Internet Terms & Definitions

 

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daemon -- In the UNIX operating system, a background process that lies dormant waiting to perform some useful task. The sendmail daemon, for example, continually runs but becomes active only when email is sent or received.
 

data encryption key -- A string of characters used to mathematically encode a message so that it can only be read by someone in possession of another related key.
 

Data Encryption Standard -- (abbreviation: DES)
A popular, standard encryption scheme.
 

database -- Loosely, any aggregation of data; usually a large collection of data that has been formatted by some user-defined standard.
 

dedicated line -- A telephone line that is reserved for the singular purpose of providing a data connection between two computers.
 

delivery receipt -- An optional email feature that notifies you when your email message has been delivered to its recipient. See also Read Receipts.
 

delurk -- To come out of online lurking mode; to actively participate in a online discussion after a period of just watching or lurking. This term is derived from episodes of Star Trek that feature Klingon warships that can hide ("cloak") or appear ("decloak") at will.
 

DES -- See Data Encryption Standard.
 

dial-up -- 1. A temporary connection between computers established over a telephone line.
2. To establish a temporary connection to another computer.
 

digerati -- The digital elite. Derived from "literati".
 

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