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Glossary

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  • Parental Controls

    A built-in set of controls available on AOL® to ensure that kids do not gain access to certain kinds of websites. This setting enables the parent to block or allow those sites that they seem fit to be viewed by the other screen names under their account.

  • Password

    A protected word or string of characters that identifies or authenticates a user for access to a computer system.

  • PDF

    (Portable Document Format) -- A file format that has captured all the elements of a printed document as an electronic image that you can view, navigate, print, or forward to someone else. PDFs can be read by any operating system without platform conflicts.

  • Phishing

    A type of fraud whereby a criminal attempts to trick their victim into accepting a false identity presented by the criminal. The common approach is to send fake emails to a victim purporting to come from a legitimate source and requesting information (such as a bank account number and password) or directing the victim to a fake Internet website where this information can be captured.

  • Phone Line

    A single-user circuit on a telephone communications system.

  • Ping

    Also known as Packet Internet Groper, it is a way to test the communication to another computer on the Internet. Data is sent to the other computer and if a reply is received, the communication is successful.

  • Plug-in

    A small software application that merges with browser software in order to give it a specific additional functionality.

  • PNG

    Portable Network Graphics:  A compressed image file format similar to JPEG.

  • Podcasting

    A portmanteau of Apple's "iPod" and "broadcasting”, is a method of publishing files to the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically by subscription, usually at no cost.

  • POP

    Post Office Protocol:  The standard protocol used to send and receive e-mail.

  • Port

    A connector on a device to which cables for other devices such as display stations and printers are attached. It acts as an interface through which data is sent and received.

  • Portal

    It is a Web site or service that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as email, forums, search engines, and on-line shopping.

  • Posting

    Refers to a message or article that appears on a newsgroup or message board system, or the act of sending an electronic message to a newsgroup or message board.

  • PPP

    Point to Point Protocol:  A protocol used for sending information via a modem which is connected to the Internet.

  • Premium Services

    Premium Services charges are monthly subscription fees for additional services not included in the basic AOL® membership fee.

  • Primary Master Account Holder

    The member who has access to the master screen name is the primary master account holder.

  • Protocol

    A language that the computers on the network use for data transmission. It is the standard procedure for regulating data transfer between computers.

  • Proxy Server

    A machine that sits between a client application, such as a Web browser, and a real server. It intercepts all requests to the real server to see if it can fulfill the requests itself. If not, it forwards the request to the real server.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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