Here are some common terms used by us Geek's on a daily basis, its not a foreign language and it mostly makes sense as you will see.

Add-on: A tool that adds new functions to a program such as a web browser.

ADSL: Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line is a technology for providing high transmission Internet to businesses over ordinary copper telephone wire. This is the most common Internet connection and provides bandwidth well in excess of 10 times a modem speed. Typical ADSL speed is 1.5mb download and 512kb upload

AVI: Audio video interleave. A type of video file usually played using Windows Media Player.

Broadband: A high bandwidth network (carrying voice audio and data simultaneously) allowing for high-speed Internet access. This term is mostly used for ADSL and cable Internet connections.

Cache: A small, fast, temporary memory store for regularly accessed or recently used data.

Cloud Computing: is where computing or software services are provided over the internet (a cloud has represented the internet in diagrams for some time).

Cookie: A coded file sent to a web server to record visits, also used to identify users and customise information based on previous visits. Cookies are stored on your computer.

Domain Name System: DNS - themissinglink.com.au is a domain name. Every Internet address must be unique and is assigned a number. The Missing Link's Home page is located at 203.36.209.36 this is called our IP address. When you use our domain name (www.aurorait.com.au) you are in fact accessing this IP address, this is called the Domain Name System.

Download: Transfer of data from a server or web site to your computer's hard disk.

Encrypt: To scramble data so that it can only be read by the sender and authorised recipient.

FTP: File Transfer Protocol is a common method of moving data or software between Internet sites and Internet users. Usually a username and password is required but many sites have public FTP areas which can be accessed with the account name "anonymous".

GB: Gigabyte. A measurement of storage, usually for hard disks. 1GB is equal to 1,024MB (megabytes).

Gateway: Either hardware or software that acts as a bridge between two applications or networks so that data can be transferred between a number of computers.

Hard disk: A high capacity disk fitted in almost all PC's to store data.

Host: Server machine that allows public access for the purposes of sharing data.

Hosting: The storage of a website or files on a server owned normally by a ISP or Hosting provider.

IP: Internet Protocol is the general standard used to enable a diverse range of computers and networks to communicate all over the world.

IP Address: Unique address of a network device. It's like the location's telephone number but is usually substituted with a Domain Name.

ISP: Internet Service Provider is an organisation or business which provides access to the Internet.

JPEG: A common format for image files.

LAN: Local Area Network is a network of computers which serves a local or geographically limited area such as a University or office building.

MB: Megabytes, A measurement of storage capacity.

Megapixel: A measure of detail recorded by digital cameras.

Memory: The computers temporary storage area, in megabytes.

MP3: A standard for compressing digital audio.

Network: Two or more computers connected together to enable them to send and receive data and share resources.

Operating System or OS: Governs the way hardware and software in a computer work together.

Phishing: In computing, phishing is the act of attempting to fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy person or business with a real need for such information in a seemingly official electronic notification or message (most often an email, or an instant message). It is a form of social engineering attack.

PING: Packet Internet Gopher is a method of testing an Internet connection. A number of packets are sent and if they return correctly then the communication was successful.

POP3: Post Office Protocol 3. A protocol that provides a simple, standardized way for users to access mailboxes and download messages to their computers.

Processor, CPU, Microprocessor, Chip: A processor is the integrated circuitry on a tiny piece of silicon that processes the instructions to make a computer work. If the processor is in a personal computer or a handheld device, it's called a microprocessor. Processors contain thousands, or even millions, of interconnected transistors, which work together to store and manipulate data. The functions a microprocessor, or chip, performs are determined by software.

Protocol: Defined procedures and rules which determine the way computers communicate with each other.

PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network - is the currently used analogue telephone network, the largest electronic network.

RAM: Random Access Memory is the memory that can be used by applications to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on.

Router: A router is a computer network device that routes traffic between networks. When a packet travels from your computer to a computer in the United States say, it must pass through a number of routers. Each router in the process reads the packet's destination and determines the best path to forward packet onto in order to reach its destination.

RTB: Return to Base warranty which means you are required to return the PC to the place of purchase for repair.

Server: A high end computer with specific software that allows other computers to use its facilities for connection to data drives, email, printers, Internet or other service.

SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is the protocol used by servers for the transmission of email.

Spam: Unsolicited e-mail, often of a commercial nature, sent indiscriminately to multiple mailing lists, individuals, or newsgroups; junk e-mail.

Spyware: Software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet.

SSID: Service Set Identifier specifies which 802.11b network you are joining. Some systems allow you to specify ANY SSID as an option so you can join any network.

TB: Terabyte. One terabyte is equivalent to 1024 Gigabytes (see above).

TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol - is the standard communications protocol used to connect computers across the Internet.

UPS: Uninterruptible Power Supply. A UPS is used to regulate power to a critical network device such as a server or switch. A UPS can provide enough power to a server to allow users to logoff; it will also automatically shut the server down in a specified time frame usually 5-10 minutes

Virus: A malicious program designed to cause damage to a computer.

VOIP: Voice-Over Internet Protocol, also called Internet telephony, is the two-way transmission of phone conversations over an IP network, allowing audio to travel over the Internet, intranets, or private LANs (local area networks) and WANs (wide area networks).

VPN: Virtual Private Network. A VPN is a way to provide remote access to an organization's network via the Internet. VPN's are also used to connect two offices together to create a wide area network. VPNs send data over the public Internet through encrypted secure "tunnels."

WAN: Wide Area Network - is a network of linked computers covering a multi site, national or even global area.

WEP: Wired Equivalent Privacy is the standard for encrypting data over an 802.11x wireless network. WEP 40 or 128 bit encryption has been shown to be insecure. So the current recommendation is to use a VPN to secure corporate data.

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