Geek Speak Decoded
Friday, January 14, 2011 at 3:47PM We here at Jiffy-PC know that not everyone eats, breathes, and sleeps computers like we do. That's why we go to great lengths to ensure that we explain things to our customers in terms that the average casual computer user can understand.
But just in case you were curious as to what some of the lingo out there means, here's a short list of some of the more common terms you may run into:
Hardware
Hard Disk/Hard Drive - This is the component in your computer where all your local data and programs are stored. When you "save" a file, it is stored on the hard disk. Storage size is typically currently measured in Gigabytes (GB) or Terabytes (TB, which is roughly 1,000 GB's).
RAM - This is the memory your computer uses for temporary activities like loading programs, videos, and files. Once you turn off your computer, the RAM clears itself, which is why if your computer is running slow it's sometimes best to restart it. RAM is measured in the same fashion as Hard Disks, but is normally alot less, averaging 1 - 4 GB on modern computers.
CPU/Processor - CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. It can be used to refer to the entire desktop computer box, but it actually refers to the tiny chip inside that is the brains of the entire system. Most computer commands are run through the CPU where they are translated into the things you see happen on the screen. Video and audio playback also rely heavily on the processor, especially when you start streaming HD video.
Security Terms
Virus - A virus is a malicious program that copies itself and infects computers, much like a human virus. It's effects can range from dormancy to completely destroying the data on your computer. Viruses have become less prevalent recently as the sophistication of anti-virus software has increased. Reduce the risk of obtaining a computer virus by making sure your anti-virus software is installed an up to date.
Spyware - Spyware are programs that, once installed on your computer, collect information from your system without your consent. This information may include files, browser history, passwords, email addresses, etc. In extreme cases spyware can take control of certain aspects of your computer and change the way your browser works, pointing it to nefarious web sites. Reduce the risk of obtaining spyware by making sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is installed and up to date.
Worm - A worm is a self-replicating malicious program that uses security vulnerabilities in computer networks to copy itself and infect other machines. Unlike a virus, a worm can move between computers over a network without user intervention. The best way to protect against a worm is to ensure that you have a firewall installed and enabled on your computer and by making sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is installed and up to date.
Trojan - With it's name borrowed from the Greek myth, you may have an idea how these programs find their way onto your computer. They are made to look like legitimate software, commonly anti-virus software, that instead installs one of the malicious software types listed above. Reduce the risk of obtaining a Trojan by verifying the legitimacy of the programs you download, and by making sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is installed and up to date.
Malware - Short for "malicious software", malware is a catch-all phrase that can mean any of the above terms.
Bloatware - While not necessarily malicious, bloatware is not usually very helpful either. This term refers to the software that comes pre-installed on many of the computer systems you find at big box stores like Best Buy. Some manufacturers are more guilty of this than others and the amount of bloatware you'll find on your new computer can vary greatly. At best these programs offer sub-par functionality and at worst they clog your system's resources and slow down performance.
Botnet - The result from an infection on your computer may be that your system becomes a part of what is known as a botnet. Botnets are collections of software that run automatically on multiple computer systems in order to have the combined effect of one giant super computer. If your computer has botnet software installed, it may be running very slowly as it's resources are being used to contribute to the botnet. Reduce the risk of becoming part of a botnet by making sure your anti-virus software is installed an up to date.
Spam - Spam is a term for unsolicited email, usually sent in bulk. Many times spam contains links to malicious websites or attachments. Reduce the risk of opening spam by using an email service that provides spam filtering and never open email from an unknown source.
Phishing - Phishing is a newer an more sophisticated method for obtaining computer user's information. The term refers to a website or email that appears to be from a legitimate entity but is instead attempting to acquire sensitive information. To avoid falling victim to phishing, make sure you always type the name of the website you wish to visit as opposed to going there via a link or email. Also, make sure your web browser is updated and it's phishing filters are enabled.
Online
Browser - A browser, or web browser, is the program you use to access the World Wide Web from your computer. Popular browsers include Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Safari.
HTML - Stands for Hypertext Markup Language. This is the code that is used to create many of the web pages you visit.
Word Wide Web - Commonly referred to as "the web", this is overall name for all the websites you can access on the internet. There are other aspects of the internet that fall outside of the world wide web, like ftp or usenet, though these are not widely used.
URL - Stands for Uniform Resource Locator, but is more commonly known as a web address. This is the address you type to access a given webpage, for example "http://www.google.com" is the URL for Google's homepage.
Streaming - Media that is accessed via the internet without ever being stored on your computer is known as streaming. A common streaming video site is YouTube, where the videos you watch are located on a central location and "streamed" to your computer via various technologies over the internet. Be sure you know of the reputation of the website that you're streaming from, as some streaming media can install malicious software on your computer.
Active X - Active X is a technology that is used by your browser to enable webpages to interact with your computer much like an installed program would. sometime you may be prompted to install an Active X component while browsing. Make sure you trust the website you're on before accepting the installation, as malicious Active X execution is an easy way for the bad guys to get control of your system!
Flash - Flash is a software that many webpages use to display video, animation, or interactive content. As with all other internet software, make sure you trust the source before agreeing to install or run any Flash-based media.
Chat/Text Slang
LOL - Laughing Out Loud
ROTFL - Rolling On The Floor Laughing
IMHO/IMO - In My (Humble) Opinion
JK - Just Kidding
IDK - I Don't Know
NSFW - Not Safe For Work (content is inappropriate for a typical work environment)
TTYL - Talk To You Later
Any other terms have you mystified? Let us know in the comments below and we will add them to the list!
Reader Comments (2)
Wow! This was extremely helpful! Thank you.
Indeed a very good read! Very informative post with pretty good insight on all aspects of the topic! Will keep visiting in future too!