Good2 Know Glossary: Fraud and Online Protection

When it comes to protecting yourself from online fraud and identity theft, it's important to know the latest lingo. Our glossary will familiarize you with the terminology used by the federal government and technology industry to help you secure your computer and protect your personal information.

Anti-virus Software

- Protects your computer from viruses that can destroy your data, slow your computer's performance, cause a crash, or allow spammers to send email through your account.

Bizopps

Shorthand for "business opportunity;" some schemes involve extravagant and unfounded earnings claims and are actually fraudulent business ventures.

Drive-by Download

Software that installs on your computer without your knowledge when you visit certain websites.

Exposure

When sensitive data is released to someone without authorization.

Filter

Software that screens information on the Internet and allows the user to block certain kinds of content.

Firewall

Hardware or software that prevents hackers from using your computer to send out your personal information without your permission.

Hacker

Someone who exploits security holes in technology for any purpose.

Hidden Dialers

Programs that can use your computer to dial expensive phone calls that later show up on your phone bill.

Identity Theft

When an unscrupulous person uses your personal information to successfully impersonate you online, by mail, over the telephone, or in person.

Internet Fraud

Any kind of crime involving fraudulent business practices that is carried out primarily on the Internet.

Keystroke Logger

A device or program that records each keystroke typed on a particular computer.

Personal Information

Information that can identify you, like your bank and credit card account numbers, your income, your Social Security number, or your name, address, and phone numbers.

Phishing

When Internet fraudsters send spam or pop-up messages to lure personal information (credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information) from unsuspecting victims.

Phreaker

A hacker specializing in telephones.

Privacy Policy

Most reputable websites that collect personal information have a prominently displayed privacy policy. This policy should outline the company's policies for use of your personal information, including whether or not they intend to resell it, or use it for other marketing purposes.

Spam

Unsolicited commercial email.

Spammer

Someone who sends unsolicited commercial email, often in bulk quantities.

Spam Zombies

Home computers that have been taken over by spammers who then use them to send spam in a way that hides their true origin.

Spyware

A software program that may be installed on your computer without your consent to monitor your use, send pop-up ads, redirect your computer to certain websites, or record keystrokes, which could lead to identity theft.

Trojans

Programs that, when installed on your computer, enable unauthorized people to access it and sometimes to send spam from it.

Virus

A program that can sneak onto your computer, often through an email attachment, and then make copies of itself, quickly using up all available memory.

Vishing

The latest in Internet fraud. Fraudsters are now starting to switch their efforts to "vishing," which uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone number to steal user information (instead of a misdirected Web link).

Worm

A program that reproduces itself over a network and can use up your computer's resources and possibly shut your system down.