DataBasics-hardware+and+networks


 * Data**: Computer data is information processed or stored by a computer. This information may be in the form of text documents, images, audio clips, software programs, or other types of data.


 * Information **: knowledge acquired through study or experience or instruction.


 * Hardware ** **components**: Computer hardware refers to the physical parts of a computer and related devices. Internal hardware devices include motherboards, hard drives, and RAM. External hardware devices include monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, and scanners.


 * Processing**: Processing is running programs on your computer.


 * Storage**: A computer storage device is any type of hardware that stores data. The most common type of storage device, which nearly all computers have, is a hard drive.


 * RAM:** Stands for "Random Access Memory, Random-access memory (RAM) refers to a storage technology that allows you to read and write data as many times as needed.


 * ROM**: Stands for "Read-Only Memory. ROM is memory containing hardwired instructions that the computer uses when it boots up, before the system software loads.


 * Compatibility**: Capable of existing or performing in harmonious, agreeable, or congenial combination with the computer.


 * OCR**:(**O**ptical **C**haracter **R**ecognition) The machine recognizes printed characters. OCR systems can recognize many different OCR fonts, as well as typewriter and computer-printed characters. Advanced OCR systems can recognize hand printing. When a text document is scanned into the computer, it is turned into a bitmap, which is a picture of the text.


 * OMR**:**Optical Mark Recognition** (also called **Optical Mark Reading** and **OMR**) is the process of capturing human-marked data from document forms such as surveys and tests.


 * Verification:** The state of being verified; Confirmation; authentication.


 * Validation**: the act of validating; finding or testing the truth of something


 * Encryption** : Encryption is the coding or scrambling of information so that it can only be decoded and read by someone who has the correct decoding key


 * Decryption**: the activity of making clear or converting from code into plain text; "a secret key or password is required for decryption".


 * Firewall**:A computer firewall limits the data that can pass through it and protects a networked server or client machine from damage by unauthorized users.


 * Virus:** malicious little programs that can create files, move files, erase files, consume your computer's memory, and cause your computer not to function correctly. Some viruses can duplicate themselves, attach themselves to programs, and travel across networks


 * Trojan:** It is non-self-replicating malware that appears to perform a desirable function for the user but instead facilitates unauthorized access to the user's computer system.


 * Worm:** A computer worm is a type of virus that replicates itself, but does not alter any files on your machine. However, worms can still cause havoc by multiplying so many times that they take up all your computer's available memory or hard disk space.


 * Logic Bomb:** A **logic bomb** is a piece of code intentionally inserted into a software system that will set off a malicious function when specified conditions are met.

Yazan Hamadeh May-15-2010