Glossary

• ADDRESS: The unique location of an information site on the Internet, a specific file (for example, a Web page), or an e-mail user.

• BROWSER: An application that lets you view web pages on the World Wide Web (WWW)

• CACHE: A folder for temporarily storing frequently used files in a special area on your computer. In effect, it speeds up the operation of the computer for those tasks performed most often.

• CGI: Common Gateway Interface. This is a programming standard which defines how a Web Page can interact with a user, i.e. fill out a form. Typically CGI applications are written in either PERL or C, both are computer languages of varying complexity. CGI applications run on the server, not on the visiting client.

• CHAT ROOM: A location on an online service that allows users to communicate with each other about an agreed-upon topic in "real time" (or "live"), as opposed to delayed time as with e-mail.

• CHECK BOXES: These are square boxes within dialog boxes that allow you to select or deselect your choices by clicking (or toggling on and off). The selection is "on" when a check mark appears. Often you can select more than one option.

• CLIENT: There are multiple meanings for this word in computer technology, however in the context being presented here, a client typically refers to a computer which is temporarily connected to the Internet via a modem connection.

• COOKIE: A small file on your computer in which a web site may write data. The data may be used by that web site only, to track your choices and custom tailor its responses.

• DATABASE: Any collection of related information or "objects" (reports, forms, tables, etc.) created, organized, and controlled by a database management system.

• DEFAULT: The standard or predefined setting. It is used if you specify no other setting.

• DIALOG BOX: A window that appears on the screen to ask you for more information or to confirm an action you wish to take. You must respond to this "computerized questionnaire" before the program will continue.

• DNS: Domain Name Server. This is a program running on a server which automatically translates domain names into their correct TCP/IP addresses. A busy DNS server is the most common reason for Navigator's frequent "Unable to find Domain Name or invalid entry in the DNS" error.

• DOMAIN NAME: An English language equivalent of a computer systems TCP/IP address.

• DOWNLOAD: To copy a file from one computer system to another. From the Internet user's point of view, to download a file is to request it from another computer (or from a Web page on another computer) and to receive it.

• DROP-DOWN LIST: A list of items in a dialog ox that gives possible alternatives from which to choose.

• E-MAIL (Electronic Mail): A way of sending messages electronically from one computer to another, generally through a modem and telephone line connected to a computer.

• EMOTICON: A set of characters used to usually express an emotion. Also known as "smileys," emoticons are commonly used in e-mail messages. 8-) ;>(

• EXECUTE: To run a program or launch an application.

• FILE: A program or file stored on a disk.

• FILE FORMAT: The way data is organized for a particular kind of file.

• FILE SYSTEM: The overall structure in which files are named, stored and organized.

• FIREWALL: A firewall is a program that examines incoming and outgoing traffic from another computer on your network or from the Internet. The firewall watches for unwanted traffic trying to get into your computer through the Internet. A firewall program should also have outbound controls to watch for a Trojan horse or spyware trying to call out from your system.

• FONT: A complete set of characters that share a specific typeface or appearance. A variety of fonts have been designed since the beginning of the written word. Most word-processing programs will allow you to pick the typeface that you prefer. You can also change fonts within your document if you wish.

• FORMATTING: The process of setting up the font specifications, page layout, and design information for a document.

• FTP: File Transfer Protocol. A software method by which files are moved from one computer on the Internet to another.

• GIF: A graphic format commonly found on web pages. Its main claim to fame is its ability to handle artwork very well.

• GIGABYTE (GB): A measurement of storage - equals one thousand megabytes or one billion bytes.

• GUI - GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE: This is pronounced "gooey" and refers to a method that allows computer users to point to icons or pictures on the screen in order to select files and give commands. It is the Microsoft Windows approach toward making the computer easier to use.

• HACKER, ATTACKER, or INTRUDER: These terms are applied to the people who seek to exploit weaknesses in software and computer systems for their own gain. Although their intentions are sometimes fairly benign and motivated solely by curiosity, their actions are typically in violation of the intended use of the systems they are exploiting. The results can range from mere mischief (creating a virus with no intentionally negative impact) to malicious activity (stealing or altering information).

• HIGHLIGHTING: A way of marking text or information so that you can make changes to these sections of information when you give the next command. A highlighted section of text appears in a contrasting colour. Once something is highlighted, it can be cut, pasted, copied, or formatted.

• HOME PAGE: The site that is the starting point on the World Wide Web for a particular group or organization.

• HOVER: To place the cursor over an icon for a short period of time. When this is done, a box will drop down that describes the function of the icon.

• HTML: Hyper Text Markup Language, this is the computer layout script used to design the look of each Web page.

• HYPERTEXT LINK: An easy method for retrieving information by choosing highlighted words or icons on the screen. The link will take you to related documents or sites.

• HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL (HTTP): A standard used by World Wide Web servers to provide rules for moving text, images, sound, video, and other multimedia files across the Internet.

• ICON: A small picture on a Web page that represents the topic or information category of another Web page. Frequently, the icon is a hypertext link to that page.

• INTERNET: A worldwide collection of computer networks that allows people to find and use information and communicate with others.

• IRC: Internet Relay Chat. Both a protocol and a program type. IRC allows someone on one to talk in real time to someone else, anywhere in the world.

• ISP (Internet Service Provider): A generic term for any company that can connect you directly to the Internet.

• JAVA: An object oriented computer language which was developed by SUN Microsystems for the purpose of enhancing the capabilities of Web pages. At the time of this writing the only browsers which support JAVA are Sun's HotJava and Navigator 2.0 or higher and Explorer 3.0. JAVA programs are called Applets

• JAVASCRIPT: Formerly called LiveScript, this language was developed by Netscape. Patterned after JAVA, it's primary difference is that the program is embedded into an HTML file instead of being an executable which loads when you load a web page.

• JPEG: Another commonly found graphic format on web pages. JPEG formatted graphics are especially good at handling photographs.

• LINK: A way of moving from one bit of information (a word, phrase, or idea) to another within a hypertext document. This information can be in the same or different Internet sites and is accessed through a Web browser. Links are easy to recognize because they are usually written in blue and underlined. The cursor changes to look like a hand when positioned over a link.

• LOG ON (or LOG IN): To connect to an Internet Service Provider or some other network by entering an identification name or number and password. This also known as "signing on".

• LOG OFF (or LOG OUT): To disconnect from an Internet Service Provider or computer network by sending a message to terminate the connection. This also known as "signing off".

• MALICIOUS CODE: This category includes code such as viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Although some people use these terms interchangeably, they have unique characteristics.

• MEGABYTE: 1024 kilobytes or more than a million bytes. The abbreviation is MB and is pronounced "meg".

• MENU: A list of commands that are available in the program with which you are working. By selecting options from the menus, you tell the computer what you want it to do. There are four main types of menus; menu bars, pull-down menus, sub-menus, and context menus.

• MODEM: A device that allows computers to communicate with each other over telephone lines or other delivery systems by changing digital signals to telephone signals for transmission and then back to digital signals. Modems come in different speeds: the higher the speed, the faster the data is transmitted.

• NETIQUETTE: Rules or manners for interacting courteously with others online (such as not typing a message in all capital letters, which is equivalent to shouting).

• NETWORK: Two or more computers that are connected for the purpose of sharing files, folders, programs, printers and other resources.

• NEWSGROUPS: A general name given to a vast collection of public access bulletin boards.

• ONLINE SERVICE: A service that provides its members access to the Internet through its own special user interface as well as additional services such as chat rooms, children's areas, travel planning, and financial management.

• PORT: A "socket" that allows you to connect hardware that is outside to computer to a circuit board within the computer. The circuit board then connects to the Central Processing Unit.

• PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE: Software that is not copyrighted, is freely distributed, and can be used or copied by anyone. Other names for this software are "freeware" and "shareware". It is most commonly available over the Internet.

• SEARCH ENGINE: A Search Engine is a piece of software, available to all users on the Web which allows the user to locate all related sites using a keyword search. For example a user may search for all sites with the words ONTARIO and REALTY in their description. The Search Engine will return a list of all the sites that match those words.

• SERVER: A Host machine. A server provides two roles, those are; a) Providing connectivity to the Internet, and b) Passing files from it's hard drive to someone requesting them. In effect, serving files.

• SHAREWARE: Software that is provided over the Internet free of charge for a trial period. If you continue to use the program you are asked to pay a fee.

• SPYWARE: Spyware was originally, not designed to do mischief, but rather to gather information. More recently, spyware, or adware, has changed into an invader of your privacy. It examines programs and cookies on your computer looking for items used to either gain data from your computer or track your Internet use. A spyware checker is a program designed to protect your personal information. The most common type of spyware, more properly termed adware, generates pop-up and other ads.

• TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. This term actually describes two software mechanisms used to allow multiple computers to talk to each other in an error free fashion.

• TROJAN HORSE: A Trojan horse program is software that claims to be one thing while in fact doing something different behind the scenes. For example, a program that claims it will speed up your computer may actually be sending confidential information to a remote intruder.

• UNIX: One of the most popular disk operating systems for the internet hosts.

• URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The World Wide Web address of a site on the Internet.

• USENET NEWSGROUPS: A system of thousands of special interest groups to which readers can send or "post" messages; these messages are then distributed to other computers on the network. Usenet registers newsgroups, which are available through Internet Service Providers.

• VIRUS: A piece of programming code inserted into other programming to cause some unexpected and usually undesirable event, such as lost or damaged files. Viruses can be transmitted by downloading programming from other sites or be present on a diskette. The source of the file you're downloading or of a diskette you've received is often unaware of the virus. The virus lies dormant until circumstances cause its code to be executed by the computer. This type of malicious code requires you to actually do something before it infects your computer. This action could be opening an email attachment or going to a particular web page.

• VIRUS CHECKER:
  - a virus checker or virus protection is a program that runs continuously whenever your computer is on. It monitors the contents of e-mail attachments as well as programs that run on your computer. It detects and disarms viruses and prevents damage to your computer before they start trouble.

• WEB BROWSER: A software program that lets you find, see, and hear material on the World Wide Web, including text, graphics, sound, and video. Popular browsers are Netscape, and Internet Explorer. Most online services have their own browsers.

• WORLD WIDE WEB (Web or WWW): A hypertext-based system that allows you to browse through a variety of linked Internet resources organized by colourful, graphics oriented home pages.

• WORM: Worms propagate without user intervention. They typically start by exploiting a software vulnerability (a flaw that allows the software's intended security policy to be violated), then once the victim computer has been infected the worm will attempt to find and infect other computers. Similar to viruses, worms can propagate via email, web sites, or network-based software. The automated self-propagation of worms distinguishes them from viruses.