382 lines
19 KiB
HTML
382 lines
19 KiB
HTML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"[
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<!ENTITY % brandDTD SYSTEM "chrome://global/locale/brand.dtd" >
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%brandDTD;
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]
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>
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<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
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<head>
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<title>Glossary</title>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="chrome://help/skin/helpFileLayout.css"/>
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</head>
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<body>
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<p>This glossary is provided for your information only; it is not meant to be relied
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upon as a complete or authoritative description of the terms defined below or of
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the privacy and/or security ramifications of the technologies described.</p>
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<hr/>
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<h1 id="glossary">Glossary</h1>
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<dl>
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<dt id="authentication">authentication</dt>
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<dd>The use of a password, certificate, personal identification number
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(PIN), or other information to validate an identity over a computer
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network.</dd>
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<dt id="bookmark">bookmark</dt>
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<dd>A stored web page address (<a href="#Uniform_Resource_Locator">URL</a>)
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that you can go to easily by clicking a bookmark icon in the Bookmarks Toolbar
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or choosing the bookmark's name from the Bookmarks menu.</dd>
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<dt id="Bookmarks_Toolbar">Bookmarks Toolbar</dt>
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<dd>The customizable toolbar that appears just below the Location Bar by
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default in &brandShortName;. It contains buttons for your favorite bookmarks
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(or folders containing groups of bookmarks) that you can add or remove.</dd>
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<dt id="cache">cache</dt>
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<dd>A collection of web page copies stored on your computer's hard disk or in
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its random-access memory (RAM). &brandShortName; accumulates these copies as you
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browse the Web. When you click a link or type a
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<a href="#Uniform_Resource_Locator">URL</a> to fetch a particular web page for
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which the cache already contains a copy, &brandShortName; compares the cached copy
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to the original. If there have been no changes, &brandShortName; uses the cached
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copy rather than refetching the original, saving processing and download time.</dd>
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<dt id="certificate">certificate</dt>
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<dd>The digital equivalent of an ID card. A certificate specifies the name of an
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individual, company, or other entity and certifies that a public key, which
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is included in the certificate, belongs to that entity. When you digitally
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sign a message or other data, the digital signature for that message is
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created with the aid of the private key that corresponds to the public key
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in your certificate.</dd>
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<dt id="cipher">cipher</dt>
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<dd>See <a href="#cryptographic_algorithm">cryptographic algorithm</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="client">client</dt>
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<dd>Software (such as an Internet browser) that sends requests to and receives
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information from a <a href="#server">server</a>, which is usually running
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on a different computer. A computer on which client software runs is also
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described as a client.</dd>
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<dt id="cookie">cookie</dt>
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<dd>A small bit of information stored on your computer by some web sites. When
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you visit such a site, the site asks &brandShortName; to place one or more cookies
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on your hard disk. Later, when you return to the site, &brandShortName; sends the
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site the cookies that belong to it. Cookies help web sites keep track of
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information about you, such as the contents of your shopping cart. You can set
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your cookie preferences to control how cookies are used and how much information
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you are willing to let web sites store on them. See also
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<a href="#foreign_cookie">foreign cookie</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="Cookie_Manager">Cookie Manager</dt>
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<dd>The part of &brandShortName; that you can use to control <a href="#cookie">cookies</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="cryptographic_algorithm">cryptographic algorithm</dt>
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<dd>A set of rules or directions used to perform cryptographic operations such
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as <a href="#encryption">encryption</a> and <a href="#decryption">decryption</a>.
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Sometimes called a <em>cipher</em>.</dd>
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<dt id="cryptography">cryptography</dt>
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<dd>The art and practice of scrambling (encrypting) and unscrambling (decrypting)
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information. For example, cryptographic techniques are used to scramble and unscramble
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information flowing between commercial web sites and &brandShortName;.</dd>
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<dt id="decryption">decryption</dt>
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<dd>The process of unscrambling data that has been encrypted. See also
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<a href="#encryption">encryption</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="digital_ID">digital ID</dt>
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<dd>See <a href="#certificate">certificate</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="digital_signature">digital signature</dt>
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<dd>A code created from both the data to be signed and the private key of the
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signer. This code is unique for each new piece of data. Even a single comma
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added to a message changes the digital signature for that message.
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Successful validation of your digital signature by appropriate software not
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only provides evidence that you approved the transaction or message but
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also provides evidence that the data has not changed since you digitally
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signed it. A digital signature has nothing to do with a handwritten signature,
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although it can sometimes be used for similar legal purposes.</dd>
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<dt id="distinguished_name">distinguished name (DN)</dt>
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<dd>A specially formatted name that uniquely identifies the subject of a
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certificate.</dd>
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<dt id="eavesdropping">eavesdropping</dt>
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<dd>Surreptitious interception of information sent over a network by an entity
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for whom the information is not intended.</dd>
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<dt id="encryption">encryption</dt>
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<dd>The process of scrambling information in a way that disguises its meaning.
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For example, encrypted connections between computers make it very difficult
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for third-parties to unscramble, or <em>decrypt,</em> information flowing
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over the connection. Encrypted information can be decrypted only by someone
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who possesses the appropriate key.</dd>
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<dt id="XSLT">Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT)</dt>
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<dd>A language used to convert an XML document into another XML document or into
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another format.</dd>
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<dt id="XML">Extensible Markup Language (XML)</dt>
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<dd>An open standard for describing data. Unlike HTML, XML allows the
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developer of a web page to define special tags. For more information,
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see the online W3C document <a href="http://www.w3.org/XML/">Extensible
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Markup Language (XML)</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="File_Transfer_Protocol">File Transfer Protocol (FTP)</dt>
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<dd>A standard that allows users to transfer files from one computer to
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another over a network. You can use &brandShortName; to fetch files
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using FTP.</dd>
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<dt id="FIPS_PUBS_140-1">FIPS PUBS 140-1</dt>
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<dd>Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBS) 140-1 is
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a US government standard for implementations of cryptographic modules —
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hardware or software that encrypts and decrypts data or performs other
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cryptographic operations (such as creating or verifying digital signatures).
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Many products sold to the US government must comply with one or more of the
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FIPS standards.</dd>
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<dt id="foreign_cookie">foreign cookie</dt>
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<dd>A cookie from one site that gets stored on your computer when you visit a
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different site. Sometimes a web site displays content that is hosted on another
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Web site. That content can be anything from an image to text or an advertisement.
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The second Web site that hosts such elements also has the ability to store a
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cookie in &brandShortName;, even though you haven't visited it directly. Also known
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as "third-party cookie."
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</dd>
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<dt id="Form_Manager">Form Manager</dt>
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<dd>The part of &brandShortName; that can help you save the personal data you enter
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into online forms, such as your name, address, and phone number. Then, when
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a Web site presents you with a form, Form Manager can fill it in automatically.</dd>
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<dt id="helper_application">helper application</dt>
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<dd>Any application that is used to open or view a file downloaded by &brandShortName;.
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A <a href="#plug-in">plug-in</a> is a special kind of helper application that
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installs itself into the Plugins directory of the main &brandShortName; installation
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directory and can typically be opened within &brandShortName; itself. Microsoft Word,
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Adobe Photoshop, and other external applications are considered helper applications
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but not plug-ins, because they don't install themselves into the browser directory
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but can be opened from the download dialog box.</dd>
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<dt id="home_page">home page</dt>
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<dd>The page &brandShortName; is set to display every time you launch it or when you
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click the <em>Home</em> button. Also used to refer to the main page for a
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Web site from which you can explore the rest of the site.</dd>
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<dt id="Hypertext_Markup_Language">Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)</dt>
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<dd>The document format used for Web pages. The HTML standard defines tags, or
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codes, used to define the text layout, fonts, style, images, and other
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elements that make up a web page.</dd>
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<dt id="implicit_consent">implicit consent</dt>
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<dd>Also known as implied or "opt-out" consent. Used to describe
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privacy settings that may allow web sites to gather information about you
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(for example by means of <a href="#cookie">cookies</a> and online forms)
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unless you explicitly choose to withhold your consent by selecting an
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option on a page that the web site provides for that purpose. Your
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consent may not be requested when the information is actually gathered.</dd>
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<dt id="IMAP_glossary">Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)</dt>
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<dd>A standard mail server protocol that allows you to store all your messages
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and any changes to them on the server rather than on your computer's hard
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disk. Using IMAP rather than <a href="#POP_glossary">POP</a> saves disk space
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and allows you to access your entire mailbox, including sent mail, drafts, and
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custom folders, from any location. Using an IMAP server over a modem is generally
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faster than using a POP mail server, since you initially download message headers
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only. Not all ISPs support IMAP.</dd>
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<dt id="Internet">Internet</dt>
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<dd>A worldwide network of millions of computers that communicate with each
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other using standard protocols such as
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<a href="#Transmission_Control_Protocol_Internet_Protocol">TCP/IP</a>.
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Originally developed for the US military in 1969, the Internet grew to include
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educational and research institutions and, in the late 1990s, millions of
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businesses, organizations, and individuals. Today the Internet is used for email,
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browsing the <a href="#World_Wide_Web">World Wide Web</a>, instant messaging,
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mailing lists and usegroups, and many other purposes.</dd>
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<dt id="Internet_protocol_address">Internet protocol address (IP address)</dt>
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<dd>The address of a computer on a
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<a href="#Transmission_Control_Protocol_Internet_Protocol">TCP/IP</a> network.
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Every computer on the Internet has an IP address. <a href="#client">Clients</a>
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have either a permanent IP address or one that is dynamically assigned to them
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each time they connect with the network.</dd>
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<dt id="Java">Java</dt>
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<dd>A programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. A single Java program
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can run on many different kinds of computers, thus avoiding the need for
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programmers to create a separate version of each program for each kind of
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computer. After Java is installed, &brandShortName; can automatically download
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and run Java programs (also called applets).</dd>
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<dt id="JavaScript">JavaScript</dt>
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<dd>A scripting language commonly used to construct web pages. Programmers use
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JavaScript to make web pages more interactive; JavaScript is often used to
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dynamically validate forms and select buttons. JavaScript can be used with
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Java, but it is technically a separate language. Java is not required for
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JavaScript to work correctly.</dd>
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<dt id="LDAP_glossary">Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)</dt>
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<dd>A standard protocol for accessing directory services, such as corporate
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address books, across multiple platforms.</dd>
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<dt id="location_bar">Location Bar</dt>
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<dd>The field (and associated buttons) near the top of a &brandShortName; window
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where you can type a <a href="#Uniform_Resource_Locator">URL</a> or search terms.</dd>
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<dt id="master_password">master password</dt>
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<dd>A password used by Certificate Manager to protect the master key and/or
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private keys stored on a security device. Certificate Manager needs to
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access your private keys, for example, when you sign email messages or
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use one of your own certificates to identify yourself to a web site. It
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needs to access your master key when Password Manager or Form Manager
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reads or adds to your personal information. Each security device requires
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a separate master password.</dd>
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<dt id="navigation_toolbar">Navigation Toolbar</dt>
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<dd>The toolbar near the top of the &brandShortName; window that includes
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the <em>Back</em> and <em>Forward</em> buttons.</dd>
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<dt id="object_signing">object signing</dt>
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<dd>A technology that allows software developers to sign Java code, JavaScript
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scripts, or any kind of file, and that allows users to identify the signers
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and control access by signed code to local system resources.</dd>
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<dt id="object-signing_certificate">object-signing certificate</dt>
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<dd>A certificate whose corresponding private key is used to sign objects
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such as code files. See also <a href="#object_signing">object signing</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="password-based_authentication">password-based authentication</dt>
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<dd>Confident identification by means of a name and password. See also
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<a href="#authentication">authentication</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="Password_Manager">Password Manager</dt>
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<dd>The part of &brandShortName; that can help you remember some or all of
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your names and passwords by storing them on your computer's hard disk and
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entering them for you automatically when you visit such sites.</dd>
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<dt id="PKCS_11">PKCS #11</dt>
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<dd>The public-key cryptography standard that governs security devices such
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as smart cards.</dd>
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<dt id="platform_for_privacy_preferences">Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P)</dt>
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<dd>A standard published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) designed to
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help users to gain more control over the use of personal information by Web
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sites they visit. For general information on the standard itself, see the
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online document <a href="http://www.w3.org/P3P/">P3P Public Overview</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="plug-in">plug-in</dt>
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<dd>A type of <a href="#helper_application">helper application</a> that
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adds new capabilities to &brandShortName;, such as the ability to play audio
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or video clips. Unlike other kinds of helper applications, a plug-in
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application installs itself into the Plugins directory within the main
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&brandShortName; installation directory and typically can be opened within
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&brandShortName; itself (internally). For example, an audio plug-in lets you
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listen to audio files on a web page or in an e-mail message. Macromedia
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Flash Player and Java are both examples of plug-in applications.</dd>
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<dt id="POP_glossary">Post Office Protocol (POP)</dt>
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<dd>A standard mail server protocol that requires you to download new
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messages to your local computer — although you can choose to leave
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copies on the server. With POP you can store all your messages (including
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sent mail, drafts, and custom folders) on one computer only. By contrast
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<a href="#IMAP_glossary">IMAP</a> allows you to permanently store all your
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messages and any changes to them on the server, where you can access them
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from any computer. Most ISPs currently support POP.</dd>
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<dt id="private_key">private key</dt>
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<dd>One of a pair of keys used in public-key cryptography. The private key is
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kept secret and is used to decrypt data that has been encrypted with the
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corresponding public key.</dd>
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<dt id="proxy">proxy</dt>
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<dd>An intermediary or "go-between" program that acts as both a
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<a href="#server">server</a> and a <a href="#client">client</a> for
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the purpose of making requests on behalf of other clients.</dd>
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<dt id="search_engine">search engine</dt>
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<dd>A web-based program that allows users to search for and retrieve
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specific information from the World Wide Web. The search engine may
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search the full text of web documents or a list of keywords; it may
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also use librarians who review web documents and index them manually
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for retrieval. Typically, the user types a word or phrase into a
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search box, and the search engine displays links to relevant web
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pages.</dd>
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<dt id="Secure_Sockets_Layer">Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)</dt>
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<dd>A protocol that allows mutual authentication between a
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<a href="#client">client</a> and a <a href="#server">server</a>
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for the purpose of establishing an authenticated and encrypted
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connection. SSL runs above TCP/IP and below HTTP, LDAP, IMAP, NNTP,
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and other high-level network protocols. The new Internet Engineering
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Task Force (IETF) standard called Transport Layer Security (TLS) is
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based on SSL. See also <a href="#authentication">authentication</a>,
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<a href="#encryption">encryption</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="server">server</dt>
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<dd>Software (such as software that serves up web pages) that receives
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requests from and sends information to a <a href="#client">client</a>,
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which is usually running on a different computer. A computer on which
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server software runs is also described as a server.</dd>
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<dt id="SSL">SSL</dt>
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<dd>See <a href="#Secure_Sockets_Layer">Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="Status_Bar">Status Bar</dt>
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<dd>The toolbar that appears at the bottom of any &brandShortName; window. It
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shows status icons on the left.</dd>
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<dt id="TCP_IP">TCP</dt>
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<dd>See <a href="#Transmission_Control_Protocol_Internet_Protocol">Transmission
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Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="third-party_cookie">third-party cookie</dt>
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<dd>See <a href="#foreign_cookie">foreign cookie</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="TLS">TLS</dt>
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<dd>See <a href="#Secure_Sockets_Layer">Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)</a>.</dd>
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<dt id="Transmission_Control_Protocol_Internet_Protocol">Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)</dt>
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<dd>A Unix protocol used to connect computers running a variety of operating systems.
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TCP/IP is an essential Internet protocol and has become a global standard.</dd>
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<dt id="Uniform_Resource_Locator">Uniform Resource Locator (URL)</dt>
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<dd>The standardized address that tells &brandShortName; how to locate a file or
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other resource on the Web (for example, <tt>http://www.mozilla.org</tt>).
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Type URLs into &brandShortName;'s Location Bar to access web pages. URLs
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are also used in the links on web pages go to other web pages. Also known
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as an Internet or Web address.</dd>
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<dt id="web_page">web page</dt>
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<dd>A single document on the World Wide Web that is specified by a unique
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address or URL. A web page may contain text, hyperlinks, and graphics.</dd>
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<dt id="web_site">Web site</dt>
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<dd>A group of related web pages linked by hyperlinks and managed by a single
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company, organization, or individual. A web site may include text, graphics,
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audio and video files, and links to other Web sites.</dd>
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<dt id="World_Wide_Web">World Wide Web</dt>
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<dd>Also known as the Web. A portion of the Internet that is made up of web
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pages stored by web <a href="#server">servers</a> and displayed by
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<a href="#client">clients</a> called web browsers (such as
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&brandShortName;).</dd>
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</dl>
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<p>
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[ <a href="#glossary">Return to beginning of Glossary</a> ]
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</p>
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<div class="contentsBox"><em>26 November 2003</em></div>
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<p>Copyright © 2003 Contributors to the Firebird Help Project.</p>
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</body>
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</html>
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