Important Terms to Remember

bandwidth	A term designating the flow of data across the Internet. More specifically, it is used to mean the speed and amount of the data transferred. When a person "hogs bandwidth" it means that his or her actions on the Internet are of such quantity that other individuals using the same path are adversely affected, causing delays or disconnections. Within the confines of a newsgroup, "hogging bandwidth" means the individual is posting far too much data, usually binary files, causing other messages to be cycled out prematurely.
binary	Any data that is not text. This can be images, audio, video clips, programs, or other such files that cannot be read with a standard text editor.
bit, byte, KB, MB, GB	A bit is a unit of data in a computer and can be either a 1 or a 0. A byte is eight bits strung together, a KB, or kilobyte, is 1024 bytes, a MB, or megabyte, is 1024 KB, and a GB, or gigabyte, is 1024 MB. A sixth term is terabyte, which is 1024 gigabytes.
cable modem	One type of high-speed access available to the consumer at residential prices. Access speeds fluctuate, but downloads can reach up to 1 MB/sec.
cache	A storage area where recently used data is kept to increase efficiency. As time progresses, older files are removed from the cache to make room for new files.
download	Retrieving a file or group of files from the Internet so they can be stored on a local hard drive. By accessing this page, you have, in fact, downloaded all the information here so that it can be viewed and interpreted by your web browser.
DNS	Domain Name Server. A server that holds an index that links alpha-numeric addresses, such as [www.yahoo.com] with a numeric IP address, like [24.0.105.9]. When you access a website using its alpha-numeric address, you actually first look up the IP address and then access the site via that address. This is what is meant when a browser attempts to "resolve a host name"; a failure on this level means that the browser was unable to locate the corresponding IP address for the host name.
DSL	Another type of high-speed access also available at low cost. Maximum download speeds less than that of a cable modem, but uploads are faster and the overall access is more stable.
e-mail	Electronic mail. When a message is sent, the message is sent first to the SMTP server, which acts as an "outbox" for users. The message is then relayed to the appropriate mail server, which can be found listed after the @ symbol in the recipient's address. The message then waits on that server until the recipient accesses the message and then deletes it. Deletion of the message from the server often occurs automatically after the message is downloaded and saved to the user's local drive.
flame	A flame is a verbal attack upon another Internet user, whether on a public channel or within the confines of e-mail. Flames are often the result of misunderstandings and can potentially escalate into serious verbal abuse from both sides. On a public channel, such as newsgroups or IRC, flames from one side of an argument can provoke flames from the other side, initiating what is known as a "flame war". These can end up taking up much of the bandwidth on a newsgroup, forcing uninvolved parties to sift through the hate-mail.
FTP	File Transfer Protocol. A method by which a person directly connects to a server and can upload or download multiple files or directories. The accessed server acts as a remote drive, as opposed to a local drive like your hard drive, but access may be limited due to restrictions placed upon specific access types. Anonymous access is rarely given upload because of the potential dangers with hackers and phreaks. Many different FTP programs are available for use for nearly all operating systems.
hacker	An individual with vast experience with security protocols who attempts to illegally access secure servers in an attempt to download private information, damage systems, or act in some other way to "free information". Hackers are also known to create cracks for various software to permit free distribution without users having to pay for said software.
HTML	Hyper Text Markup Language. This is the code by which web pages are created so they can be graphically organized in various ways. The web browser downloads the text of the HTML file, and then decodes the text into what you can see here. Many books and online manuals are available to anyone wishing to learn this code.
Internet	Iternational Network. This term covers all the servers, data, terms, and nuances of being online. From web pages to newsgroups, the Internet is whatever can be accessed through the online network.
IP address	A numeric code consisting of four numbers seperated by periods. Each number can range from 0 to 255. From left to right the numbers designate narrower and narrower parameters, finally ending with the number of a single computer.
IRC	Internet Relay Chat. This is not AOL's Instant Messenger, but rather another type of Internet access through which you can access various servers that allow users to send messages either to a public forum or each other specifically. These "Chat Rooms", like the rest of the Internet, are incapable of being effectively regulated, so anyone can talk about anything in these rooms without fear of censorship. This must be accessed with an IRC program.
ISP	ISP stand for Internet Service Provider. This is the person, group of people, or company that provides access to the Internet. Some of the more popular ISPs are AOL, CompuServ, and Prodigy. These claim to be easy to use, but in the long run the less restrictive local ISPs are often cheaper and provide better access.
LAN	Local Area Network. Many multiple-computer homes have found ways to link their computers through a central device called a "hub". This way, each computer can share information directly, without the need to transfer data via a portable storage device, like a floppy disk. A properly set up LAN can also permit the connected computers to access the Internet through a single Internet account.
log on or log off	Each server that is accessed must have some way to ensure security of their sensitive information. Thus, servers restrict access by forcing users to "log on" with either personal access codes or anonymously. Anonymous access usually requires the individual's e-mail address, and the user's IP address is also logged. Once the desired information has been obtained, the user can "log off", disconnecting access to the server.
network	Any set of computers that are connected in such a way as to permit data to be shared directly. This can also be a verb, designating the action of connecting computers to form a network.
newsgroups	A newsgroup is a collection of articles written by various users about a common subject. Responses and counter-responses are sent through this public forum, and the articles are kept on the newsgroup for several days. As more articles are posted, older articles are deleted to make room. While these, too, are not regulated per se, abusive users can be referred to their Internet provider, who may terminate the individual's access if the situation is severe enough. New newsgroups are formed each day for the widening range of topics. As web browsers are used to access the World Wide Web, newsgroups can be accessed with a proper newsgroup browser, also known as a "newsreader".
online or offline	A computer is online when it has current access to the Internet or a remote network. It is offline when it does not.
phreak	Similar to a hacker, a phreaks are most comonly known for finding ways to avoid paying charges. Phone phreaks are a type of phreak that uses various telephone codes to fool tracing, prevent long distance charges, or cause any number of other problems. Internet phreaks act much the same way.
search engine	A server devoted to keeping an index of as much of the World Wide Web as possible, allowing users to quickly search for pages with specific topics. Yahoo!, Webcrawler, and Google are all search engines.
server	This is a computer that permits itself to be remotely accessed by another computer.
snail mail	Any mail sent through the standard mail service, such as a post office.
spam	This is one of the most wretched things in the Internet. Spam is unsolicited commerical advertisements, and can come in various forms: pop-up windows, off-topic newsgroup articles, automated chat messages, or direct e-mail. Much of it is either pyramid schemes or pornographic material. This is what "bandwidth hogging" really is: large quantities of undesired, useless information.
upload	To copy a file or group of files to a server. This is usually done in greatest quantity through FTP, but anytime you access a site, post a message, or send an e-mail, some form of uploading has occurred.
usenet	Another term for newsgroups. See appropriate section.
warez	Pronounced "wares", these are any programs that have been cracked and had their copy-protections removed. These programs now can be installed and used without the need of a factory-made CD. Of course, upgrades for the software will not work and help cannot be gotten from the manufacturer.
World Wide Web or WWW	This is the part of the Internet that you are accessing right now. The World Wide Web is so named because each page in the WWW has links to other pages, which have links to other pages, and so on, creating what could viually be seen as a web-like network of links.

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