The above post is actually going to be published ina local newspaper, and I was asked to include a glossary of some of the terms and acronyms. So here is the one I am attaching. It is made for NEW/ORDINARY NON-TECH users, so the definitions are VERY basic. But I figured I would add it here as well, just becasue I know we have alot of new comers, so I hope this helps some.


WEP – Wired Equivalent Privacy. An encryption method used on the 802.11 standard wireless equipment.

WPA –Wifi Protected Access – A more advanced method of data encryption which is both more secure, and inherently harder to defeat. Used on newer wireless technology instead of WEP

SSID – Service Set Identifier – a unique identifier attached to all packets sent over a wireless network, used to distinguish one wireless network from another.

IP Address – Internet Protocol address – unique identifying number on a network, sort of like a street address for your computer.

DHCP – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol – a method for assigning dynamic IP addresses as opposed to Static IP addresses, simplifies IP assignments, and provides some extra security because the address of your computer is changing, but makes it harder to monitor activity on a given IP address because it can change who it is assigned to.

Static IP addresses – A set IP address for each computer on a network. Provides for easier management and monitoring of network activities.

MAC address – Media Access Control – A unique Identifier for every piece of hardware produced. By creating a list of the MAC addresses of the Network Interface Cards (NICs) on your network, you can prevent unwanted computers from gaining access to your network.

Broadcast Range – The distance the signal from your wireless access point can travel. Some higher end Access Points will allow you to change this, also the use of higher powered antennas will increase this distance if you wish to make the signal more widely available.

Strong Password/Passphrase – Created by using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters rather than just letters (i.e. instead of using “password” use “P@ssW0rd!” It makes it much harder to guess, and protects you against Dictionary based Password crackers, and significantly increases the time it takes to use a “brute force” method of password cracking (running through every single combination of letters, numbers, and special characters on the keyboard)

Firewall – A software or hardware defense method which blocks out unwanted traffic (such as viruses, adware, and hackers) from accessing your computer or network.


Please keep in mind that these are VERY BASIC definitions, and were created as a reference for the COMMON/NEW USERS.