Adware Software that displays pop-up advertising ď‚ž Adware can also track what you are searching for to give you more relevant adverts ď‚ž
Antivirus A piece of software which protects your computer from viruses. ď‚ž You can often download some reliable free internet security which will protect your computer from harm. ď‚ž
Cookies Files that are saved to your computer when you visit websites They normally contain information about your browsing habits Because of cookies, webpages are often customised to your previous searches Cookies also automatically fill in forms with previously entered information from other forms
Firewall Your first line of defence when you are online Protects your computer from hackers Usually programmed in your hardware but can also be software All messages from the internet are fed through the firewall to ensure they are safe
Hacker An experienced computer user who attempts to gain access to your computer and data without your permission Hackers call themselves ‘crackers’
Keylogging Malicious programmers, called a keylogger, which is used to track your usage of your keyboard in an attempt to learn your usernames and passwords ď‚ž Keyloggers can even record instant messages and e-mails ď‚ž
Trojan A virus that attaches itself to another program in order to gain access to your computer Can be known as a Trojan Horse Examples of these include adverts that claim to clear your computer of such viruses
Spyware Software which is installed on your computer to monitor your computer usage Spyware is often bundled in another piece of software you want to download It can also find out your e-mail addresses and even your bank details
Spam Unwanted e-mails such as advertising Newsletters from brands can also be identified as Spam Most e-mail account suppliers will have Spam filters to help you organise what you want and don’t want to read
Strong Password A strong password is one with capital letters, numbers and symbols You should have a number of secure passwords which you rotate when you join a new website A strong password should be as random as possible, therefore making it difficult for hackers to guess
Phishing The sending out of genuine looking emails in an attempt to gain personal details from you ď‚ž An example of this is fake e-mails from the bank asking you to authenticate your account by inputting your account details ď‚ž
Malware ď‚ž
General term used for software that is intended to do harm to your computer, such as viruses, Trojans etc
Virus A file which tries to harm your computer or allow a hacker to gain access to your information ď‚ž Viruses are created by hackers and can easily bring your computer to a standstill as well as using up your remaining memory space ď‚ž
How to protect your PC 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Download a trusted free internet security package Create some strong passwords and vary them between sites Change your passwords every 6 months Log out of a site as soon as you are finished Don’t click on a link if it looks dangerous
Need more help? ď‚ž
Are there more terms you don’t understand? Check out an online jargon buster such as Webopedia to learn more what these terms mean and what you can do to protect yourself against them.