Absolute Beginner’s Guide To: Security, Spam, Spyware & Viruses

Appendix . Glossary

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ActiveX

A grouping of Microsoft technologies that allows programs to share information. However, ActiveX is most obviously encountered when using the Microsoft Internet Explorer and appears as a mini-program that downloads and executes to provide some extra function.

advance fee fraud

A scam in which the target receives an email, often concerning an overseas nation that contains a money-laundering proposal. At some point, the target is asked to provide a fee in return for a cut on the profits of the scam. Of course, the target never sees a return.

adware

A type of spyware that snoops on a computer user and then pushes unwanted advertising at them. Sometimes, simply advertiser-sponsored software.

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information ...