Adware: Software that displays messages in the form of banners or pop-up advertising. Also see Spyware.

Anti-Virus Software: Defends against and removes computer viruses. Anti-virus software must be frequently updated in order to be effective, for only known viral threats can be recognized as they attempt to infect your computer. Keyway Internet Services recommends Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus 2004 for home and office protection.

Dynamic IP Address: An IP Address which changes each time a computer connects to the internet. A dynamic address assists in security for outside sources won't be able to communicate with the moving location of the device. top

Firewall: Prevents unauthorized access to or from an outside source such as the Internet or a network. All messages entering or leaving a computer will pass through the firewall, and is examined for content that does not meet the specified security criteria. Keyway Internet Services recommends Zone Alarm (free) or Tiny Firewall (trial).

IP Address: Every computer that communicates over the Internet is assigned an IP address that uniquely identifies the device. An IP address consists of 4 octets of numbers from 0-255, such as 168.232.219.199. An IP address consists of two parts, one identifying the network and one identifying the node, or host. The Class of the address determines which part belongs to the network address and which part belongs to the node address. All nodes on a given network share the same network prefix but must have a unique host number. See also Static IP Address and Dynamic IP Address.

Pop-Up Ads: Advertising which appears in an additional Internet browser window. Pop-up advertising which is delivered by the Internet site which you are viewing is known as Adware, and is usually harmless. Pop-up advertising which appears on your computer when you are not browsing the Internet is known as Spyware, and is considered malicious in nature. Keyway Internet Services recommends BPSoft Pop-up Blocker.

Spyware: Software that gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware is unknowingly installed on your computer by downloading software, using file-sharing services, or simply by visiting malicious websites. Spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and can transmit sensitive information to outside recipients. Keyway recommends Lavasoft's Adware (free) to remove spyware from your computer. Also recommended is a firewall which will notify users of unauthorized activity.

Static IP Address: An IP Address which remains constant, useful for remote communication.

Windows Update: A Microsoft service which provides the latest updates available for your computer's operating system, software, and hardware. Windows Update scans your computer and provides you with a selection of updates specific to your computer. Click here to start Windows Update. Click here for additional security notices regarding updating your Windows operating system.