| Wireless networking, like so many things in | | | | to set up. They are sometimes used on |
| life -- and especially the ones that have | | | | university campuses.Mbps. Megabits per |
| anything to do with computers -- is filled | | | | second, a measurement of connection speed. |
| with jargon. Hi-tech babble baffles many | | | | Not to be confused with MBps, megabytes per |
| Don't be intimidated, though: here's a quick | | | | second. There are eight megabits in a |
| computer-speak to English guide to help you | | | | megabyte.PAN. Personal Area Network. These |
| out.802.11. The name of the wireless | | | | are networks made up of devices connected |
| networking standard, set by the IEEE. Ensures | | | | together in one small area. For example, your |
| that wireless devices are | | | | computer with a USB keyboard and mouse |
| interoperable.Driver. A piece of computer | | | | connected is a PAN. PANs can be wireless, |
| software that tells the computer how to talk | | | | using a technology called Bluetooth.PCI. |
| to devices that are plugged into it. For | | | | Peripheral Component Interconnect. This is a |
| wireless networking, the drivers you need to | | | | way of installing new devices inside your |
| install will come on a CD with any equipment | | | | computer, such as graphics cards and network |
| you buy.Ethernet. The most common way of | | | | devices. If you want to install a wireless |
| connecting to a LAN. Any wires you might have | | | | card inside your computer, you will be using |
| connecting your computers together now are | | | | PCI.PCMCIA. Personal Computer Memory Card |
| Ethernet wires, and the cable connecting your | | | | International Association (some say it should |
| modem to your computer is probably an | | | | stand for 'People Can't Memorise Computer |
| Ethernet wire too.Ghz. Gigahertz. A | | | | Industry Acronyms'). A standard for plugging |
| measurement of frequency -- one gigahertz is | | | | credit card-sized devices into a laptop, to |
| one billion cycles per second. You may | | | | give it extra capabilities. PCMCIA is a great |
| recognise the measurement from computer | | | | way of adding wireless networking to your |
| processor speeds, which are now also measured | | | | laptop as easily as inserting a disk.USB. |
| in Ghz.IEEE. The Institute of Electrical and | | | | Universal Serial Bus. A port used for |
| Electronics Engineers. In charge of the | | | | connecting all sorts of devices to a |
| wireless networking standard, as well as many | | | | computer, including keyboards, mice, |
| other computer-related standards (including | | | | printers, external drives, and almost |
| the Ethernet standard). They ensure that | | | | anything else you can think of. If you don't |
| computer equipment made by different | | | | want to open up your computer and you don't |
| manufacturers can work | | | | have a laptop, you can get a USB wireless |
| together.Interoperable. Means that two pieces | | | | device.WAN. Wide Area Network. A network that |
| of equipment are compatible -- you can use | | | | is connected over more than one physical |
| them together, because they stick to the | | | | site, such as a business that has its |
| standards. You should not get any wireless | | | | computers in two countries connected on one |
| equipment that isn't interoperable.LAN. Local | | | | network. The Internet, for example, is a WAN |
| Area Network. A network that is generally | | | | -- the biggest WAN in the world.WEP. Wired |
| confined to one building, such as a home or | | | | Equivalent Privacy. The old standard for |
| office. A wireless LAN is also known as a | | | | encrypting wireless networks. Unfortunately, |
| WLAN.Linux. An alternative operating system | | | | it was found to be insecure back in 2001, and |
| to Windows. Computers running Linux can run | | | | so should no longer be used.WPA. Wi-Fi |
| many programs and connect to the Internet | | | | Protected Access. Basically an upgrade of WEP |
| without needing Windows. Linux is free to | | | | to fix its security problems. WPA-encrypted |
| download and you are allowed to give it to | | | | networks change their encryption method |
| friends to use. A lot of wireless devices run | | | | often, to avoid becoming vulnerable, and also |
| Linux, or are compatible with it.MAN. | | | | shut down for thirty seconds if they detect a |
| Metropolitan Area Network. A network that | | | | suspected attack.Written by Jason Keno of |
| covers a larger area, for example a town or | | | | Private Investigation and PC Security |
| city. Wireless MANs (men?) spread Internet | | | | Software. |
| access all over the area, but are expensive | | | | |