Address - A series of letters and numbers that identify a location. On the Internet, typing in an address lets you send or receive information from specific sources. You can type in the address for an E-mail account, web site or network.

Blog - An online journal. You can post stories about yourself or thoughts just like you would in a personal journal. These have become more and more popular with teenagers. The Internet is a very public place and teens need to be reminded of the dangers of posting personal thoughts and information for anyone else to see.

Chat - Real-time communication over the Internet. You type and send messages that appear almost instantly on the computer monitors of the other people who are participating in the chat.

Chatroom - An interactive forum where you can talk in real-time. The chatroom is the place or location online where the chat is taking place. Many chatrooms are established so that people can discuss a common interest like music or movies.

Cyberstalking/Harassment - Terms that can refer to the online enticement of children; rude or threatening messages; slanderous information; or repeated, unwanted messages.

Filtering Software - Different methods to screen unwanted Internet content including whitelisting, blacklisting, monitoring activity, keyword recognition, or blocking-specific functions such as E-mail or Instant Messages.

Firewall - This is a system that creates a special "wall" used by network servers to separate their Intranet from the Internet. It keeps out unwanted information like spam and viruses and unwanted people like hackers.

Flaming - Sending a deliberately confrontational message to others on the Internet

Hacker - A popular term for someone who accesses computer information either legally or illegally.

ICQ - A program that allows users to communicate with other users in real time. Users can be alerted when other ICQ users have logged onto the program. ICQ allows users to chat, Instant-Message, send files, and play games

Instant Messaging (IM) - A service that allows people to send and get messages almost instantly. To send messages using Instant Messaging you need to download an Instant-Messaging program and know the Instant-Messaging address of another person who uses the same Instant-Messaging program.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) - A system that enables people online to join in live discussions, allowing people to engage in real-time chat. IRC is like a CB radio for the Internet. Internet Relay Chat is a virtual meeting place where people from all over the world can meet and talk.

Pharming - An online scam that attacks the brower's address bar. Users type in what they think is a valid web-site address and are unknowingly redirected to an illegitimate site that steals their personal information

Phishing - An online scam that uses E-mail to "fish" for users' private information by imitating legitimate companies. People are lured into sharing user names, passwords, account information or credit-card numbers.

Spam - Unwanted E-mail from someone you don't know. It is usually trying to sell you something.

Spimming - Mass mailings sent as Instant Messages to users. Often these can feature links to explicit porn sites.

Temporary Internet Files - A folder on your computer that will tell you every site that your child has visited, unless they have learned to delete these files. Every time you open a web page, your computer saves a copy of that site's files and graphics in your "temporary Internet files" folder. The amount of files can build up and make your computer run slow.

Web-Based Chat - A form of communication where users can have real-time conversations with other users conducted through an ISP. Chat can take place in a chatroom, Instant-Messaging program, or on IRC channels.