disk via TCP/IP over the internet.

gigabits per second (Gbps)

1 billion bits per second

hit

site that a search engine returns after running a keyword search

home page

web page that, somewhat like the title page of a book, identifies the website and contains links to other pages at the site

hotspot

public access to Wi-Fi networks

hypertext links

connections to other documents or web pages that contain related information

hypertext markup language (HTML)

set of special instructions used to specify web document structure, formatting, and links to other documents

HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

communications rules that allow browsers to connect with web servers

individual search engine

type of internet search tool that compiles its own searchable database on the web

instant messaging (IM)

service that enables any user on a given email system to send a message and have it pop up instantly on the screen of anyone else logged onto that system

internet2

cooperative university/business education and research project that enables high-end users to quickly and reliably move huge amounts of data over high-speed networks

internet access provider

regional, national, or wireless organization or business that connects you to the internet

internet backbone

high-speed, high-capacity transmission lines that use the newest communications technology

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)

Global, private-sector, nonprofit corporation that was established to regulate human-friendly internet domain names, those addresses ending with. com, .org, .net, and so on, that overlie IP addresses and identify the website type

Internet Protocol (IP) address

Uniquely identifies every computer and device connected to the internet; consists of four sets of numbers between 0 and 255 separated by decimals (ex.I.160)

internet service provider (ISP)

company that connects you through your communications line to its servers, or central computer, which connects you to the Internet via another company’s network access points

internet telephony

using the internet to make phone calls, either one-to-one or for audioconferencing

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)

Hardware and software that allow voice, video, and data to be communicated over traditional copper-wire telephone lines

Java

complex programming language that enables programmers to create animated and interactive web pages using applets

key logger

type of spyware that can record each character you type and transmit that information to someone else on the internet

keyword

is the subject word or words that refer to the topic you wish to find

kilobits per second (Kbps)

1,000 bits per second

listserv

automatic mailing-list server that sends email to subscribers who regularly participate in discussion topics

log on

to make a connection to a remote computer

matchmaking website

online forum that people may join in hopes of meeting compatible potential mates

media-sharing website

type of online social network, such as YouTube, that allows members to share media

megabits per second (Mbps)

1 million bits per second

metasearch engine

type of internet search tool that allows you to search several search engines simultaneously

modem

device that sends and receives data over telephone lines to and from computers

narrowband

Low-bandwidth connection, such as dial-up (telephone).

netiquette

appropriate online behavior

network access point (NAP)

A routing computer at a point on the internet where several connections come together

newsgroup

giant electronic bulletin board on which users conduct written discussions about a specific subject

newsreader

program included with most browsers that allows users to access a newsgroup and read or type messages

packet

fixed-length block of data for transmission

password

A secret word or string of characters that enables you to log on, or make a connection, to a remote computer

phishing

short for password harvesting fishing

pharming

A type of phishing in which malicious software is implanted on a victim’s computer that redirects the user to an impostor web page even when the individual types the correct address into his or her browser

plug-in

program that adds a specific feature to a browser, allowing it to play or view certain files

podcasting

recording of internet radio or similar internet audio programs

point of presence (POP)

collection of modems and other equipment in a local area.

pop-up ads

form of online advertising in which, when, you visit certain websites, a new window opens, or “pops up,” to display advertisements

POTS (plain old telephone system)

traditional kind of connection to the internet

protocol

set of communication rules for exchanging information

push technology

Software that automatically downloads information to your computer

pull technology

you go to a website and pull down the information you want

radio buttons

An interactive tool displayed as little circles in front of options; selecting an option with the mouse places a dot in the corresponding circle

ex. google forms

real-time chat (RTC)

typed discussion (“chat”) among participants who are online at the same time

RSS newsreaders

programs that scour the web, sometimes hourly or more frequently, and pull together in one place web “feeds” from several websites

scroll arrows

small up/down and left/right arrows located to the bottom and side of your screen display

scrolling

moving quickly upward or downward through text or some other screen display, using the mouse and scroll arrows

search (text) box

fill-in text box

search engine

search tool that allows you to find specific documents through keyword searches and menu choices

search hijacker

damaging kind of spyware that can intercept your legitimate search requests made to real search engines and return results from phony search services

search service

organization that maintains databases accessible through websites

server

central computer supplying data or services

social-network aggregator

technology that collects content from all of a user’s various social network profiles into one place

social-networking website

online community that allows members to keep track of their friends and share ideas and media

spam

unsolicited email in the form of advertising or chain letters

spider

special program that crawls through the World Wide Web, following links from one web page to another

spoofing

forgery of an email sender name so that the message appears to have originated from someone or somewhere other than the actual source

spyware

deceptive software that is surreptitiously installed on a computer via the web

streaming audio

process of downloading audio in which you can listen to the file while the data is still being downloaded to your computer

streaming video

process of downloading video in which the data is transferred in a continuous flow so that you can begin viewing a file even before the end of the file is sent

subject directory

type of search engine that allows you to search for information by selecting lists of categories or subjects

surf

to explore the web by using your mouse to move via a series of connected paths, or links, from one location, or website, to another

3G (third generation)

High-speed wireless technology that does not need access points because it uses the existing cellphone system

TI line

traditional trunk line that carries 24 normal telephone circuits and has a transmission rate of 1.5 Mbps

tags

Do-it-yourself labels that people can put on anything found on the internet, from articles to photos to videos

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

Internet Protocol (IP)

protocol that enables all computers to use data transmitted on the internet by determining type of error, data compression method, how sending device finish sending message, and how receiving device indicates it received the message

upload

to transmit data from a local computer to a remote computer

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

string of characters that points to a specific piece of information anywhere on the web

Usenet

worldwide network of servers that can be accessed through the internet

Web 2.0

defined as the move toward a more social, collaborative, interactive, and responsive World Wide Web

web-based email

type of email in which you send and receive messages by interacting via a browser with a website

web browser

software that enables users to locate and view web pages and to jump from one page to another