CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) Acronyms

IMAP

(Internet Message Access Protocol) IMAP allows you to access your email wherever you are, from any device. When you read an email message using IMAP, you aren't actually downloading or storing it on your computer; instead, you're reading it from the email service.

POP3

(Post Office Protocol 3) Improved version of POP. POP3 allows you to download email messages on your local computer and read them even when you are offline.

NFC

(near field communications) Wireless protocol for close proximity connectivity. NFC has shorter range and is slower than Bluetooth

BIOS

Basic Input/Output System: BIOS is used to help boot the computer and manage the flow of data between the hard drive, video card, keyboard, mouse, and more. Modern computers usually replace BIOS with UEFI. Basic computer functions and identify computer hardware.

DDL

Data Definition Language: A standard for commands that define the different structures in a database. DDL statements create, modify, and remove database objects such as tables, indexes, and users. Common DDL statements are CREATE, ALTER, and DROP.

DLP

Data Leak Prevention: Software that uses a dictionary database or algorithm to identify confidential data and block the transfer of that data to removable media or email if it doesn't conform to predefined policy

DML

Data Manipulation Language A database language used for data retrieval, data update, insertion of new records, and deletion of existing records.

DoS

Denial of Service. Type of network attack that interrupts a network service by overwhelming quantity of traffic or maliciously formatted packets.

DSL

Digital Subscriber Line. modem connects a user's network directly to the digital infrastructure of the phone company. DSL is an always-on service, which means that there is no need to dial up each time you want to connect to the internet. Voice and data signals are carried on different frequencies on the copper telephone wires. A filter prevents DSL signals from interfering with phone signals.

DVD

Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc. Stores digital video and data on optical

DVI

Digital Video Interface: used to connect a video source, such as a video display controller, to a display device, such as a computer monitor. Usually not for audio

DC

Direct current: All computers parts require direct current. Uses power supply to convert AC to lower voltage DC

DNS

Domain Name Server/System: A method computers use to translate domain names into IP addresses.

DDR

Double data rate. A type of SDRAM that doubles the data rate of single data rate SDRAM by transmitting 8 bytes on both the rising edge and the falling edge of each FSB clock cycle. Memory / RAM

DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A protocol that automatically assigns IP addressing information to hosts.

DLL

Dynamic Link Library: A collection of small programs that can be loaded when needed by larger programs and used at the same time. The small program lets the larger program communicate with a specific device, such as a printer or scanner.

EMI

Electromagnetic interference. a disruption that affects an electrical circuit because of either electromagnetic induction or externally emitted electromagnetic radiation. EMI is the interference from one electrical or electronic system to another caused by the electromagnetic fields generated by its operation

ESD

Electrostatic discharge. ESD can occur when there's a buildup of electric charge or static electricity. ESD can damage computer equipment

EULA

End User License Agreement: A legal agreement between a software developer and the customer. EULA specifies in detail the rights and restrictions of the software

eSATA

External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment: Adaptor card that adds additional internal and external SATA ports to a computer through a single PCI express slot

FAT

File allocation table: A type of file system. Used in disk management and file systems for older version of Windows

FTP

File transfer Protocol: provides the ability to transfer files between a client and a server. An FTP client is an application that runs on a computer that is used to push and pull files from a server running FTP as a service.

FTPS

File transfer protocol over Secure Sockets Layer: FTP client can request the file transfer session be encrypted. The file server can accept or deny the request.

HDD

Hard Disk Drive: e traditional magnetic disk devices that have been used for years. Their storage capacity ranges from gigabytes (GBs) to terabytes (TBs). Their speed is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). This indicates how fast the spindle turns the platters that hold the data.

HFS

Hierarchical File System: A hierarchical file system is how drives, folders, and files are displayed on an operating system. In a hierarchical file system, the drives, folders, and files are displayed in groups, which allows the user to see only the files they're interested in seeing. MAC OS

HDMI

High-Definition Media Interface: Video port that was designed for high-definition televisions however it can be used for computers as well. It connects video and sound.

HTTP

HyperText Transfer Protocol - Web resources are provided by a web server. The host accesses the web resources using the HTTP

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language, a standardized system for tagging text files to achieve font, color, graphic, and hyperlink effects on World Wide Web pages.

HTTPS

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure: adds encryption and authentication services using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol or the newer Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol

RAID

Redundant Array of Independent Disks: Storage devices can be grouped and managed to create large storage volumes with redundancy. RAID provides a way to store data across multiple storage devices for availability, reliability, capacity, and redundancy and/or performance improvement

RJ

Registered Jack. a standardized network interface used for network cabling, wiring and jack construction. The primary function of registered jacks is to connect different data equipment and telecommunication devices with services normally provided by telephone exchanges or long-distance carriers

RJ-11

Registered jack function 11 (RJ-11) is a standard telephone connection device which contains six pins.

RJ-45

Registered jack function 45: a standard Ethernet connection device which contains eight pins.

LAN

Local Area Network: a collection of devices connected together in one physical location, such as a building, office, or home.

MITM

Man in the Middle: An attacker intercepts communications between 2 hosts.If the attacker is successful, he or she could capture packets and view and manipulate them. MITM can be created using an ARP poisoning spoofing attack.

MAC

Media Access Control: responsible for transmission of data packets to and from the network-interface card, and to and from another remotely shared channel.

Mbps

Megabit per second: Measurement of how fast data is transferred. 1 million bits per second

Mb

Megabit: A unit of data size (when expressed per second) network speed, equal to one million bits

MHz

Megahertz: one million hertz, especially as a measure of the frequency of radio transmissions or the clock speed of a computer.

MP3

Moving Picture Experts Group Layer 3 Audio: A coding format that is used to play digital audio

MP4

Moving picture experts group Layer 4: A coding format that is used to play both digital audio and video.

NTFS

Net Technology File System: Supports partition sizes up to 16 exabytes, in theory. NTFS incorporates file system security features and extended attributes. Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows 10 automatically create a partition using the entire hard drive. If a user does not create custom partitions using the New option, as shown in the figure, the system formats the partition and begins installing Windows. If users create a partition, they will be able to determine the size of the partition.

NAS

Network Attached Storage - A servers that are connected to a network to provide file-level data storage to clients.

NIC

Network Interface Card: Connects a computer to a network using a network cable

NDA

Non-disclosure agreement. Also known as the confidentiality agreement, NDA is an agreement between 2 parties to not talk about the information or share information relating to something.

OS

Operating System: The software the supports computer's basic functions, such as scheduling tasks, executing applications, and controlling peripherals

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer. an organization that makes devices from component parts bought from other organizations.

PCI

Peripheral Component Interconnect: A 32-bit or 64-bit expansion slot. It's currently found in few computers. PCI expansion slots have become mostly obsolete.

PC

Personal Computer: A computer designed for use by one person at a time

PIN

Personal Identification Number a number allocated to an individual and used to validate electronic transactions.

PII

Personally Identifiable Information: Any data that could potentially identify a specific individual. Ex. Name, maiden name, mother's maiden name, or alias. SSN, passport number etc.

PB

Petabyte: 2^50 bytes; 1024 terabytes, or a million gigabytes.

APIPA

Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing: If your Windows computer can't communicate with a DHCP server to get an IPv4 address, then Windows automatically assigns an Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing (APIPA) address . This link-local address is in the range of 169.254.0.0 to 169.254.255.255. Self-configured address. No DHCP server giving IP address.

FAT32

32-bit file allocation table. Supports partition sizes up to 2 TB or 2,048 GB. The FAT32 file system is used by Windows XP and earlier OS versions.

DDoS

A distributed denial of service: A server is overwhelmed by packet requests from a group of zombie hosts causing it to crash.

ACL

Access Control List: A file containing rules about data traffic between networks that a router uses. (Firewalls and network traffic)

ARP

Address Resolution Protocol. A protocol used for mapping an IP address to a computer connected to a LAN. Maps IP address to a MAC address.

ARM

Advanced RISC Machine: A type of CPU that uses RISC. RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) uses a relatively small set of instructions. RISC chips are designed to execute these instructions very rapidly.

AIO

All In One: A computer system where components are integrated into the display. Usually includes touch-screen and built-in microphone and speakers. All-in-one computers offer little to no expansion capabilities and the power supply is often external to the computer.

AC

Alternating Current: The electricity that is provided from the wall outlets. Computers don't use alternating current, they use direct current.

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange: a set of digital codes representing letters, numerals, and other symbols, widely used as a standard format in the transfer of text between computers. Gives all computers the same language so they can communicate. Converts text to computer language.

BD-ROM

Blu-Ray Read Only Memory. Blue-ray Disc is an optical drive that can store HD digital video and data. BD-ROM is pre-recorded with movies, games, or software

CSS

Cascading Style sheets: A mechanism for adding fonts, colors, spacing, etc. to websites

CPU

Central Processing Unit: Known as the brain of the computer. Does multiple calculations.

CD

Compact Disc: A type of optical drive that can store audio and data. An optical drive is a type of removable media storage device that uses lasers to read and write data.

CD-RW

Compact disc rewritable. Can be rerecorded multiple times unlike CD-ROM.

CAD

Computer Aided Design. The use of computers in converting the initial idea for a product into a detailed engineering design.

CAM

Computer Aided Manufacturing: The use of software and computer-controlled machinery to automate a manufacturing process

CRUD

Create, Read, Update, Delete: 4 basic operations of data storage, regarded collectively

Gbps

Gigabit per second; 1 Gbps is equal to 1 billion bps. Measure of bandwidth or the speed of data transmission between one computer and another

Gb

Gigabit: A bit is a binary digit, the smallest unit of measure for data on a computer. It is a value of either 0 or 1. There are 1x10^9 bits in a gigabit.

GB

Gigabyte: A byte is a group of binary digits or bits (usually 8) operated on as a unit. A gigabyte has 8x10^9 bits.

GPS

Global Positioning System: GPS receiver in the phone uses satellites to determine the geographic location of the device.

GUI

Graphical User Interface: a system of interactive visual components for computer software. A GUI displays objects that convey information, and represent actions that can be taken by the user. The objects change color, size, or visibility when the user interacts with them. In networking and WiFi configuration, the GUI displays info about the network.

GPU

Graphics Processing Unit: A chip that performs calculations to render graphics

IR

Infrared: If f a mobile device is IR enabled, it can be used to control other IR controlled devices remotely, such as a TV, set top box, or audio equipment.

IOPS

Input/Output Operations Per Second a common performance measurement used to benchmark computer storage devices like hard disk drives (HDD), solid state drives (SSD), and storage area networks (SAN).

ICMP

Internet Control Message Protocol. Used by devices on a network to send control and error messages. There are several different uses for ICMP, such as announcing network errors, announcing network congestion, and troubleshooting.

IP

Internet Protocol. Responsible for adding addressing so that data can be routed to the intended destination. A set of standards of how data be sent through the internet

ISP

Internet Service Provider: A company that provides subscribers with access to the intenret

IoT

Internet of Things Everyday objects that are connected to the internet. Ex. Cameras, Consoles, TV.

IDS

Intrusion Detection System: Passively monitor traffic on the network.

IPS

Intrusion Prevention System: IPS responds immediately and does not allow any malicious traffic to pass, whereas an IDS allows malicious traffic to pass before it is addressed.

Kb

Kilobit: a unit of computer memory or data equal to 1,024 (2^10) bits.

Kbps

Kilobits per second. A way of measuring the speed of a network by counting the number of bits - a single 1 or 0 - sent each second. A kilobit is a thousand bytes.

KB

Kilobyte or knowledge base: a unit of memory or data equal to 1,024 (210) bytes. a store of information or data that is available to draw on.

POP

Post Office Protocol - A standard mail protocol used to receive emails from a remote server to a local email client.

PSU

Power Supply Unit: A internal computer hardware that converts AC to DC for computer use.

PXE

Preboot Execution Environment: If a client computer doesn't have an operating system installed, a special environment must be used to boot the computer, connect to the network, and communicate with the server to begin the installation process.

RF

Radio Frequency: a frequency or band of frequencies in the range 10^4 to 10^11 or 10^12 Hz, suitable for use in telecommunications.

RAM

Random Access Memory: This is a temporary location to store data and applications. RAM is volatile memory, which means that the contents are erased every time the computer is powered off.

ROM

Read Only Memory: An essential computer chip is the read-only memory (ROM) chip. ROM chips are located on the motherboard and other circuit boards and contain instructions that can be directly accessed by a CPU. The instructions stored in ROM include basic operation instructions such as booting the computer and loading the operating system. ROM is nonvolatile which means that the contents are not erased when the computer is powered off.

SaaS

Software as a Service; a subscription service where you purchase licenses for software that expire at a certain date.

PCIe

Uses serial bus that has higher throughput and many other improvements over the older expansion slots. PCIe has x1, x4, x8 and x16 slots which vary in length from shortest to longest, respectively.

MB

megabyte: A unit of information equal to 2^20 bytes or about 1 million bytes. 8 times as much as 1 megabit

AES

advanced encryption standard, a symmetric 128-bit block data encryption technique. Symmetric encryption is where both the sender and receiver use the same key to encrypt and decrypt the conversation.

CD-ROM

compact disc-read-only memory: Can only read the CD. Cannot read anything else or write anything else.

DVD-R

digital video disc-recordable: Can be recorded, erased, and re-recorded one time

DVD-RW

digital video disc-rewritable - Can be recorded, erased and re-recorded

DIMM

dual inline memory module: a small-scale circuit board that holds memory chips on the motherboard. DIMM incorporates a series of memory called dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which provides primary storage, the main memory that continually reads and executes stored instructions or data directly to the CPU.