Glossary of Terms

Add-on
A product or program created to add new features to an existing product or program.
 

Adware
Advertising that is put in a Web page, which is displayed while the page is being viewed. It may track a user's personal information and browsing behavior, and in some cases can pass it on without the user's consent or knowledge.
 

Agent (intelligent agent)
A program that performs gathers or processes information, such as filtering e-mail, tracking auctions or finding web sites and information that match user preferences. Also see bot.

Bookmarks
Reference links to web sites, documents or other locations online that can be compiled and organized into a list using your browser for quick and easy access.
 

Bot (robot)
Programs that follow the links in a document and generate lists that can be used by search engines. Bots can also do things such as track auctions, filter e-mail or find sites that match user interests.
 

Browser
A software application that interprets hypertext links, text and graphics, and is used to locate, navigate and display web pages.
 

Boolean search
Search queries that may involve the use of AND, OR, and NOT to improve results. For example, to find information on a specific type of dog you could search for "golden retriever AND dog."

Cache
A function of a web browser that stores the pages, graphics, sounds, and URLs of sites a user visits for quick retrieval from a hard drive.
 

Cookies
Data passed from a web server to a web browser, which is used to identify site visitors on return visits. This is information that the web server can use to track items such as passwords, page views and visit dates.
 

Crack
To illegally gain access to a computer system or copy software by breaking the system or the software's copyright protection and registration safeguards.
 

Crawler (webcrawler)
See Spider.

Encryption
The process of encoding or scrambling information that is sent via the Internet (or other network) that is designed to allow only the intended reader can view and/or use it.

Filter
Software that helps users manage incoming and stored e-mail by automatically routing messages to various folders based on the sender's address; sending pre-written replies to certain people; or deleting messages that include specific subject lines.
 

Freeware
Software that is offered free of charge, usually by downloading it directly from the web.

Hacker
Slang for a person who uses his or her computer skills to break into computer networks and or alter the code of a program or system.
Hijacker (browser hijacker)
Spyware designed to track a web user's browsing activity, and serve up pop-up ads and other unsolicited communication based on his or her browsing habits.

IP Address (Internet Protocol Address)
A numeric address that that identifies a computer on the Internet. This address corresponds to a web site's domain name, which can be entered into a browser.

Keylogger (keystroke logging)
A computer program or a hardware device designed to steal personal information by recording everything a user types in, including e-mails, login names, passwords, credit card numbers and bank account information.

Metabrowser
Software designed to gather information from various web sites and organize it on one page.
 

Microbrowser
A web browser designed to work on wireless handheld devices such as cell phones and PDAs.

News feed (Syndication Format)
An XML-based format used to continuously update and publish news headlines on a web site or blog (web log) that can be accessed by end users and/or posted on other web sites and blogs. The format includes a headline, short description and link to the article.
 

Newsreader (RSS reader, news aggregator, feed viewer, headline viewer)
Software that automatically gathers news and information from various web feed sources and presents it in chronological order for users to view.

Offline browser
Software that makes it possible to instantaneously download an entire site (or sections of a site) for viewing when a user is not connected to the Internet.

Packet
A unit of data sent across a network. Information sent over the Internet (and many other networks) in packets is split up into pieces and reassembled when it reaches its destination.
 

Pharming
An online scam which redirects multiple web users to phony sites where criminals can capture passwords and other sensitive data.
 

Phish(er) site
A Web page created by spammers to deceive users into providing their credit card or bank account numbers, account password or other personal information. These sites often borrow the design of legitimate pages and are advertised in spam, making claims such as “we have lost your account information, please click here to update it.”
 

PII (Personally Identifiable Information)
Information such as a name, mailing address, e-mail address, phone number, or Social Security number that can be used to identify an individual. Internet user preferences linked to this type of information can also be considered PII.
 

Piracy
Copying software without permission from the legal owner.
 

Plug-in
A software program that extends the capabilities of a web browser so that it can be used to do things such as play audio samples or view movies on a computer screen.
 

Pop-under Ad
Online advertising that displays in a browser window behind the window a user is currently viewing.
 

Pop-up Ad
Online advertising that displays in a browser window on top of the window a user is currently viewing.

RSS (Real Simple Syndication, Rich Site Summary)
A format that makes it possible for bloggers (web loggers) and web site owners to display other site owner's content on their own pages. See news feed and web feed.

Search Engine
A program that searches web pages and documents for specific keywords and returns a list of the documents where the keywords were found. Examples include Google, Yahoo, AltaVista and Lycos.
 

Security
A broad term that applies to all forms of data protection that are designed to prevent unauthorized users from accessing and copying programs and information.
 

Shareware
Copyrighted software available for trial use that is distributed on the honor system. After a specified period of time, users are expected to register, provide feedback or purchase the software.
 

Spam
Unwanted, unsolicited e-mail. More specific definitions vary widely. Microsoft's anti-spam policy defines spam as unsolicited bulk or unsolicited commercial e-mail.
 

Spambot
A robot that specializes in gathering e-mail addresses for a spammer to use. Spambots follow links and save any e-mail addresses found on the web, usenet or other sources.
 

Spider (crawler, web crawler)
A program designed to continuously search the Internet for new public resources and web pages that can be compiled into catalogs, which can be accessed by search engines.
 

Spim
Spam messages that are sent to people via their instant messaging account.
 

Spoofing
A method that spammers use to conceal their identities. Spoofing may include sending spam using a third party's domain name or e-mail address in the “From” line of the message, without permission.
 

Spyware
Software that monitors a user’s system or Internet browsing activity without the user’s knowledge or consent.

Trojan (Trojan horse)
A harmful computer program disguised as a helpful application that can cause significant damage once it is run. Unlike viruses, Trojan horses do not replicate.

Virus
A malicious line of code or computer program that spreads to other machines by attaching itself to shared programs.

Webcrawler (crawler)
See Spider.
 

Web Feed
Web content delivered in an XML-based format, which is designed to be compiled, shared and republished by other sites and blogs (web logs). This may include news, event listings, headlines and excerpts from discussion forums.
 

Worm
A malicious program or line of code that can replicate itself over a computer network, consume a computer's memory and shut down an entire system.