Do you ever feel lost when it comes to internet lingo?

While the internet may be part of your daily life, you might not be as familiar with the terms associated with it. A million websites, a million words. What do you actually need to know?

Let’s start with the basics. Here are a few common broadband terms to add to your glossary:

WI-FI
A wireless network that uses radio frequency signals instead of wires to connect your devices (computers, smartphones, etc.) to the internet and each other.

ISP
This stands for internet service provider. An ISP is a company that provides access to the internet for both personal and business customers. TWN is an ISP!

IP ADDRESS
A string of numbers that identifies a device on the internet or network. IP addresses enable the internet to differentiate between separate computers, routers, and websites, so it knows where to send emails, data, etc.

BANDWIDTH
The maximum amount of data transmitted over a network within a specific amount of time. Basically, it’s how much information you can receive every second and is typically measured in Mbps. More bandwidth equals better performance!

COOKIE
A small piece of data that a website stores on your device. When you revisit the website, your browser sends the information back to the site. Usually, a cookie allows the site to display selected settings and targeted content.

REDUNDANCY
A process in which additional or alternate network devices, equipment, and communication mediums are installed within the network infrastructure to provide network availability. This ensures there is another pathway data can travel should the main connection go down or get interrupted.

LAG
The delay (or latency) between the action of the user and the reaction of the server supporting the task. Basically, it occurs when the internet connection is slow due to heavy traffic, an overloaded server, low bandwidth, etc.

BUFFER
The process of preloading data into a reserved area of memory, called a buffer. Related to streaming, buffering is when the software downloads a certain amount of data before it begins playing the video or music.

TROUBLESHOOT
The process of measuring, identifying, and resolving network-related issues. It’s a repetitive and rigorous process that involves analysis and testing to ensure smooth operations.

SPAM
Irrelevant or unsolicited messages sent to a large number of internet users, typically for the purpose of illegitimate advertising, retrieving personal information, or spreading viruses.

FIREWALL
A security device that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic. It decides whether to allow or block traffic based on a defined set of security rules. A firewall basically prevents unauthorized access to a secure, internal network.

SPYWARE
Any software that installs itself on your computer and begins to monitor your online behavior without your knowledge or permission. It secretly gathers information about you and relays it to a third party. Spyware can be prevented by the use of antivirus software.

BIT
The smallest unit of computer information. Bits are used to measure internet speed. The rate at which data travels through a network connection is usually measured in units of bits per second (bps).

BYTE
A byte is a sequence of eight bits that are treated as a single unit. Bytes are used to measure data. Most computer systems process and store data in bytes (B).

VPN
This acronym stands for virtual private network. With a VPN, internet traffic goes through an encrypted tunnel. VPN services establish secure connections to provide greater privacy than even a secured Wi-Fi hotspot.

Stay in the know when it comes to broadband lingo! To learn more about fast, reliable internet from TWN, visit twncomm.com/.