Computer Network
A group of computers that are connected to each other by cables or wireless connections.
Crosstalk
Signals that cross over from adjacent wires and interfere with data.
Encryption Protection
Protects packets from attacks by hackers by making them difficult for hackers to identify.
Firewall
Software that prevents or filters access to networks to help keep networks secure.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
The most common method used to transfer files between computers.
Hackers
People who try to steal information such as credit card numbers and passwords or attempt to gain access to information on other people's computers.
Hacker Packets
Packets sent by hackers that cause congestion and other problems on the Internet such as Denial of Service attacks, which means that a hacker has flooded a site with so many packets that nobody can get in.
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Causes distortion and other problems with wireless communication. Possible sources of EMI include cordless telephones, electric motors, fluorescent lights, radios and microwave ovens.
Internet
Computer networks that are connected throughout the world. It is often called a network of networks, and it's similar to a giant spider web, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the World Wide Web.
Latency
Causes delay between transfer and receipt of data.
MP3
A way to compress audio files so that they are small enough to send through the Internet.
Packets
Small pieces of information such as e-mail, movies, pictures, music, and text that travel through the Internet. We receive packets on our computers when we look at a Website or check our e-mail. A packet doesn't include all the information in an e-mail or on a Website. Instead, the e-mail or Website data is divided into tiny pieces and sent through the Internet as packets. When the packets arrive at your computer, they are put back together.
Ping
Short for Packet Internet Groper; it is used to test the functionality of an Internet link or address.
Routers
Send packets through the best routes to their destinations. They provide fast and secure paths for the packets, know how to avoid congestion on the Internet, and can find the shortest routes.
Satellites
Electronic communication stations in space that can relay data sent from one computer to another.
Search Engine
Helps you find information on the Internet through a database index; usually accessed by keywords.
Security Key
Protects information sent through wireless communication. Wireless receivers reject packets without security keys.
Server
A computer with software that enables it to work with other computers on a network. A server can handle filing, printing, communication, and applications. The servers on a school network serve students and instructors by allowing them to access the information stored on them and managed by them.
Space Weather
Conditions such as solar winds, sunspots, comets, meteor showers, and asteroids, which may affect satellite communications.
Video Streaming
Process that allows you to download a video from the Internet and watch it as the packets arrive at your computer.
Viruses
Software that can erase computer files, cause computers not to work as they should, send out e-mails from your computer that give other computers viruses, and cause other nasty problems.
Web Crawler
A program that searches the Internet for information based on keywords; sometimes called a robot.
Wireless Communication
Transmits packets through the Internet using wireless access points. The information travels through the air without wires until a wireless receiver retrieves it at the destination computer or server.
