Acceptable Use Policy
An agreement with your Internet service provider to use their network in a responsible manner.

ADSL
Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line - a technology that delivers Internet access over existing phone lines.

ADSL modem
A device that connects your computer to the Internet using ADSL technology.

Asymmetric connection
A connection where the upload and download speeds are different. Typically upload speeds are slower than download speeds

Bit
A unit of data containing either a 1 or a 0.

Broadband
Any type of fast Internet access.

Byte
A unit of data containing 8 bits.

Cable Internet
High speed Internet access over the T.V. cable network.

Cable modem
A device that connects you computer to the cable network.

Content
Information or Entertainment - whether in the form of text, video, audio, or otherwise – typically available via the Internet.

Cookie
A small file created on your computer when you visit some web sites. A cookie identifies your computer to the web site and lets the site know that you have been there before.

Domain name
An address on the Internet.

Domain name parking
Registering a domain name before you are ready to use it.

Download allowance / Download limit
The amount of data you can download from the Internet without incurring additional charges.

Download speed
The speed at which you download, or receive, information from the Internet.

Dynamic IP address
An IP address that is automatically assigned to your computer when you access the Internet.

E-mail
Electronic mail - the transmission of messages in electronic form.

Firewall
A piece of software (or hardware) that blocks unauthorized traffic between your computer and the Internet.

Giga-byte
1000 million bytes

Gbps
Giga-bits per second (1000 million bits per second). A measure of the speed at which data travels.

Hacker
A person who gains unauthorised access to a computer, often with the intention of causing harm.

Hosting
The service of providing computer memory space for customer’s applications and files.

Internet service provider
An organisation that provides access to the Internet, and possibly also email and web-hosting facilities.

IP address
Internet protocol address. A number that uniquely identifies a computer connected to the Internet.

ISP
Internet Service Provider.

kbyte
Kilo-byte (1000 bytes).

Kbps
Kilo-bits per second. (1000 bits per second). A measure of the speed at which data travels.

MB
Mega-bytes (1 million bytes).

Mbps
Mega-bits per second (1 million bits per second). A measure of the speed at which data travels.

Mesh-Wireless broadband
A multi-path, redundant network architecture for connecting to the Internet using wireless technology i.e. there is no physical wired link.

Migration
A change from one hardware or software technology to another.

Modem
(MOdulator-DEModulator) A device that adapts a computer to an analog telephone line by converting digital pulses to audio frequencies and vice versa.

Network Access Device
A device through which a computer is granted access to a network (ie. the Internet).

Proxy server
A computer which stores a copy of the most frequently downloaded web sites, in order to give faster access to these pages.

Router
A device that transmits data from one local or wide area network to another. Routers can perform such functions as: making decisions on the most expedient route by which to send the data; balancing traffic on the network and filtering traffic for security purposes.

Server
A computer that is shared by multiple users. Some servers have specific purposes e.g. file servers, mail servers, web servers etc.

SPAM
Unsolicited email.

Static IP address
An IP address that is permanent. Static IP addresses are usually given to servers and printers.

Symmetric connection
A connection where the upload and download speeds are the same. With common asymmetric connections, upload speeds are different from download speeds

Telecommute
To work at home and communicate with the office via electronic means.

Trojan horse
A computer program that allows hackers unauthorised access to your computer.

Upload speed
The speed at which you upload, or send, information to the Internet.

URL
Universal Resource Locator - an address on the world wide web, (ie. www.skywi.com)

USB port
Universal Serial Bus port - an external interface for connecting devices to your computer e.g. scanners, printers etc.

Videoconference
A conference between multiple people in different locations, using video technology to communicate.

Virus
A program that performs some undesired action on your computer and generally propagates itself to other computers.

Virus checker
A program that scans your computer for known viruses.

VoIP – Voice Over IP
Transmission of voice / telephone calls over the Internet using the Internet Protocol.

VoIP Telephone Adapter
A device used to allow a traditional analog telephone to access and use VoIP service.

VPN
A secure encrypted connection between a user's distributed sites over a public network (e.g., the Internet).

Web hosting
Placing a customer's web site on a commercial web server.

Web Space
Off-site data storage facility (disk space), existing remotely and accessed through the Internet.

Wireless broadband
A connection to the Internet using wireless technology i.e. there is no physical, wired link.