Glossary

• Abstraction


  Picking out the important bits of information
• Accumulator


  The part of the ALU that stores the intermediate results when doing calculations
• Active attack (networks)


  A network attack where the hacker attempts to change data or introduce malware
• Algorithmic thinking


  Coming ip with an algorithm to solve a problem
• Algorithm


  A step-by-step set of rules or instructions
• Alphanumeric


  The collective name for letters, digits and symbols
• Analogue signal


  A continuous signal which can't be processed by a computer
• AND


  One of the boolean logic gate
• Anti-malware software


  Software designed to stop malware from damaging a computer or network
• Application


  A piece of software written to help users do various tasks, often through a graphical userinterface with menus and toolbars
• Architecture


  Describes how the CPU works and interacts with the other part of the computer system
• Argument


  A value that a parameter of a sun program actually takes
• Arithmetic logic unit (ALU)


  The part of the CPU that carries out arithmetic and boolean operations
• Arithmetic operator


  An operator that programs use to carry out simple mathematic operations
• Array


  A data structure where all the data is stored and defined under 1 variable name
• ASCII


  A 7-bit character set consisting of 128 characters
• Assembly language


  A low-level language
• Assignment operator (=)


  Assigns the value of the right hand side to the name on the left hand side
• Authentication


  A process for checking the identity of the user
• Auto-documentation


  A programming tool commonly used to make a summary of a program
• Backdoor


  A vulnerability in a computer or network's security that a hacker could exploit
• Bandwidth


  The amount os data that can be transferred on a network in a given time
• Binary


  A counting system using base-2 consisting of 0s and 1s
• Binary shift


  Moving the bits in a binary number left or right and filling the gaps with 0s
• Basic Input Output System (BIOS)


  Software stored in ROM responsibility for booting up a computer system
• Bit


  A binary digit either 0 or 1
• Bit depth


  The number of bits is available for each audio sample
• Bitmap image


  A graphic that is made up of pixels
• Bluetooth


  A common type of wireless technology
• Boolean


  A logical system using the operators OR, AND and NOT. The boolean data can take up 1 or 2 values, either True or False
• Boundary data


  Test data on the boundary of what the program will accept
• Breaking point


  A programming tool used to halt a program at a specific place
• Brute force attack


  A network attack which uses software to crack security passwords through trial and error
• Buffer


  Memory that's used for temporary storage
• Bus topology


  A network topology in which all devices are connected to a single backbone cable
• Byte


  8 bits
• Cache (CPU)


  Quick access memory inside the CPU
• Casting


  A way of changing from 1 data type to another
• Cat 5e,cat 6 cable


  Standards for copper Ethernet cables used on LAN's
• Censorship


  The control of what information other people can access