ActiveX
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Active
X is Microsoft technology that allows software
components to interact with one another in a
networked environment, regardless of the language
in which the components were created. These
internet applications are a whole lot more
powerful than simple scripts.
ActiveX
only works in Internet Explorer and we do not
advocate their use on your website and recommend
extreme caution should you have cause for any
dealings with ActiveX.
There are two types of Active X applications: -
1. "un-signed" (not certified - and
definitely not to be trusted).
2. "signed" - certified - but should
also be treated with caution and only trusted if
from a website well known by you as they can still
contain malicious code.
Make
sure your IE settings for ActiveX are
"prompt" enabled so that you are asked
each time a website tries to load an ActiveX
Application.
Because
ActiveX control is a user interface element, it
makes integration and reuse of software components
easy for dialers and hijackers.
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Adware
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Similar
to spyware, and sometimes an off-shoot of spyware,
which collects aggregated usage information for
delivering advertisements that are especially
tailored to your habits without you requesting
them. |
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Affiliate
|
Someone
who links to a company to promote them by selling
their product(s) and/or refer others to sign up as
affiliates, in return for a commission.
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Associate
|
Someone
who joins with a company in a professional manner
as an ally or partner to refer others and/or
promote their products(s) in return for a
commission. |
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Browser
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A
program or software (such as Internet Explorer,
Netscape, AOL etc.) that is installed on your
computer to enable you to navigate between
websites when you are connected to the internet. |
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Browser
Helper Object
(BHO)
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BHO's
are programs that are used for extending Internet
Explorer such as add on toolbars and additional
hidden functions.
However,
BHO's often use an ActiveX installation program
and, as BHO's have access to each URL you visit,
browser hijackers, spyware and adware can make use
of these by setting up advertisements or redirects
to sites or pages that you haven't requested. They
can also be used to track your movement on the
internet.
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Browser
Hijacker
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A
small program or registry setting that changes IE
start and search pages. If your browsers start
page suddenly changes without you doing anything,
it is a good possibility that your browser has
been hijacked through a "security hole"
on your system or by a file containing an "ActiveX"
program that the hijacker has managed to install
that will restore the hijacked settings upon each
system start. |
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| Clipboard |
The
clipboard is a built-in component in your
operating system files that works as a temporary
"store" for you when you use the
"Copy", "Cut" and Paste"
functions. It works in background mode and
is not visible to the user. |
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| Copy
& Paste |
This
is a term used for moving areas of text, or
images, from one area to another without having to
delete it from it's current position and re-type or
install it from scratch in it's new position.
For further information see our How
To section. |
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Dialers
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This
is a very small program, often installed using the
ActiveX technology which often promises access to
free porn, games or cracks for commercial
software. Once installed, a dialer offers to use
your dial-up device to call in to the service -
sometimes leaving an expensive number as your
default internet connection. You often don't
find out about it until you get your next bill! |
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Domain
Name
|
is
the name that you choose for your "web
address" so other people can find you, or
your company, online and it's what you would type
in the browser's address bar if you wanted to go
to a specific website.
For
example, one of our domain names is:
http://madezi.com
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Downline
|
is
the name that is given to a list of people who
have joined any program that you are in.
Normally, you will have personally referred that
person, or persons, to a specific program through
your unique link - in other words, you will have,
technically, "invited" them to join the
program) - these persons then become
YOUR downline.
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| Dropdown
Menu |
A
dropdown menu is simply a list of options that are
associated to the main link in a navigation bar,
form or some other type of link where options are
applicable. It is used as a space
saving feature on all browser bars and many
websites. To see one now, look at the
browser bar at the top of this page and you will
see the main headings, "File"
"Edit" "View" etc. If
you click on any one of these, a dropdown menu
will appear showing a list of options that you can
also click on - some of which will bring up
a secondary dropdown menu.
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Firewall
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Firewalls
are used for secure access and control for data
transfers between two or more computers or
networks, including internet connections. there
are two types of firewall - software (installed on
your computer) and hardware (external box). |
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| GUID |
This
stands for "Globally Unique Identifier "
and is used in software applications. It
normally comprises of a string of numeric and/or
alpha characters and would be used for anything
that required a code issued for tracking purposes.
As an example, a GUID is also used offline as
well, take your birth certificate, social security
or passport number.
Providing the same key format is followed, it is
highly unlikely (although of course, nothings
impossible!) that a GUID would be duplicated -
hence "Globally Unique Identifier".
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Hacker(1)
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The
word “hack” has connotations that lead us to
believe that a job is not done professionally or
sufficiently well or, alternatively, that a person
is incompetent at his/her work.
This is certainly not so for the experts in the
field of computer programming (who are quite
highly skilled in the creation of complex software
and hardware) - but whom are also called
"hackers". It is rather
unfortunate that these people, who are usually
held in high esteem in their field, carry the same
"title" as someone who is, indeed,
unscrupulous! (see "Hacker(2)"
below.) |
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Hacker(2)
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This
is the opposite to "Hacker (1)"
above (although there is no denying their skills).
In this meaning, "Hacking" is the
practice of modifying computer hardware and
software to accomplish a goal which is not in line
with the original intentions of the person
who originally created the hardware / software.
People who engage in computer hacking activities
are often called "hackers" (see why I
said it's unfortunate!).
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| HTML |
Stands
for Hypertext Markup Language and is just one of the
programming languages that are used in connection
with computers. |
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IP
Address
|
An
IP address is the temporary "address" of
your browser as allocated by your Internet Service
Provider (ISP) each time you access the internet. |
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Keyloggers
|
These
people engage in
logging the keys you press, and make screenshots to show
the "spy" which windows you are working with, capture
information about your internet use ... and anything
else they can detect. This is all done
remotely and you're probably not aware it's going
on - till it's too late! |
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| Niche
(market) |
A
portion of the market place that has a special
category or characteristic that you identify as
being selectively worth marketing to. |
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Pop-Up
Ad
(sometimes
expressed as "Popup")
|
A
new window appears on top of the page of a website
that you're visiting. This can be referred to as
a "Pop UP" or a "Pop Over". Some Pop-Up Ads will
appear after you close the page or website - this
is often referred to as a "Pop Under"
Pop-Up ads are used for advertising, lead capture
or for informational purposes.
Pop-up ads can be quite irritating and some people find
thm downright obtrusive - to the extent that they use Pop
Up Blockers. (see below) |
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| Pop-Up
Blockers |
These
are software applications that block
(prevent) the opening up of a new window
containing a Pop-Up ad. A lot of
browsers already have them built in now, but you
can still get a downloadable software application
to run on your computer instead of, alongside or
in addition to, the browsers inbuilt system. |
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| Ports |
A
computer "port" offers a means of
communication - this could be communication
between one computer and another, or between a
computer and another device.
There are hardware ports and software ports and
they come in all shapes, sizes and
types. You will no doubt have
heard some of the common ones such as serial port,
parallel port, USB port etc. |
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Protocols
|
These
are a special set of rules that are used during
telecommunication connections. Both ends of
the telecommunication exchange have to be able to
recognize and observe these rules. Protocols
are governed by standards - either Industry
Standard or International Standard.
There are many different types of Protocols (TCP
- Transmission Control Protocol; IP -
Internet Protocol; HTTP - Hypertext
Transfer Protocol; FTP - File Transfer
Protocol) to name but a few. |
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Splash
Page
(sometimes
called a "Splash Screen" or could
be referred to as an "interstitial")
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A
“splash page” is an initial page that is
used to capture the visitors attention for a short
time. It arrives on the screen before the
home page and is usually used as a promotion
/ advertising tool, for lead capture
purposes or as a lead-in to the site's home page.
It's usually eye-catching in some way (animated,
flash etc) as the website owner wants to attract,
and hold, the visitors attention - having said
that, it doesn't always work that way as people
get irritated by them so it actually can have the
adverse effect.
Sometimes though it is used for informational
purposes to tell the visitor that they need
specific browser or software installation or
configurations in order to view their site. |
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Spyware
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Software
that is usually "caught" rather than
deliberately installed onto your system by you. The
aim of the spyware "owner" is to
transmit personally identifiable information from your
computer to some place on the internet without
your permission or knowledge.
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Tracking
Cookies
|
Advertisement
companies often set cookies whenever your browser
loads a banner from them. If that cookie contains
a GUID, the company gets notice about every site
you visit that contains their ads.
Affiliate sites also use cookies so that they can
track your affiliate link activity in order to pay
you.
You can block cookies in general and
"allow" cookies to sites that you have
dealings with. |
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Trojan
Horse
(or Trojan)
|
Program
containing malicious code, that has infiltrated
your computer without your knowledge and allows,
for instance, someone using another computer to
connect to yours over a network. Trojans can be
physically placed or accidentally installed by you
via infected email attachments.
Typical
trojans are open to anyone trying to connect via
network or internet.
Special
trojans are for accessibility only by the person
who infected your computer.
Outsiders
using a trojan on your computer can watch your
behavior like a "keylogger" (See above)
and manipulate
your computer to do anything that you do by using
your keyboard and mouse.
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| Upload |
When
you build a website you need to transfer the files
from your computer to your Hosting provider (also
called your "server") in order to make
your website visible on the Internet. The
process of transferring these files is called an
"upload" - sometimes also referred
to as "publish". ("How
To" instructions available here) |
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| WYSIWYG |
It simply stands for "What You See is What You
Get" |
