Access
Access refers to the right and ability to access certain resources. For example, in order to have access to your online banking, you need to have the right (established by the use of a password) and the ability (a functioning Internet connection) to connect. Some resources have public or open access, meaning that anyone with the ability to connect and use them also has the right.
Access Point
A node or area that can be used to gain permission to and utilize protected resources. The most common use for the term access point is in reference to areas (such as airport terminals or study halls) that allow access to wireless networks.
Adware
Adware is software that displays ads on your computer while you are using it, often in the form of popups. It is almost always installed without your authorization or hidden with another program you installed. Adware is often packaged with spyware which collects information on the user in order to target the ads. Adware can cause dramatic performance decreases.
Anti-virus
Anti-virus means hardware, software, or other means or methods designed to prevent the spread and damage of computer viruses.
Anti-virus Software
Anti-virus software is software that is designed to keep your computer from being damaged, infected, or used by computer viruses as they spread.
Anti-virus Solution
An anti-virus solution is a particular package or group of anti-virus hardware, software, and methods that is presented as a complete protection against viruses.
ATA
ATA is an acronym for advanced technology attachment. What this means is that the circuitry for controlling the hard drive platters and read head of your hard drive are attached to or included internally in your hard drive. See also IDE.
Autofill
Autofill is short for automatic form filler. Password management programs, such as MySecurityVault PRO, that automatically fill web forms are considered much more convenient.
B
Bookmark
Like a bookmark for a book, a bookmark on the web will save your place. You can use your browser to store location information for web sites that you have visited and would like to remember. Bookmarks are often targets for adware—adware programs will often add bookmarks to your list for sites they would like you to visit.
Bot
A bot is a computer program that is meant to perform tasks in place of or in behalf of a human being.
For example, an IRC bot is a bot that chats with humans using IRC. Search engines use bots (also called spiders) to find and index web sites.
Some bots represent a security risk. Bots are deceptive when they impersonate humans without disclosure that they are not human. They can also be employed to harvest e-mail addresses from web sites where they are shown. Some bots are used to look for computers with security weaknesses.
C
Compact Flash
Compact flash is simply a small-footprint flash module. Compact flash modules are very popular for digital cameras. Just like any removable media, they sometimes get lost or replaced by better modules, which means it is important to periodically wipe your data to prevent it from being used for identity theft.
Cookie
Cookies are text files that web sites store on your computer in order to store information about your user session, which pages you've visited, what products you've purchased, etc. For example, online stores often use cookies to collect and store information about their customers in order to provide them with accurate and useful recommendations.
Cookies are usually harmless, but they can contain data that is sensitive and they are only as secure as any other data stored on your computer. There is the occasional rogue web site that uses cookies for illicit purposes, too. To be completely sure that cookies aren't being used against you, it is wise to periodically delete your cookies.
Cyber
Cyber is a prefix that usually means computer or computer network.
Cyberpunk—computer punk
Cyberspace—the virtual "space" of a computer network
Cybernetics—the study of automatic (often computer) control systems for mechanical or biological entities
D
Data Recovery
Data recovery is an attempt to locate and save deleted, formatted, or lost data in a usable form. The best data recovery programs run from separate hard drives and burn files directly to cd in order to avoid any unintentional overwriting of the lost data.
Delete
Delete, in reference to a computer file, means to remove the reference or pointer to a file and flag the space as available for new storage. If you delete a file, the data is still there! That data will remain there until it is overwritten by another file or by a drive wiping program.
Disk
A disk is a disc-shaped storage medium. See also floppy disk and hard disk.
Download
A download is a file that you transfer over the Internet and save to you computer. Downloads are fraught with security risks, especially if you download and install programs. Downloading programs to run on your computer can expose your computer to adware, spyware, viruses, and a host of other malicious programs. Make sure to download files only from sources you trust.
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