Chat room — An area online that allows users to communicate in real time by typing and posting messages that others can read and/or respond to.

Cookie — Placed on your computer by a Web site you´ve visited, or by an advertiser on that site, these tiny documents work like electronic tags to track what you look at on the Web site and, in some cases, to track what other Web sites you visit. Cookies are used to identify visitors for customer service, customizing information and preferences, marketing, and other purposes.

Encryption — Scrambling data into a private code so that it can be securely transmitted and only decoded by the intended recipient.

Internet Service Provider — A company that provides direct access to the Internet, usually for a fee.

Secure Anonymous Remailer — Web sites that will strip your identifying information so you can surf other Web sites and send email anonymously.

Software — Programs that tell computers how to perform certain functions like word processing, accounting spreadsheets, or games.

Spam — Email from a company or charity that is unsolicited and sent to many people at one time, usually for advertising purposes. Also known as junk email.

Virus — Computer code that is created maliciously to damage your files or disrupt your computer system. You can unintentionally download a virus from a Web site, receive it as an attachment in an email, or get it from a computer disk.