Always-on connection
In the context of Internet access, a permanent connection, as opposed to a connection that is established and dropped as needed.
Anonymous FTP
A type of FTP access that requires no account on a server, but rather can be accessed using "anonymous" as the user ID.
Asymmetric Internet connection
Any connection to the Internet in which the upstream speed differs from the downstream speed.
ATA
(Analog Telephone Adapter) A device used with VoIP systems to convert analog voice signals from a standard telephone into digital data.
BitTorrent
A peer-to-peer technology in which pieces of files are distributed to and from a collection of networked computers; used for distributing music and movies over the Internet.
Cable Internet service
A type of Internet connection offered to subscribers by cable television companies.
Cable modem
A communications device that can be used to connect a computer to the Internet via the cable TV infrastructure.
Chat
Interactive real-time person-to-person communication over a network.
Cloud computing
A grid of servers and storage devices harnessed together to offer Internet-accessible computing services.
Dial-up connection
A connection that uses a phone line to establish a temporary Internet connection.
DOCSIS
(Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) A security technology used for filtering packets and maintaining customer privacy on cable Internet services.
Domain name
Short for "fully qualified domain name"; an identifying name by which host computers on the Internet are familiarly known (for example, "coca-cola.com").
Domain name server
A computer that hosts the domain name system database.
Downstream speed
The rate at which transmitted data flows from a host or server to a local computer (contrast with upstream speed).
DSL
(Digital Subscriber Line) A high-speed Internet connection that uses existing telephone lines, requiring close proximity to a switching station.
DSL filters
Devices that are commonly used to prevent interference from analog devices, such as telephones, that use the same line as DSL devices.
DSL modem
A device that sends and receives digital data to and from computers over telephone lines.
Dynamic IP address
A temporarily assigned IP address usually provided by an ISP.
EDGE
(Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) A cell phone technology that offers faster data transport than basic GSM service.
EV-DO
(Evolution-Data Optimized) A technology used by cell phone companies to offer faster data transport than basic CDMA service.
Firewall
Software or hardware designed to analyze and control incoming and outgoing packets on a network, used to enhance security by filtering out potential intrusion attempts.
Fixed Internet access
Any Internet access service designed to be used from a fixed, non-portable location, i.e., dial-up, ISDN, DSL, and cable Internet service.
FTP
(File Transfer Protocol) A set of rules for uploading and downloading files between a client computer and a remote server.
FTP client
The computer or software that is used to access an FTP server and transfer files to it or from it.
FTP server
A computer that stores and distributes files to remote client computers.
Grid computing system
A network of computers harnessed together to perform processing tasks; distributed grids like the SETI project use ad hoc and diverse Internet connected computers; also see cloud computing.
HSUPA
(High Speed Uplink Packet Access) A data transmission standard used by cell phone companies for high-speed data transport.
ICANN
(Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) A global organization that coordinates the management of the Internet's domain name system, IP addresses, and protocol parameters.
Instant messaging
A private chat in which users can communicate with each other in real time using electronically transmitted text messages.
Internet backbone
The major communications links that form the core of the Internet.
Internet service provider
(ISP) A company that provides Internet access to businesses, organizations, and individuals.
Intrusion
In the context of computer security, the unauthorized access to a computer system.|340|
IP
(Internet Protocol) One of the main protocols of TCP/IP; responsible for addressing packets so that they can be routed to their destinations; IPv4 offers 32-bit addresses whereas IPv6 offers 128-bit addresses..|305|
ISDN
(Integrated Services Digital Network) A telephone company service that transports data digitally over dial-up or dedicated lines.|314|
ISDN terminal adapter
A device that connects a computer to a telephone jack and translates the data into a signal that can travel over an ISDN connection.|314|
Latency
The elapsed time it takes for a packet of data to arrive at its destination.|309|
Mobile broadband
High-bandwidth wireless technology that was developed for sending digital data over cell phone systems.|327|
Mobile Internet access
Any service that allows subscribers to access the Internet while on the go.|311|
Modem
A device that modulates and demodulates a signal, typically used to send data from a computer to the Internet over telephone, cable television, or satellite networks.|304|
Network access points
(NAP) An Internet node that links together different network service providers so that data can be transferred from one service provider to the other.|303|
Network address translation
(NAT) A security technique that allows a LAN to use one type of IP address for intra-network data and another type of address for data traveling to and from the Internet.|344|
Network service providers
(NSP) A company that maintains a series of nationwide Internet links.|303|
P2P file sharing
A practice in which individuals can obtain music, video, and other types of files from other users on a network; sometimes the files are shared without authorization from the copyright holder.|337|
Ping
(Packet INternet Groper) A command on a TCP/IP network that sends a test packet to a specified IP address and waits for a reply.|310|
Port
In the context of computer networks, a virtual device that sets up one or more connections over which data can flow.|308|
Port probe
An exploit used by hackers to locate computer ports that can be used for surreptitious access; also called a port scan.|341|
Portable Internet access
Any type of Internet service, such as portable satellite, that can be moved from one place to another.|311|
Private IP address
An IP address that cannot be routed over the Internet.|344|
Protocol suite
A group of protocols, such as TCP and IP, that work together.|305|
Real-time messaging system
Technologies, such as instant messaging and chat, that allow people to exchange messages when they are online.|330|
Routable IP address
A network address that can be routed over the Internet; contrast to private IP address.|344|
Satellite Internet service
A high-speed Internet service that uses a geosynchronous or low-earth orbit satellite to send data directly to satellite dishes owned by individuals.|318|
Satellite modem
A device that connects a computer to a satellite for purposes of accessing the Internet.|319|
Static IP address
A permanently assigned and unique IP address, used by hosts or servers.|306|
Symmetric Internet connection
Any connection to the Internet in which the upstream speed is the same as the downstream speed.|311|
TCP
(Transmission Control Protocol) The protocol within TCP/IP that is responsible for establishing a data connection between two hosts and breaking data into packets.|305|
TCP/IP
(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) The primary protocol suite for transmitting messages over the Internet.|305|
Top-level domain
A major domain category into which groups of computers on the Internet are divided, such as com, edu, gov, int, mil, net, and org.|307|
Traceroute
A network utility that records a packet's path, the number of hops, and the time it takes for the packet to make each hop.|310|
Upstream speed
The rate at which data is transmitted from your home computer to the Internet.|311|
Virtual private network
(VPN) A network connection that typically carries encrypted data over the Internet to and from a remote access server.|345|
Voiceband modem
The type of modem typically used to connect a computer to a telephone line.|312|
VoIP
(Voice over Internet Protocol) Hardware, software, and protocols used to make telephone-style calls over the Internet. Also referred to as Internet telephony.|332|
WAP
(Wireless Access Protocol) A communications protocol that provides Internet access for handheld devices.|327|
Wi-Fi hotspot
The geographical area in which you can connect to a Wi-Fi signal, such as a Wi-Fi equipped campus or coffeehouse.|323|
WiMAX
Fixed wireless Internet service based on Ethernet protocols with a range of 30 miles and a transmission speed of 70 Mbps.|320|