Definition
cook•ie
What’s a Cookie?
Finally a question all Girl Scouts are experts in! There are Thin Mints, Samoas and…oh. You mean computer cookies? Never mind. Those aren’t nearly as tasty, but Girl Scouts are experts in those kinds of cookies too. Cookies aren’t code. They are just text written onto a file on your computer. The websites look for this file when you visit them and get the info from it to recognize you as one of their registered users, to know what you are searching for online, or to help you keep your shopping cart working online. Cookies allow you to have customized surfing without storing this info all over the Internet.
Make sure you know what you’re talking about when it comes to keeping your computer safe.
What’s a Virus?
No, not the “sniffles, fever and get out of school free” kind of virus. The kind of virus we’re talking about here can infect your computer, game device or even your smart phone. A virus is a program, or piece of computer code, that is designed to destroy files or damage digital devices. Computer viruses replicate themselves and spread quickly, just like the sniffle kind of viruses. But they can do more permanent damage. They can wipe out all your music or pic files, your homework, or your love letters.
What’s a Worm?
A worm is a program or piece of computer code that makes its home in the active memory of your computer or device and breeds copies of itself. Then it sends these copies to other devices through e-mail, IM or downloads.
What’s a Trojan Horse?
Remember during the Trojan War, the Spartans built a wooden hollow horse, filled it with soldiers and parked it with a gift tag at the gates of Troy. Troy’s gates had kept them out and were very well defended. But when the Trojans accepted the gift and pulled it into their city, behind their gates the Spartans crept out in the middle of the night and opened the gates for the rest of their army. That’s why they say to ”beware of Greeks bearing gifts.” A computer Trojan works the same way. They look innocent enough, but hide an army of problems. The often install a remote control for someone else to access your computer.
What is Adware?
Adware is code that is created to promote ads. Sometimes adware is included in free downloads or installed on your computer after you visit a site. It doesn’t replicate itself. It’s installed one-by-one to each computer or device from the host.
What’s a Firewall?
A firewall prevents access to one system by another, or access to a device by unauthorized software. It can be a hardware device that screens access attempts. Or, it can be software that screens access requests. Anti-virus software screens for viruses. A firewall screens for access attempts. The firewall prevents a computer intrusion. Most wireless routers (the device you install to let you use a wireless network in your house) have a built-in firewall.
What’s a Hacker?
The term “hacker” has been misused since the Internet was first created by Vinton Cerf. Vint explains that a “hacker” is just an expert in networking. Hackers can use this expertise to protect the networks or destroy them. It’s their expertise that gives them the name “hacker,” not their good guy or bad guy status.
What’s Malicious Code or Malware?
Malicious code or malware refers to code that is designed to harm or infiltrate your system.
What’s SPAM or SPIM?
SPAM is unsolicited bulk e-mail and SPIM is unsolicited bulk IMs. These are the junk mails of cyberspace.
What’s Spyware?
Spyware is a program or code that infects a computer and then sends information it gathers back to a third party without the user’s permission or knowledge. Spyware usually delivers those pop-ups we all hate. But they often come from a computer infection, not the website you think is posting the pop-up.