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Legal protections that grant original creators exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or adapt their creative works.
Copyright Laws
The collection of digital practices, tools, and protocols designed to protect digital data from unauthorized access, corruption, or theft across its entire lifecycle.
Data Security
The physical, tangible electrical circuits, components, and mechanical parts that make up a computer system.
Hardware
The intangible collection of instructions, programs, code scripts, and routines that direct computer hardware on how to execute tasks
Software
A legally binding set of rules, codes of conduct, and network guidelines that users must agree to follow in order to access a school, library, or corporate computer network.
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
A legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holder
Fair Use
Tangible, structural measures implemented to prevent physical contact, unauthorized entry, or damage to facility hardware and server rooms.
Physical Security
The primary processor and "brain" of the computer that fetches, interprets, and executes software instructions and coordinates other system components.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
The foundational system software that manages computer hardware resources (CPU, RAM, storage, peripherals), organizes file systems, and provides common background services for application software.
Operating System (OS)
Malicious software covertly installed on a system to track user activity, log keystrokes, intercept web browsing habits, and harvest sensitive personal data without the user's consent.
Spyware
Creations of the human mind protected by law, including inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names, and images used in commerce.
Intellectual Property (IP)
The cryptographic mathematical process of transforming readable data (plaintext) into an unreadable scrambled format (ciphertext) that can only be unlocked with a secret decryption key.
Encryption
High-speed, volatile temporary storage used by the CPU to hold the operating system, running applications, and active data currently in use
Memory (RAM - Random Access Memory)
Specialized software designed to help an end-user accomplish specific tasks or activities, distinct from the core operating system.
Application / App
Software that automatically displays, plays, or downloads unwanted advertising materials onto a computer or browser, often slowing down system performance.
Adware
Intellectual and creative works that are either free of copyright restrictions (Public Domain) or shared under open licenses that permit free use and adaptation under specified conditions (Creative Commons).
Common (Public Domain / Creative Commons)
An umbrella term (short for "malicious software") encompassing any code, program, or script deliberately engineered to compromise, disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.
Malware
Non-volatile digital media designed to preserve operating systems, software programs, user files, and media long-term, even when the computer is turned off.
Storage
A specialized system utility program that enables the operating system and software applications to communicate and interact smoothly with specific connected hardware peripherals.
Driver
Any hardware device, command, or signal used to feed external data and user instructions into a computer for processing.
Input
The unauthorized copying, downloading, distribution, or commercial use of copyrighted software programs
Software Piracy
A specific category of malware that attaches its malicious code to a legitimate host program or file and replicates itself across a system or network when the host file is executed.
Virus
Any auxiliary external hardware device connected to a computer system to expand its input, output, or storage capabilities.
Peripheral
The visual layout, screens, menus, buttons, icons, and interactive elements through which a human user interacts with and controls a computer or software program.
User Interface (UI
The systematic manipulation, computation, and transformation of raw inputted data by the CPU into organized, meaningful information according to program rules.
Processing