question

4G LTE (Long‐Term Evolution)

answer

The current standard for cellphone communication.

question

Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)

answer

An expansion slot designed to meet the need for increased graphics performance. Now outdated.

question

access control list (ACL)

answer

A set of rules that determines access, such as which traffic gets through a firewall and which traffic is blocked or who gets to access files or folders.

question

Accessibility options

answer

Features built into most operating systems to make them easier to use for those who have physical disabilities.

question

activation

answer

Enabling a software application to function by locking it to a specific computer.

question

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

answer

The Advanced Encryption Standard is currently the most secure encryption available.

question

adware

answer

Malware that records activities for the purpose of targeting pop‐up ads.

question

Airplane mode

answer

A mode on a mobile device that disables all wireless connections

question

Android

answer

Mobile operating system created by Google; the most popular smartphone OS in the world.

question

antistatic wrist strap

answer

A specially designed device used to bleed electrical charges away safely. It uses a 1‐megaohm resistor to bleed the charge away slowly. Attaching this device to a grounding mat protects the computer system's components from accidental damage.

question

archive bit

answer

File attribute that determines if the file has changed since the last backup or not. If the bit is on, that means the file has changed.

question

authentication

answer

A process by which a computer system verifies that a user has proper credentials.

question

autofill

answer

A feature that automatically populates fields in a form on a web page for you, such as your name, address, or credit card information.

question

Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)

answer

A TCP/IP standard used to automatically configure IP‐based hosts that are unable to reach a DHCP server using the 169.254.x.x IP address range with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0.

question

automatic update

answer

A process by which the operating system searches its manufacturer's website for software updates and downloads (and possibly installs) them automatically.

question

backdoor

answer

A method used to log into a system and avoid normal security methods.

question

backside bus

answer

The optional communications pathway between the Northbridge and the cache controller. When the backside bus is absent, the cache controller communicates with the Northbridge over the frontside bus.

question

backup

answer

The process of making a copy of files and folders on a computer.

question

baseline

answer

A measure of the "normal" performance of your system or a component in the system.

question

Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)

answer

The basic input/output system for an IBM‐based PC. It is the firmware that allows the computer to boot.

question

BD‐ROM

answer

A Blu‐ray disc; it's a newer optical disc format that holds more information than a standard DVD.

question

biometric devices

answer

Devices that authenticate users by scanning for one or more physical traits. Some common types include fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, and retina scanning.

question

BlackBerry OS

answer

A mobile operating system created by RIM and used on BlackBerry devices.

question

blackout

answer

Another term for a complete loss of power.

question

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

answer

Also called a STOP error, it's an error generated by Windows when a fatal system error occurs. It features a blue screen with the word STOP followed by an error message that can help in troubleshooting.

question

Bluetooth

answer

A popular standard for wireless communication.

question

Bluetooth pairing

answer

The process of connecting two Bluetooth‐based devices together for communication.

question

brownout

answer

A drop in the power supply, but not a total loss of power.

question

burner

answer

An optical drive so named because it employs a laser capable of intensities stronger than what are used to read discs. It uses the laser to write, or "burn," content to the disc.

question

bus

answer

A set of signal pathways that allows information and signals to travel between components inside or outside a computer. A computer contains three types of buses: the external bus, the address bus, and the data bus.

question

cable modem

answer

A device that while not technically a modem creates an Internet connection to the cable network.

question

cache memory

answer

A storage area for frequently used data and instructions.

question

carcinogen

answer

An item that can cause increased risk of developing cancer.

question

cathode ray tube (CRT)

answer

The classic video‐display technology that the first televisions were based on and that can still be found in specialty monitors. CRTs have electron guns that fire electrons to cause phosphorescent chemicals on the screen to glow.

question

CD‐ROM

answer

A non‐writeable and inerasable compact disc permanently pressed with digital data. A digital optical disc medium commonly capable of holding from 650 MB to 700 MB of data, corresponding to 74 to 80 minutes of CD‐quality audio, which is of higher quality than MP3 files.

question

central processing unit (CPU)

answer

The main integrated circuit of a computer system, consisting of an array of millions of integrated circuits, that interfaces with almost all other components and runs application and system processes. Its purpose is to accept, perform calculations on, and eject numeric data. It's considered the "brain" of the computer because it's the part that performs the mathematical operations required for all other activity.

question

chipset

answer

The set of controller chips that monitors and directs the traffic on the motherboard between the buses and components.

question

Chrome OS

answer

An operating system created by Google, based on a Linux kernel and the Chrome web browser.

question

Chromebook

answer

A netbook computer running Chrome OS.

question

Chromebox

answer

A desktop computer running Chrome OS.

question

clean uninstallation

answer

Deleting a software application properly, including removing all files associated with that application.

question

cloud computing

answer

A service where storage or applications are provided via the Internet, usually hosted by a global provider.

question

CMOS battery

answer

A battery that provides power to the CMOS (or BIOS) chip that stores CMOS settings. A PC must retain certain settings when it's turned off and its power cord is unplugged.

question

collaboration software

answer

Software designed to make it easy to work with or communicate with other people.

question

complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)

answer

A chip used to retain system settings when the PC is turned off or unplugged. Contains the system BIOS.

question

component video

answer

A high‐quality video interface that is capable of 1080p video and features three RCA or BNC connectors—red, green, and blue—that carry the signals.

question

connection delay

answer

The amount of delay between sending a network data request and receiving a response.

question

consumables

answer

Components of a printer that get used up, such as ink, toner, and paper.

question

cookie

answer

A plain‐text file downloaded from a website to a computer, which can be used to uniquely identify the user.

question

crash

answer

The failure of a software application to respond.

question

crossover cable

answer

A twisted‐pair network cable used for connecting computers directly to each other. One end has pins 1 and 3 and 2 and 6 reversed, hence the term crossover.

question

default gateway

answer

The router to which all packets are sent when the destination computer is not on the local segment.

question

Department of Defense (DoD) model

answer

A four‐layer networking model upon which the basis for the TCP/IP protocol suite was developed.

question

device driver

answer

Software that allows a device to communicate with the operating system. Also called a driver.

question

device hardening

answer

Tasks a user completes to help protect a computer by reducing its number of vulnerabilities.

question

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

answer

A technology that uses regular telephone lines to carry high‐speed Internet.

question

Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

answer

A digital video interface standard that includes support for analog monitor interfaces in the DVI‐A standard or one or two links of digital transmission in the DVI‐D standard. There is also a DVI‐I (the I stands for integrated) that has the ability to support both standards.

question

direct attached storage (DAS)

answer

A hard drive attached to a local computer. It can be an internal or external hard drive.

question

DisplayPort

answer

A digital video interface standard created in 2008 by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA); it was designed to be an industry standard and replace VGA and DVI. It's also backward compatible with VGA and DVI by using adapters.

question

distribution

answer

A version of Linux, which is a combination of the Linux kernel, a shell, shell utilities, a desktop environment, and desktop utilities.

question

domain controller

answer

A centralized server responsible for the security administration of a domain.

question

domains

answer

A group of networked Windows computers that share Active Directory (security) content.

question

dot pitch

answer

The distance between corresponding subpixels in neighboring pixels, used to measure a monitor's hardware resolution quality

question

dual inline memory module (DIMM)

answer

A memory module packaging style that features a circuit board with independent pins on both sides of the module's card edge.

question

dumpster diving

answer

Going through the garbage to obtain confidential or sensitive information

question

DVD‐ROM

answer

A non‐writeable and inerasable digital video disc permanently pressed with digital data. A digital optical disc medium commonly capable of holding from 4.7 GB to 8.5 GB of data per side, corresponding to 2 to 4 hours of uncompressed DVD‐quality video.

question

dynamic memory

answer

A type of memory that loses its data rapidly if it isn't constantly electrically refreshed.

question

electromagnetic interference (EMI)

answer

The interference that can occur during transmissions over copper cable because of electromagnetic energy outside the cable. The result is degradation of the signal.

question

electrostatic discharge (ESD)

answer

Occurs when two objects of dissimilar electrical charge come in contact with each other; the charge can damage electronic components.

question

encrypt

answer

Converting files so their content is scrambled if someone tries to browse the file contents.

question

ergonomics

answer

The study of how people interact with their workplace environment.

question

eSATA

answer

An external interface for the attachment of SATA devices that requires a shielded cable and different connector from the one used with internal SATA attachment.

question

executables

answer

File types that open an application.

question

expansion slot

answer

One of the arbitrary insertion points in an expansion bus, based on a specific technology—PCIe, for example.

question

external hard drive

answer

A hard drive (either HDD or SSD) that is located outside the computer case.

question

fault tolerance

answer

The ability to suffer the loss of a component and yet still have an operational computer

question

fiber‐optic

answer

A type of cable consisting of thin flexible glass fiber surrounded by a rubberized outer coating. Uses an ST, SC, or LC connector

question

Fiber‐to‐the‐Home (FTTH)

answer

Fiber‐optic broadband service delivered directly to a residence.

question

field replaceable unit (FRU)

answer

A computer part that is replaceable by a field technician or end user.

question

file

answer

A collection of data that has its own name.

question

file extension

answer

The end of the filename that starts with a period. Examples are .doc, .exe, and .tiff.

question

file locking

answer

A feature of many network operating systems that "locks" a file to prevent more than one person from updating the file at the same time.

question

file system

answer

The organizational scheme that governs how files are stored and retrieved from a disk. Examples include FAT, NTFS, HFS, and ext4.

question

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

answer

A protocol in the TCP/IP protocol suite that is optimized for file transfers. It uses ports 20 and 21.

question

File Transfer Protocol Secure (FTPS)

answer

A secure version of the File Transfer Protocol optimized for file transfers. It uses SSL or TLS for security and uses port 990 or 21.

question

firewall

answer

A form of protection that can be either a stand‐alone system or included in other devices, such as routers or servers. You can find firewall solutions that are marketed as hardware‐only and others that are software‐only. Either way, their role is to limit the traffic in (or out) of the network.

question

FireWire

answer

Apple's original implementation of IEEE 1394, a high‐speed serial I/O interface ideal for video applications between a computer and an external video source or destination. FireWire and USB are competing standards.

question

flash drive

answer

A small, portable USB storage device made of nonvolatile solid‐state memory, similar to writeable floppy disks.

question

flashing the BIOS

answer

The act of changing the system firmware in a computer, often for the purpose of upgrading to a higher version to support new hardware that the older version does not support.

question

flat screen

answer

A newer form of display device that replaced the CRT.

question

form factor

answer

The size and shape of a component. For example, AT and ATX are two form factors for motherboards.

question

freeware

answer

Software that does not cost anything to purchase or use.

question

frontside bus

answer

The high‐speed bus controlled by the Northbridge on which RAM, cache (in the absence of the backside bus [BSB]), PCIe slots, AGP slots, and other local‐bus components are interconnected with the CPU and, in some cases, each other.

question

function (Fn) key

answer

Key marked with the letters Fn that produces particular functions when pressed and held while pressing a key marked with an alternate function.

question

gesture‐based interaction

answer

Using a mobile device through a series of finger gestures and phone movements.

question

Google Play

answer

The Google app store where you find apps, games, movies, and music.

question

graphical user interface

answer

An interface that users use to interact with the computer; it contains pictures instead of just text and can be navigated with a mouse.

question

graphics processing unit (GPU)

answer

A processor, much like a central processing unit (CPU) for the computer, specifically designed for video.

question

hacking

answer

A variety of computer crimes that involve gaining unauthorized access to a computer system or its data.

question

hard drive

answer

A disk drive that contains magnetically coated platters in a sealed case and is often used as the main secondary‐storage medium.

question

heat sink

answer

A block of aluminum or other metal, with veins throughout or fins, that sits on top of a heat‐producing component, drawing its heat away.

question

High‐Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

answer

A digital video interface standard introduced in 2002, which is commonly used by computers as well as television sets.

question

homegroup

answer

A type of network created by Microsoft with Windows 7 that allows for the easy sharing of resources among a group of computers.

question

host

answer

Any computer or device on a TCP/IP network that has an IP address. In virtualization, the machine that is providing resources to the virtual machines.

question

hot keys

answer

Shortcut keys on a keyboard that perform a function on the computer. Used to increase productivity.

question

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

answer

A protocol in the TCP/IP protocol suite that is used for communication between a web server and a web browser and is optimized for Internet content such as text, pictures, videos, and hyperlinks. It uses port 80.

question

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)

answer

A combination of HTTP with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to create a secure connection. It uses port 443 by default.

question

infrared

answer

A short‐distance wireless communications standard that uses non‐visible light waves.

question

ink cartridge

answer

A reservoir of ink and a print head, in a removable package.

question

inkjet printers

answer

A type of sprayed‐ink printer. Oftentimes called a bubble‐jet.

question

inoculating

answer

The process of running an antivirus program on a computer.

question

Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)

answer

A nickname for the original ATA standard, now known as parallel ATA (PATA) since the advent of serial ATA (SATA).

question

nternet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)

answer

A protocol in the TCP/IP suite that receives email and uses port 143.

question

Internet service provider (ISP)

answer

A company that provides access to the Internet.

question

iOS

answer

Mobile operating system developed by Apple, and used in iPhones and iPads.

question

IP address

answer

A numerical designation that uniquely identifies a device on a network.

question

iTunes

answer

The Apple app store where you find apps, games, movies, and music.

question

keyboard

answer

The most common computer input device for entering text with buttons labeled with the characters they represent.

question

joystick

answer

A game controller consisting of a central component with anywhere from a four‐ direction to a 360° movement capability and one or more buttons.

question

keylogger

answer

Malware that records all keystrokes and sends the information to a file or a remote user.

question

L1 cache

answer

Cache memory that is smallest and the fastest, and closest to the processor core that it's dedicated to.

question

L2 cache

answer

Cache memory that is larger and slower than L1 cache, and not as close to the processor. It's usually, but not always, dedicated to one processor core.

question

L3 cache

answer

The largest and slowest cache memory bank, which is often shared between multiple cores within a processor.

question

latency

answer

The amount of delay between sending a network data request and receiving a response.

question

legacy browsers

answer

Internet browsers that are not the most up‐to‐date version.

question

license agreement

answer

The right to use the application in a limited way as prescribed by the manufacturer of the software.

question

light emitting diode (LED) monitor

answer

An LCD monitor that uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) instead of fluorescent bulbs as a backlight.

question

Linux

answer

An open‐source operating system kernel developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991.

question

liquid cooling

answer

A cooling method used to keep CPUs and other hot‐running components from overheating by pumping a liquid from outside the system through tubing that leads to blocks that mount to the components like heat sinks.

question

liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor

answer

A video display unit that uses a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel to form the pixels corresponding to the image to be displayed.

question

local area networks (LANs)

answer

Groups of computers and associated peripherals connected by a communications channel and capable of sharing files and other resources among several users.

question

localization setting

answer

Configuration setting that specifies where in the world the computer operates.

question

malware

answer

A broad term used for many attacks on computer systems, such as viruses, exploits, and worms.

question

memory

answer

A small, temporary storage space used by the computer to hold data that needs to be quickly accessed.

question

memory card

answer

A small portable storage device made of nonvolatile solid‐state memory; commonly used in digital cameras and mobile gaming devices.

question

metropolitan area network (MAN)

answer

A network that is defined by its geographical nature, such as spanning a metropolitan area or a college campus.

question

mobile hotspot

answer

A network card that allows laptop computers and other mobile devices to access cellular networks.

question

mobile media players

answer

A computer peripheral designed to be both mobile and play television or movies. Some have their own memory to store data while others are for streaming only.

question

modem

answer

A device used to provide Internet access through the analog phone line. At the source it takes a digital signal and converts (modulates) it to analog and then from analog back to digital (demodulates) at the destination device.

question

motherboard

answer

A circuit board to which all computer components are directly or indirectly attached.

question

mouse

answer

A common input device that uses one of various tracking mechanisms to detect its movement over a surface by the user's hand.

question

multifactor authentication

answer

Requiring multiple pieces of information for a user to log in. Generally speaking, in addition to a username, multifactor authentication requires users to provide two or more pieces of information out of these three categories: something the user knows, something the user has, or something the user is.

question

multifunctional printer

answer

A printer that has additional capabilities built in, such as scanning or faxing.

question

near field communication (NFC)

answer

A short‐range communication technology that lets users hold their phone next to someone else's and transfer data or bump their phone to a receiver at a store to pay for a purchase.

question

netbook

answer

A small laptop computer, often with a slower processor, less memory, and less hard disk space than a traditional laptop.

question

Network Address Translation (NAT)

answer

A service that translates private, nonroutable IP addresses into public addresses that can be used on the Internet.

question

network attached storage (NAS)

answer

Storage, such as hard drives, attached directly to a network for the purpose of storing data for clients on the network like a file server.

question

network interface card

answer

In networking, the PC expansion board that plugs into a personal computer or server and works with the network operating system to control the flow of information over the network. The network interface card is connected to the network cabling (twisted‐pair, coaxial, or fiber‐optic cable), which in turn connects to another network card or central connectivity device.

question

octet

answer

A group of 8 bits.

question

open source

answer

A name given to the type of computer code that is shared freely and can be modified by any user.

question

operating system

answer

Software designed to provide an interface between the computer hardware and the user, coordinate hardware components, provide an environment for software to run, display file and directory structure, and monitor system health.

question

OS X

answer

Operating system developed by Apple and used on Macintosh computers.

question

Parallel ATA (PATA)

answer

he new name for the IDE hard drive standard, since the invention of Serial ATA (SATA).

question

parallel port

answer

A legacy port and cable‐connector pairing based on a DB25 interface most commonly used for attaching a printer to a computer.

question

partition

answer

Logical division of hard drive space.

question

password cracking

answer

Attempts made to guess passwords in an effort to gain unauthorized access to a computer system.

question

PCI Express (PCIe)

answer

A high‐performance serial local‐bus slot architecture that obviates the need for AGP and PCI slots. PCIe support combining the resources of multiple adapters for higher performance.

question

peer‐to‐peer (P2P) sharing

answer

Sharing of resources between client computers, as opposed to accessing resources from a server.

question

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)

answer

A popular expansion slot architecture invented by Intel that succeeded the ISA slot and that is succeeded by PCIe.

question

permissions

answer

Also known as security settings, they define what actions a user can perform on a file or folder.

question

personal area network (PAN)

answer

A small‐scale network of Bluetooth‐enabled devices.

question

personally identifiable information (PII)

answer

Anything that can be used to identify an individual person on its own or in context with other information.

question

pharming

answer

A form of redirection in which traffic intended for one host is sent to another.

question

phishing

answer

A form of social engineering in which you simply ask someone for a piece of information you are missing by making it look as if it is a legitimate request. Commonly sent via email. Any electronic activity designed to defraud someone.

question

piconet

answer

A Bluetooth network. A Bluetooth‐enabled device can communicate with up to seven other devices in one piconet.

question

plain old telephone service (POTS)

answer

Standard telephone service, as opposed to other connection technologies like Digital Subscriber Line (DSL).

question

plasma

answer

A display technology that employs red, green, and blue cells containing clouds of charged particles that emit light as they stabilize.

question

plugin

answer

A piece of software that gives a web browser additional functionality.

question

pop‐up

answer

An extra, usually small browser window that appears automatically when users display a certain web page or click a certain button on a page.

question

POST card

answer

A circuit board you insert into an open slot in the motherboard that displays a two‐digit numeric code on its LED to tell you where the system is in the booting process.

question

Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3)

answer

A protocol in the TCP/IP suite that receives email and uses port 110.

question

power button

answer

In today's computers, a physical switch that can be configured to perform multiple functions, such as power the computer on/off and put it into sleep mode, based on the length of time it is held.

question

power plan

answer

Tells the computer to shut down or to go into one of the power‐saving modes from the previous section after a specified period of inactivity.

question

power strips

answer

Glorified extension cords that have multiple power plugs to connect multiple devices.

question

power supply

answer

The device in a computer that provides the power.

question

power‐on self‐test (POST)

answer

Part of the boot process controlled by the BIOS that verifies the working condition of the hardware the BIOS knows about.

question

printer

answer

An electromechanical output device that is used to put information from the computer onto paper.

question

privacy screen

answer

A cover over a monitor screen that directs light from it at a restricted angle so that anyone who isn't viewing it straight on won't be able to read it clearly. Also called a screen filter.

question

product key

answer

A unique code that comes with purchased software that allows you to install or use the application.

question

productivity software

answer

Programs that help you get your work done faster, such as spreadsheets, word processing, email, or presentation software.

question

projector

answer

An output device that uses a light source to display an image input to one of its interfaces onto a screen.

question

protocol

answer

In networking and communications, the specification that defines the procedures to follow when transmitting and receiving data. Protocols define the format, timing, sequence, and error‐checking systems used.

question

PS/2 port

answer

A six‐pin mini‐DIN connector named after the second generation of IBM personal computers and still occasionally seen today, trailing behind USB in popularity, for mouse and keyboard attachment.

question

RAID

answer

Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks. A form of fault tolerance in all but one version that allows the loss of at least one drive without compromising data.

question

RAID 0

answer

The only type of RAID that is not fault tolerant, RAID 0 provides striped volume sets on two or more drives that allow for larger volumes than one drive alone can provide. When one or more drives are lost, all data is compromised.

question

RAID 1

answer

A fault‐tolerant type of RAID that provides mirroring and duplexing. Two and only two drives exist in a mirrored set. The loss of either drive does not compromise data.

question

RAID 5

answer

A fault‐tolerant type of RAID that combines striped sets with distributed parity across all drives in the set. A minimum of three drives is required, and the loss of any one drive does not compromise data.

question

random access memory (RAM)

answer

A temporary storage area used by the computer to quickly access data. Data in RAM is lost when the computer loses power.

question

ransomware

answer

Malware that attempts to get the infected user to pay money to have the malware removed from the system.

question

read‐only memory (ROM)

answer

Memory in the computer that can only be read but not written to.

question

rebooting

answer

Physically turning the computer off and then turning it back on.

question

registering

answer

Providing your name and contact information to the software manufacturer.

question

reseating

answer

Opening the case and pressing down on each socketed chip, or disconnecting and reconnecting the chip or cable.

question

resolution

answer

The number of rows and columns that a display unit is capable of representing.

question

restore point

answer

A backup copy of the important system configuration files created once a day (by default) by the System Restore utility.

question

Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)

answer

Directive that restricts the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic equipment. These six substances are lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ether.

question

RJ‐11

answer

A connector type for twisted‐pair cabling. Telephone cabling uses an RJ‐11 connector.

question

RJ‐45

answer

A connector type for twisted‐pair cabling. Network cabling uses an RJ‐45 connector.

question

rootkits

answer

Software programs that have the ability to obtain root‐level access and hide certain things from the operating system.

question

Safe Mode

answer

A low‐functionality troubleshooting mode that bypasses all optional components, both hardware and software, loading only the minimum required to display the Desktop.

question

satellite internet

answer

A type of Internet connection that uses a satellite dish to receive data from a satellite and a relay station that is connected to the Internet.

question

scatternet

answer

A network of two or more piconets.

question

screen captures

answer

Images of the screen, taken to share with other people such as tech support.

question

screen resolution

answer

Setting that determines how many horizontal dots and vertical dots make up the rows and columns of your display.

question

Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)

answer

A secure version of a file transfer protocol that utilizes SSH and runs on port 22.

question

secure website

answer

Websites that use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt transmissions between the server and the client. They start with HTTPS://.

question

Serial ATA (SATA)

answer

The latest version of the standard that specifies IDE (PATA) but that uses only a single serial pathway for communication instead of multiple parallel pathways as PATA uses.

question

serial port

answer

A computer interface that transmits one bit at a time, also known as an RS‐232 connector.

question

service pack

answer

A collection of updates to an operating system or application that brings it to a certain update level.

question

Service Set Identifier (SSID)

answer

The unique name of a wireless network that differentiates it from other wireless networks that are also in range of a wireless client.

question

shell

answer

The command interface of an operating system.

question

shortcut

answer

A small file used as a pointer to the target file's real location.

question

shoulder surfing

answer

Watching someone when they enter their username, password, or other sensitive data.

question

signature

answer

A trait or characteristic of a virus used to identify the virus.

question

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

answer

A protocol in the TCP/IP suite designed to send email that uses port 25.

question

single sign‐on (SSO)

answer

An authentication system that gives users access to all the applications and systems they need when they log on.

question

small outline DIMM (SODIMM)

answer

A small form factor memory module based on DIMM principles and designed for the mobile computing sector.

question

smartphone

answer

A mobile telephone device closely resembling a small computer, usually with a touchscreen and Internet access.

question

social engineering

answer

An attack in which people are deceived or manipulated into revealing information the attacker can use to access data they shouldn't access.

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software platforms

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Environments in which software applications operate, such as Windows or Mac OS X. Can also refer to applications that run on a desktop, mobile device, or on the Internet.

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solid‐state drive (SSD)

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A newer‐style drive that has no moving parts but uses flash memory to emulate a conventional hard disk drive.

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sound card

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An adapter or component that provides audio output from a device.

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spam

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Unwanted junk email or unsolicited email.

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spoofing

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Creating a website that masquerades as a legitimate secure site but actually steals users' information.

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spyware

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Software that records your computer usage. A keylogger is one example.

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static memory

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Memory that does not change, nor is it lost when the computer loses power (as opposed to dynamic memory, which is lost when the computer loses power).

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STOP error

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Also called a Blue Screen of Death, it's an error generated by Windows when a fatal system error occurs. It features a blue screen with the word STOP followed by an error message that can help in troubleshooting.

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strong password

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A password that is difficult for someone to guess; usually is long, varied, and unusual.

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stylus

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A small plastic or metal pointing device, resembling a writing pen, used with some touchscreen computer monitors.

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subnet mask

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The value used to determine the subnet upon which a host resides.

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surge protectors

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Surge protectors attempt to keep power surges at bay. They often look like power strips, but they have a fuse inside them that is designed to blow if it receives too much current and not transfer the current to the devices plugged into it. Surge protectors may have plug‐ins for RJ‐11 (phone), RJ‐45 (Ethernet), and BNC (coaxial cable) connectors.

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S‐video

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A video interface technology that uses a mini‐DIN connector to provide composite or component‐quality video.

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System Configuration utility

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Also known by its executable filename of MSCONFIG, it's a utility that allows Windows users to selectively disable certain applications and services that automatically load at startup.

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system image

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A backup of all files on a hard drive, including user data and operating system files, that can be used to restore the entire system in the case of failure.

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telepresence

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A term associated with video teleconferencing. The goal of telepresence is to make it feel like people in different offices are actually sitting in the same office and communicating.

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Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP)

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Wireless security standard that generates a dynamic, 128‐bit per‐packet security key

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thermal printer

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A printer that uses heat and special heat‐sensitive paper to produce images; common among fax machines.

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Thunderbolt

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A high‐speed digital computer interface developed by Apple for video, external storage, and other devices.

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toner

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A black, carbon substance mixed with polyester resins and iron oxide, used by laser printers as opposed to ink.

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touchpad

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A pointing device commonly built in to laptop computers that allows you to use your finger to move the cursor on the screen and click, like you would use a mouse.

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touchscreen

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A type of display unit that uses capacitive or resistive touch as an input mechanism without requiring separate input methods.

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trackball

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An exposed ball that functions much like an inverted mouse.

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Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite

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A set of computer‐to‐computer communications protocols that encompasses media access, packet transport, session communications, file transfer, email, and terminal emulation. TCP/IP is supported by a very large number of hardware and software vendors and is available on many different computers from PCs to mainframes.

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Trojan horse

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A rogue application that appears to do something useful but also does something malicious.

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uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

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A UPS is designed to protect everything that's plugged into it from power surges, power sags, and even power outages. The device contains one or more batteries and fuses. Energy is stored in the batteries, and if the power fails, the batteries can power the computer for a period of time so the administrator can safely power it down.

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Universal Serial Bus (USB)

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A high‐speed, hot‐pluggable serial interface used for connecting external peripherals to a PC.

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unshielded twisted pair (UTP)

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Networking cable that has four twisted pairs of copper wire and a flexible outer coating.

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user account

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The security mechanism that allows people to log into a computer with a unique username and password.

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utility software

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Programs that provide useful features to supplement your operating system, such as anti‐malware protection, diagnostic and maintenance, or file compression.

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video card

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An adapter or component that provides the GPU, its memory, and an interface to connect to an output device, usually a video display unit, which includes monitors and projectors.

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video graphics array (VGA) connector

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An analog video connector that was the first standardized video connector in the computer industry

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virtualization

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Running multiple logical (or virtual) servers on one physical server.

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virus

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Malware that attaches itself to an executable file and modifies what happens when the file runs.

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Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

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Technology that allows audio calls or video teleconferencing to be transmitted over network cables.

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vulnerability

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A flaw in the programming of an application that creates the potential for misuse; plus a tool or technique that allows an attacker to exploit that vulnerability.

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weak password

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A password that is easy for someone to guess.

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webcam

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A video‐only camera that connects to a computer so that the video it captures can be sent across the Internet in real time or recorded by software.

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wide area networks (WANs)

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Networks that cross local, regional, and/or international boundaries.

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Wi‐Fi Protected Access (WPA)

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An enhancement of 802.11 encryption that secures Wi‐Fi communications. The current standard is WPA2.

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Wi‐Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2)

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The strongest wireless encryption method currently available for 802.11 networks.

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Windows

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Operating system family developed by Microsoft.

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Windows Phone

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The mobile operating system family developed by Microsoft.

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Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE)

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Troubleshooting utility that comes with Windows Vista and newer, which allows a user to boot to the Windows installation CD and repair a corrupted Windows installation.

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Windows Update

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A Windows utility that provides for automatic updates of the Windows operating system.

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Wired Equivalency Protocol (WEP)

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An old security protocol for 802.11 (wireless) networks that attempts to establish the same security as would be present in a wired network. It has security flaws and is easily compromised.

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workgroup

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A collection of peer‐to‐peer computers with no dedicated server or centralized security.

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workstation

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A computer that users use to access resources, most often a client computer on a network. Usually a desktop or laptop computer.

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worm

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A self‐transporting malware application that carries an active payload, such as a Trojan horse or a virus.

CompTIA IT Fundamentals Study Guide: Exam FC0-U51 by Quentin Docter; Glossary Terms – Flashcards

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