User's Guide for ZyXEL Omni 56K USB Modem
H
Parity Bit The parity bit is sent as additional information with the data bits in asynchronous transfers.
It controls the integrity of the transferred data. If parity is even, the parity bit is set if an
uneven number of data bit is sent in the character, resulting in an even number of set bits.
Password
Cracker A program that uses a dictionary of words, phrases, names, etc. to guess a password.
Password
Encryption A system of encrypting electronic files using a single key or password. Anyone who knows
the password can decrypt the file.
Password
Shadowing The storage of a user's username and password in a network administrator database.
PBX Private Branch eXchange is a small version of the phone company's larger central
switching office. A PBX is a private telephone switch. It is connected to groups of lines
from one or more central offices and to all of the telephones at the location served by the
PBX.
PC Personal Computer – acronym for computers which are compatible with the IBM PC or AT
computers.
PHONE Jack to which a telephone set may be connected.
Pirate Someone who steals or distributes software without paying the legitimate owner for it. This
category of computer criminal includes several different types of illegal activities. Making
copies of software for others to use. Distributing pirated software over the Internet or a
Bulletin Board System. Receiving or downloading illegal copies of software in any form.
Pirated Software Software that has been illegally copied, or that is being used in violation of the software's
licensing agreement. Pirated software is often distributed through pirate bulletin boards or
on the Internet. In the internet underground it is known as Warez.
Plain Text The opposite of Cipher Text, Plain Text is readable by anyone.
Point of
Demarcation The physical point where the phone company ends its responsibility with the wiring of the
phone line.
Port (H/W) An interface on a computer for connecting peripherals or devices to the computer. A printer
port, for example, is an interface that is designed to have a printer connected to it. Ports can
be defined by specific hardware (such as a keyboard port) or through software.
Port An Internet port refers to a number that is part of a URL, appearing after a colon (:) right
after the domain name. Every service on an Internet server listens on a particular port
number on that server. Most services have standard port numbers, e.g., Web servers
normally listen on port 80.
POTS Plain Old Telephone Service is the analog telephone service that runs over copper twisted-
pair wires and is based on the original Bell telephone system. Twisted-pair wires connect
homes and businesses to a neighborhood central office. This is called the local loop. The
central office is connected to other central offices and long-distance facilities.
Processing Unit A computer's brain. Here all the necessary calculations are performed.
Promiscuous
Packet Capture Actively capturing packet information from a network. Most computers only collect
packets specifically addressed to them. Promiscuous packet capture acquires all network
traffic it can regardless of where the packets are addressed.