3G
3rd generation of mobile telephony standards offering advanced features, such as email and video
Access control/filter
A bar that is put in place by eg an internet or mobile provider to prevent access to certain content
Anti-virus software
Prevents and removes computer viruses, such as worms and Trojan horses
AOL
Internet Service Provider (ISP) – www.aol.com
Apple
Designer and creator of Mac computers, OS X operating system, iPod, iTunes and iPhone – www.apple.com
Application (app)
A piece of software, often designed to run on smartphones and other mobile devices
App store
Online shop where you can download applications for eg mobiles and MP3 players
Attachment
A file sent by email
Avatar
A character/animation you can use to represent yourself online (eg in chat rooms) and in computer games
Back up
Making a copy of data you’ve stored on your computer or another deviceBanner adA form of advertising on the Web that appears in a “banner”
BBC
Largest broadcasting organisation in the world – www.bbc.co.uk
BBC iPlayer
A service that lets viewers catch up with BBC radio and TV programmes from the previous week –www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
BBM (BlackBerry Messenger)
A free instant messaging app available on BlackBerry devices - www.blackberry.com
Bebo
A social networking website – www.bebo.com
Blackberry
A smart phone – www.blackberry.com
Block
Prevent access to a certain website or userBlogAn online journalBlogger.comA free blog publishing tool from Google – www.blogger.com
Bluebugging
Where a hacker takes control of a Bluetooth device
Bluejacking
The sending of unsolicited messages over Bluetooth
Bluetooth
A way of exchanging data over short distances between mobile devices
Bluesnarfing
Where someone gets unauthorised access to information on a Bluetooth device
Botnet
A collection of software robots (often malicious software) that run automatically
Broadband
High-speed internet
Browser
Allows access to the Web (eg Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox)
Burn
The process of copying files (eg music) from your computer onto a CD
Byron Review
A government report by Professor Tanya Byron investigating children’s use of technology, such as the internet and games
Cbeebies
The BBC’s children’s channel and website – www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies
CEOP
The UK’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, which is dedicated to the eradication of the sexual abuse of children – www.ceop.gov.uk
Chat room
A place where people meet on the internet
Childnet
A non-profit organisation working with others to help make the internet a great and safe place for children –www.childnet-int.org
Cloud computing
Software services and applications that are provided via the internet rather than installed on your computer (e.g. iCloud)
Club Penguin
A virtual world for young children – www.clubpenguin.com
Coding
Another word for computer programming
Community guidelines
Guidance from eg internet and mobile providers to help users enjoy their services
Content control/filter
A bar that is put in place by eg an internet or mobile provider to prevent access to certain content
Convergence
The coming together of different technologies
Cookie
A piece of text stored on your computer by a Web browser that remembers information about you, such as websites you’ve visited
Copyright
This gives a content producer (eg an author or musician) exclusive rights to their work
Crowdsourcing
A way of outsourcing tasks to a group of people online
Cyberbullying
The use of technology, particularly the internet and mobiles, deliberately to upset someone else
Cyberlocker
A third party service for sharing files, such as documents or music
Dailymotion
A video-sharing website – www.dailymotion.com
Digital footprint
The trail you leave from digital activities and interactions, such as Web searches and uploaded photos
Download
The process of copying data (eg from the internet or an email attachment)
Drag and drop
Where a virtual object is selected and moved to a different location
DS
Games console by Nintendo – www.nintendo.com/ds
eBay
Auction website – www.ebay.com
E-commerce
Buying and selling products and services over the internet
Exchanging messages over the internet
Email address
Address used to exchange messages over the internet
Encryption
The process of making electronic data unreadable to anyone without the “key”
Equifax
An online credit check company – www.equifax.co.uk
ESRB
Entertainment Software Rating Board age rating system – www.esrb.org
Experian
An online credit check company – www.experian.co.uk
A social networking website – www.facebook.com
File sharing
The distribution of electronic files, such as documents or music
Fire Eagle
A location-based Web service – www.fireagle.yahoo.net
Firewall
Part of a computer or internet service, designed to block unauthorised access
Flag
Where you report something (eg an inappropriate video) to the company hosting it
Flaming
Posting negative or rude comments in an online forum
Flickr
A photo-sharing website – www.flickr.com
Gamcare
An organisation providing support to people with gambling problems – www.gamcare.org.uk
Geo-tagging
Where geographical identification data is added to things like photos or online messages via a GPS device, such as a smartphone
Pre-eminent search engine – www.google.co.uk
Google Talk
Online chat and free internet calls – www.google.com/talk
GPS
Global Positioning System – a global navigation satellite system used for things like in-car navigation
Grooming
The process of befriending a child with the intent of sexually abusing them
GSM
Global System for Mobile Communications – the most popular standard for mobile phones
Hackathon
A 'hacking marathon' during which computer programmers work together intensively (e.g. non-stop for 24 hours) on the development of new software
Hacker
Someone who breaks into other people’s computers
Happy slapping
Where someone films a bullying incident or an assault on a camera phone
Hate site
A website that promotes hatred against eg a specific race or sexual orientation
HMV
Entertainment retailer – www.hmv.com
Host
A company, such as an ISP, that runs internet servers
Hyperlink
A reference in a document or on the internet that links through to a different piece of information or website (also Link)
Identity theft
Where someone pretends to be someone else for financial or other personal gain
IMEI
International Mobile Equipment Identity – a unique number on your mobile, usually printed inside the battery compartment
IP address
Internet Protocol address – a unique number that identifies where you’re accessing the internet from
In-app purchase
Additional content and features available for purchase once you're using an app
Instant Messaging
The process of sending short real-time messages over the internet
ISP
Internet Service Provider – a company that offers users access to the internet
iPhone
An Apple mobile with built-in music player, video camera, mobile internet and email
iPod
A portable media player by Apple
iPod Touch/iTouch
A portable media player by Apple incorporating music, films, websites, games and applications
iTunes
Apple’s digital music store – www.apple.com/itunes
IWF
Internet Watch Foundation, the UK hotline for reporting illegal content on the internet – www.iwf.org.uk
Jajah
VoIP service – www.jajah.com
Last.fm
Online music catalogue offering streaming, videos, pictures, lyrics, charts and more – www.last.fm
Link
A reference in a document or on the internet that links through to a different piece of information or website (also Hyperlink)
A networking website for business people – www.linkedin.com
LiveJournal
A free online journal and blogging service – www.livejournal.com
Login
The credentials you use to access a computer or website (eg name and password)
Log in/Log off
The process of accessing a computer (log in) and closing off your access (log off)
Loopt
Location-based service – www.loopt.com
Malware
Malicious software, such as viruses and worms, that infiltrates computers
Memory stick
A portable memory device for storing data and transferring it between devices
Message board
An online discussion website
Microsoft
Software company with products including Windows operating system and the Xbox games system –www.microsoft.com
Mumsnet
Leading parenting website – www.mumsnet.com
MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service – the process for sending images, audio and video between mobiles
Moblog
Mobile blogging (see Blog)
Moderator
Someone who monitors chat rooms and other online forums and takes action against disruptive or offensive behaviour
Moshi Monsters
An online game for children – www.moshimonsters.com
MP3
MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 – a common format for digital music filesMP3 PlayerA device for playing MP3 files (egiPod)
MSN
Microsoft portal – www.uk.msn.com
MySpace
A social networking website – www.myspace.com
Net Nanny
Parental Controls software – www.netnanny.com
Nintendo
Manufacturer of DS and Wii games consoles – www.nintendo.com
Nokia
Mobile phone manufacturer – www.nokia.com
Ofcom
Independent regulator of UK communications industry – www.ofcom.org.uk
Parental controls
Tools that help parents to protect their children online and on other devices – eg by controlling which websites they can visit or from whom they can receive email
Password
A secret combination of letters, symbols and numbers used to prove your identity when you log on to eg your computer or a particular website
P2P
Peer-to-peer – a network on which users can share files
PDA
Personal Digital Assistant – a handheld computer
PEGI
Pan-European Game Information age rating system – www.pegi.info
Pharming
A security attack where traffic is redirected from a legitimate website to a bogus website
Phishing
Unsolicited emails or texts sent in an attempt to get personal information (eg passwords and credit card details) from you
PhonepayPlus
The UK’s regulatory body for premium rate telecoms services – www.phonepayplus.org.uk
PIN
Personal Identification Number – a way of locking your mobile and other devices
PlayStation
Games system by Sony – www.uk.playstation.com
Plug-in
A set of software components that add capabilities to a larger software application (e.g. a video plug-in in a Web browser)
Pop-up
A form of advertising on the Web that appears in a “pop-up” window
Premium rate service/Phone paid service
A paid mobile service (eg ringtone downloads or competition entries)
Privacy settings
Tools provided by eg internet and social networking providers to help you maintain your privacy online
Profile
A description of you (name, hobbies etc) on eg a social networking website
PSP
PlayStation Portable games console from Sony – www.uk.playstation.com/psp
Rogue app
A piece of malicious software disguised as a mobile Web application
Rummble
A location-based Web service – www.rummble.com
RuneScape
Online adventure game – www.runescape.com
SAR
Specific Absorption Rate – the measurement of how much electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by body tissue whilst using a mobile phone
Scam
An unsolicited email or text sent by a fraudster (eg asking you for financial help or claiming that you’ve won a prize)
Search engine
A tool that searches for information on the Web (eg Google)
Set-top box
A device that connects your TV to the source of the signal
Sexting
The act of sending sexually explicit messages by text, email or Bluetooth
SIM
Subscriber Identity Module used to identify a mobile user
Sky
Multi-channel TV operator – www.sky.com
Skype
A service that enables you to make free calls over the internet – www.skype.com
Smart phone
A mobile with advanced features like email and internet access
SMS
Short Message Service – a way of sending text messages between mobiles
Social networking
An online community such as Bebo, Facebook or MySpace
Sony
Manufacturer of PlayStation and PSP – www.uk.playstation.com
Spam
Unsolicited email or text messagesSpotifyA digital music service – www.spotify.com
Spyware
A type of malicious software that collects information about you without your knowledge
Stardoll
Online community aimed at girls – www.stardoll.com
Stream ripping app
A way of saving MP3 files from streamed music on the internet for free
Streaming
A way of delivering data (eg music or video) over the internet
Tablet
A mobile computer, such as the iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab
Tag
A way of assigning a piece of information or an image to a particular person
Teachtoday
A website to help teachers understand their students digital world – www.teachtoday.eu
Terms of Service/Terms of Use
Terms and Conditions put in place by eg internet and mobile providers
Text messaging
The process of sending a written message to someone’s mobile (see SMS and MMS)
Torrent tracker
Torrent sites let you download content via BitTorrent, the fastest P2P protocol
Trojan horse
A type of malicious software that can give unauthorised access to your computer
Truphone
A VoIP service – www.truphone.com
Tweet
A post/status update on Twitter – www.twitter.com
A micro-blogging service – www.twitter.com
Upload
The process of loading and sending a file on your computer or over the internet
URL
Universal Resource Locator – commonly referred to as a Web address
User-generated content
(UGC)Online content (eg blogs and videos) created by users
User name
The name you use to log on to your computer, the internet and other devices
Virus
A malicious programme that can corrupt files on your computerVlogVideo blogging (see Blog)
Vodafone
World’s leading international mobile communications group – www.vodafone.com
Vodafone 360
Set of internet services for mobile, PC and Mac – www.vodafone360.com
VoIP
Voice over Internet Protocol, a way of delivering voice communications
Vonage
A VoIP service – www.vonage.com
WAP
Wireless Application Protocol – enables access to the internet from mobiles and PDAs (see PDA)
Webcam
A small video camera built in to or attached to a computer or laptop
Wii
Games console by Nintendo – www.uk.wii.com
Wi-Fi
Broadband without wires
Wiki
A website based on user-generate content
Wikipedia
A free online encyclopaedia that anyone can edit
Windows Live Messenger
An instant messaging / IM service by Microsoft (formerly called MSN Messenger) – www.home.live.com
Wireless network
A computer network that doesn’t require cables
World of Warcraft
Online adventure game – www.worldofwarcraft.com
Worm
A malicious programme that can infect your computerXangaA blogging community – www.xanga.com
Xbox
Games console by Microsoft – www.xbox.com
Yahoo!
Global online network of community services including email and chat – www.yahoo.com
YouTube
A video-sharing website – www.youtube.com
Zombie
A computer attached to the internet that has been compromised by a hacker