Internet Security Terms & Definitions

E-mail - Electronic mail. The exchange of messages, mail, documents, graphics, and other electronic documents through the Internet.

E-mail Bombs - Harmful computer code that when executed sends many email messages to the same address for the purpose of using up disk space and/or overloading the email or web server.

Encryption - Protecting an email or a file by altering the date transmission to make it unreadable unless the receiving party has been given authorization to decrypt it and open it.

Enterprise-class - Products or services developed specifically for large corporations and organizations. Very high-grade, complex, in-depth, and expensive in nature. Usually requires active management and ongoing maintenance by teams of engineers, consultants and other professionals.

Ethernet - A Local Area Network (LAN) architecture developed to connect computers on a network. Once of the most widely implemented LAN standards. Newer versions of Ethernet support data transfer rates of 100 and 1000 megabits per second.

Executable - An executable is a computer file that contains a program - that is, a particular kind of file that is capable of being executed or run as a program in the computer. Every application that runs on a computer is started with an executable (.exe) file.

Exploits - An exploit is a successful hack or break-in to a computer. When a hacker or cracker has accomplished the task he has set out to do, he has successfully exploited the system. Some hackers use the word exploit as a noun to reference a proven tool or method by which they can gain access to other computers.

FBI Scams - Scams in which it appears that the FBI is trying to get something from the complaint (example: money, identity information, etc.).

File & Print Sharing Utility - A utility built in to the Windows Operating System that allows files and printers to be shared with multiple computers over a network.

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Internet Security Terms & Definitions

File Transfer Protocol - File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the simplest way to transfer files from one computer to another on the Internet. Supports a broad range of file types. It allows you to delete and rename.

Firewall - A hardware or software-based security system that protects networks and PCs from external threats. Firewalls filter all data traffic on a computer or a network, and can make computers “invisible” to others on the Internet. This is the best form of protection against port scanners and a wide variety of cyber attacks.

Fixes - Another term for software patch. A patch or update to existing commercially available software such as a Microsoft Windows operating systems to close security holes or improve program performance after the program has already been released in the market. Also see Patch.

Gateway Computer - The main computer or server on a network that acts as the “gateway” or main passage to the Internet for all computers on the network. This computer is the gatekeeper to the Internet for the other computers.

Ghost Imaging - Ghost imaging is the copying of the contents of a computer’s hard drive into a single compressed file or set of files (referred to as an image) so that the contents of the hard disk, including configuration information and applications, can be copied to the hard disk of other computers. This is a common data backup method.

Graham Leach Bliley Act - (GLBA), Also known as The Financial Modernization Act of 1999, requires businesses and organizations to protect consumers’ personal financial related information. The provisions of this law require the implementation of privacy policies and notices under the FTC’s Privacy Rule, plus formalized security plans and adequate information safeguards under the FTC’s Safeguard Rule. The law also includes provisions for criminal negligence since most personal financial information is computerized, proper data security is a major part of GLBA compliance. GLBA gives authority to eight federal agencies and every state to enforce the privacy and safeguards rules outlined in this law. It applies to a broad list of “financial institutions,” loosely defined as anyone in financial services or products in any way, such as banks, insurance agents/firms, securities firms, lenders of any type, loan brokers or services, financial planners, accountants, tax preparers, real estate professionals, credit counselors, debt collectors, money transfer agents and many more.