Jargon Buster

ADSL
An asymmetric digital subscriber line, more commonly known as broadband. ADSL is an internet connection through your ordinary phone line.

Attachment
A file ‘attached’ to an email – such as a document or picture.

Bandwidth
Measurement of speed at which data is transmitted, reported as in bytes per second (bps).

Bitmap
An image format you can choose when saving graphics on your computer. When asked to submit an image, e.g. to a photo album website, it may need to be in a specific image format though this will usually be in a JPEG format. Bitmaps are only used on Microsoft operating systems.

Blog
Refers to an online diary or ‘web log’ where users can post their thoughts and opinions on a regular basis to share with internet users.

Bookmark
A feature of internet browsers allowing you to ‘bookmark’ your favorite web ‘pages’ allowing you to quickly return at a later date.

Broadband
A connection running over your ordinary phone line allowing for high speed data transfer – much faster than dial up. Visit our broadband section for further details.

Browser
A program used to view websites. Currently the most popular are Internet Explorer (IE) and Firefox, but others are available.

Dial up
A very slow internet connection through a standard phone line. The user needs to ‘dial up’ the connection, preventing them from using the phone. At least 20 times slower than a broadband connection, if you are currently on dial up please visit our broadband section for details on how to upgrade.

Domain
An address that can be entered into a browser to visit a specific website, for example www.titantelecom.uk.com.

Downloading
Transferring data from the internet to your computer, for example a document or a music file.

Email
Electronic mail that can be sent, almost instantaneously, between people from computer to computer, regardless of location, using a user’s email address. Titan Telecom broadband customers receive 2 free email addresses.

Encryption
A method of protecting data so that only the sender and the intended recipient can read it.

Firewall
Either a hardware and/or software solution that allows you to control what information and programs can access the internet.

GIF
A picture or image file format, GIFs are often used to create basic animations.

Gigabyte (GB)
A large unit of computer information or storage equal to one thousand megabytes.

Hard drive
The storage device of your computer, where all your information such as documents, pictures and music files are kept.

Homepage
This term can refer to the page you browse to by default when you open your browser, or the ‘front’ page of any website.

Hyperlink
Text or images that you can click on to open a different web page or see some media. Text is usually highlighted and underlined.

Internet
A global network of computers which are connected and sharing information via websites, email and other methods.

IP Address
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique identifier for each computer on a network. This acts as the computer’s very own address in the same manner as a house address.

ISP (Internet Service Provider)
The term for a company providing internet access, web space or web site hosting for business and home users.

JPEG
A common type of image or picture file format.

Kilobyte (KB)
A small unit of computer information or storage equal to 1000 bytes.

Kilobit (Kb)
A small unit of data transfer, at one point commonly used to describe very slow broadband connections (measured in kilobits per second or kbps).

LAN (Local Area Network)
Often used in homes and offices, a LAN is a network of computers that are connected together allowing them to share data and send and receive between each other at faster speeds than over the Internet.

MAC (Migration Authorisation Code)
A code given to broadband customers by their current ISP to allow them to switch to another ISP.

Megabyte (MB)
A medium unit of computer information or storage equal to 8 megabits.

Megabit (Mb)
A unit of data transfer used to measure broadband connection speed. Often confused with megabytes, the difference between the two measurements can be likened to the difference between Fahrenheit and Celsius.

Modem
Hardware required to connect to the internet.

MP3
The most popular format for digital music files, available to purchase from many online retailers.

Network
Generic term referring to any number of interconnected computers or devices (for example networked printers).

Operating system
Software such as Windows XP which allows you to run other programs on your computer.

Phishing
Term used to describe the criminal activity of fraudsters sending out emails directing users to web sites that mocked up copies of trusted company sites, for example your banks website. The aim of these sites is to collect sensitive information such as bank details and passwords from visitors.

Router
An optional piece of hardware that allows one internet connection to be split between different computers, enabling multiple users to use a single connection at the same time. Modern routers incorporate the required ADSL modem, and a wireless router allows users to connect multiple PCs without the restriction of cables.

Search engine
A website designed to be a tool allowing you to search all other websites on the internet for key words or phrases.

Spam
A form junk mail referring to unsolicited emails, usually advertising dubious special offers.

Spyware
A computer program which can be downloaded via the internet which has been created to collect information about the user without their consent. Users will often download spyware accidentally because it is hidden in ‘useful’ looking tool bars or programs that are free to download.

Streaming
Popular with music and video sites, instead of downloading a file as a whole the information is ‘streamed’ onto your computer and you can watch it as it plays. The file is stored temporarily on you PC as it streams.

Uploading
The opposite of downloading, instead of transferring information from the internet to your PC you transfer information to the internet from your PC. For example uploading pictures to a website.

Virus
A malicious computer program ‘infects’ your PC, often replicating itself, they are created to damage computers. In some cases viruses can lie dormant in the computer, crash a whole system or cause other kinds of disruption.

Wireless internet (Wi-Fi)
A way for several computers to access the Internet, often using a wireless router.