Remote Computer Access Software - Glossary - BeInSync

BRIEFCASE

Briefcase typically refers to a service whereby users may upload files to a storage area located on the Internet and later access it from other locations or allow others to do access it.

COMPRESSION

A method according to which data is stored in such a format as to require less space than it had taken before.

ENCRYPTION

A method according to which data that is being translated into a secret code, which is made readable only by applying a secret 'key' or password.

FILE SHARING

Applications that allow users to exchange files over the Internet. Some file sharing applications communicate using [link: Peer-to-Peer] (P2P) communications, while some rely on storing files on servers and allowing others to access these files off these servers.

FIREWALL

A software or device used to control and watch access to and from a network for the purpose of protecting it from hackers. It acts like a gateway through which all traffic to and from the protected network and/or systems passes, enforcing a security policy on all communication that takes place between the protected network and another network.

FTP (FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL)

A program that enables moving files from one computer to another on the Internet.

NAT (NETWORK ADDRESS TRANSLATION)

A method used typically by routers, which essentially masks or "hides" all the internal network computers' IP addresses form the outside world behind a single public IP address. NAT both protects the network and allows sharing the Internet connection among several computers on the network.

P2P (PEER-TO-PEER)

A peer-to-peer (or P2P) computer network connects directly between computers (peers), rather than going through servers.

POP3 EMAIL (POST OFFICE PROTOCOL)

A common protocol used to retrieve e-mails from a mail server.

PUBLIC-KEY ENCRYPTION

A cryptographic system that uses a public key and a private or secret key. An important element to the public key system is that the public and private keys are related in such a way that only the public key can be used to encrypt messages and only the corresponding private key can be used to decrypt them.

REMOTE ACCESS

Logging on to a computer or to a network from a distant location. Generally this implies a computer, an Internet connection and some remote access software to connect to the network.

SSH (SECURITY SECURE SHELL)

SSH is a program that allows logging into another computer over a network, execute commands on a remote machine, and move files from one machine to another.

SSL (SECURE SOCKETS LAYER)

A standard protocol used extensively by Web browsers for securely transmitting private information over the Internet.

SYNCHRONIZATION

Synchronization is the act of connecting two or more devices and making sure the data residing on them is identical. These devices may be a PC and a PDA, a desktop and a laptop or other devices.

3DES

Triple DES is a strong encryption algorithm, or cipher, that is used in many of the standard applications available today.

USB FLASH DRIVE/THUMB DRIVE

A small, portable flash memory card that plugs into a computer's USB port and functions as a portable hard drive with up to 2GB of storage capacity. USB flash drives have less storage capacity than an external hard drive, but they are smaller and more durable because they do not contain any internal moving parts.

VNC (VIRTUAL NETWORK COMPUTING)

A remote desktop applications used for remote control of a remote computer. VNC is used to stream the desktop environment of a graphical user interface from one computer to a viewer application on another computer on the network.

VPN (VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORKING)

A method for creating a network of secure links over a public IP infrastructure. VPNs may be used in order to provide secure access to a given private network from outside of the network.