Glossary

Attachment

This is a file of information that is sent with an email. It may contain text, photos, graphics, sound or video.

Acceptable user policy

These are documents created by systems or schools to outline what is acceptable behaviour when using computer facilities.

ACMA

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is Australia’s regulator for broadcasting, the internet, radiocommunications and telecommunications. You can complain to ACMA about internet content that is, or may be, prohibited by law. There are a number of ways to lodge a complaint. Go to www.acma.gov.au.

Blog

The word blog is derived from the combination of the two words web and log. Blogs are virtual diaries created by individuals and stored on the internet. Blogs generally consist of text and images and can appear in a calendar-type format.

Broadband

Sometimes referred to as a high-speed internet, broadband is an ‘always on’ fast connection to the internet. Today there are a wide variety of broadband technologies available in most areas; two of the more commonly found and used technologies are cable and DSL broadband.

CD-ROM

(compact disk – read-only memory) A compact disk can store large amounts of information and is inserted into a computer’s CD-ROM drive.

Chat room

A chat room is a place on the internet where people with similar interests can meet and communicate together by typing messages on their computer. People can often enter an unmoderated chat room without any verification of who they are. Problems for students can arise with chat room participants pretending to be someone they are not.

Cyber bullying

Bullying which is carried out through an internet service such as email, chat room, discussion group or instant messaging. It can also include bullying through mobile phone technologies such as short message services (SMS).

Cyberspace

The online world of computer networks.

Download

By downloading something (like a music fi le, document or photo) you are transferring information from the internet to your computer.

E-crime

E-crime is where a computer or other electronic communications device (e.g. mobile phone) is used to commit an offence, be the target of an offence or act as a storage device in an offence.

Email

Email is a service that lets you send a message (like a letter) to another person via the internet. The message is stored on a computer and is read when the recipient checks their mail (a little like checking your real mailbox).

Emoticons

An emoticon is a word derived from the two words emotions and icons. Emoticons are a shorthand method of explaining a feeling on the internet. Emoticons can be used in any communication over the internet but are particularly popular with chat rooms and instant messaging. Here’s an example of an emoticon: :) = happy.

Filter

A filter manages access to online content. A filter can restrict times when the internet can be accessed and also restrict what is viewed and downloaded. Some filters can also be instructed to specifically block information from being displayed, even if children type it in. Types of filters range from home filters to filters used by a school on its server.

Firewall

Firewalls can limit and stop access to computers by unauthorised people or systems. A personal firewall can be installed on your computer to protect it from intruders on the internet. Firewalls can be used to stop the spread of viruses and spam and can be a valuable tool in protecting children online.

Flaming

Flaming is the sending of messages that include bad language or repeat messaging especially of undesirable or obscene text. Flaming (also known as ‘flame wars’) occurs in unmoderated chat rooms. The majority of chat rooms remain ‘open’ where messages are posted automatically with no human intervention.

Handle

A handle is a name for a person that is used in the online world. When a person signs up for a service such as Hotmail or ICQ, they are required to create a unique identifier – a ‘handle’. When in a chat room you should always use a handle.

Identity theft

Identity theft occurs when somebody steals your name and other personal information for fraudulent purposes. Identity theft is a form of identity crime (where somebody uses a false identity to commit a crime).

Instant messaging

An instant messaging program is one that can instantly send messages from one computer to another by means of small ‘pop-up’ windows. They are a form of ‘instant email’ and are very popular with students and adults alike. They are usually a one-to-one communication medium, although some programs allow many people to chat at the same time, like a private chat room.

Internet acronyms

internet acronyms are acronyms that are used specifically on the internet or mobile phones as a method of communication. They are popular because they save people time in preparing messages. It is quicker, for example, to type in one acronym which is easily understood, than a series of words.

Internet content

This encompasses all forms of information including text, pictures, animation, video and sound recording, and may include software.

Mobile internet-enabled devices

Mobile devices such as phones which are able to access the internet, take photographs and sometimes record sound.

Netiquette

Netiquette is derived from the two words internet and etiquette. Netiquette describes ‘the rules’ for how one should act online especially in newsgroups, forums and chat rooms. Netiquette can also be applied to email creation and transmission.

Newsgroups

Newsgroups are also known as online forums and are places on the internet where people can contribute to a discussion by leaving a message of interest. Newsgroups exist on thousands of topics, and are useful for building online communities and bringing people together with similar interests. Unrestricted or unmoderated newsgroups pose significant safety risks for students.

Password

A password that you use on the internet works in a similar way to a password you may use in real life. Your password should never be given to anyone other than your parents/guardian. You should password-protect all blogs and websites you may create. This will ensure that only people you authorise can access the site.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) networking

P2P is an application that runs on a personal computer and shares files with other users across the internet. P2P networks work by connecting individual computers together to share files instead of having to go through a central server.

Phishing

‘Phishing ‘(also known as ‘phising’) is the practice whereby a fraudster who is pretending to be from a legitimate organisation sends misleading emails requesting personal and financial details from unsuspecting people.

Pop-ups

Pop-ups are small windows that appear in the foreground of an internet browser. Pop-ups are often used to display advertising or pornography on the screen, however they can be integrated into some websites for practical purposes.

Safe zones

Safe zones are an alternative to filtering or labelling. Labelling allows web developers to categorise online content on the basis of language, violence, sexual content, and so on. Safe zones are services providing access to a range of sites, which are suitable for children.

Spam

Spam is the email equivalent of junk email or nuisance phone calls. Spam can simply be defined as all unsolicited electronic mail sent out in bulk to individuals/organisations that have not consented to receive it.

Spyware

Spyware is a computer program which can be installed on personal computers (usually without the permission from the owner) and has the purpose of collecting information and sending it back to another source, usually an internet marketing or pornographic website.

Stranger danger

This term describes the potential dangers in meeting a stranger online. Adults may pretend to be children in chat rooms or other internet services. It is important for students to realise they may not be communicating to the person they think they are.

Unreliable information

Information on the internet may misrepresent the truth, be out of date, biased or just incorrect.

Unsolicited email

Electronic mail that is unrequested by the recipient and is of an advertising or promotional nature.

URL (address)

URL stands for ‘uniform resource locator’ which is the address of a file or content on the internet. They begin with www (world wide web), followed by the name of the company or product. For example, the URL for NetAlert is www.netalert.gov.au

User

A user of the internet.

Virus

A virus is a computer program (usually disguised as something else) which is designed to cause undesirable effects on computer systems. Viruses are often designed so that they can be transferred from one computer to another without the users knowing. They can be hidden in emails, on CDs or in files that are shared across the internet. Computer viruses can cause harm to computer systems and need to be avoided.

Web page

Means a file or content accessible on the World Wide Web by requesting a single URL.

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