Spoofing Definition The word "spoof" means to hoax, trick, or deceive. Therefore, in the IT world, spoofing refers tricking or deceiving computer systems or other computer users. This is typically done by hiding one's identity or faking the identity of another user on the Internet. Spoofing can take place on the Internet in several different ways. One common method is through e-mail. E-mail spoofing involves sending messages from a bogus e-mail address or faking the e-mail address of another u...

SPF Definition Stands for "Sender Policy Framework." SPF is a email authentication system designed to prevent email spoofing. It works by verifying that an email message is sent from an authorized IP address. SPF is commonly used alongside DKIM, another email verification technology, though they are not dependent on each other. In order for SPF verification to take place, the sender policy framework must be configured on the outgoing mail server. This involves turning on SPF and creating SPF re...

DNS Record Definition DNS records are stored in zone files and are used for translating domain names to IP addresses. They also contain other data, including the domain name's name server and mail server information. If there are domain name aliases, such as the commonly used "www" preceding the domain name, these will also be listed in the DNS record. A typical DNS record may look something like this: ;   Nameservers ; IN   NS   ns1.4servers.com.   ; 123.456.789.01 IN   NS   ns2.4servers.com....

DKIM Definition Stands for "DomainKeys Identified Mail." DKIM is an email authentication technology that verifies a message was sent from a legitimate user of an email address. It is designed to prevent email forgery or spoofing. DKIM works by attaching a digital signature to the header of an email message. The header is generated by the outgoing mail server and is unique to the domain hosted on the server. The receiving mail server can check the header against a public key stored in the sendin...

Twitter Definition Twitter is an online service that allows you to share updates with other users by answering one simple question: "What are you doing?" In order to use Twitter, you must first sign up for a free account. Once you have created your account, you can post your own updates and view the updates others have posted. You can search for people to follow or you can let Twitter select random users. Once you have selected a number of users, their most recent posts, or "tweets," will show ...

Home Page Definition A home page is a webpage that serves as the starting point of website. It is the default webpage that loads when you visit a web address that only contains a domain name. For example, visiting https://techterms.com will display the Tech Terms home page. The home page is located in the root directory of a website. Most web server allow the home page to have one of several different filenames. Examples include index.html, index.htm, index.shtml, index.php, default.html, and h...

Social Networking Definition When the Web became popular in the mid-1990s, it enabled people to share information in ways that were never possible before. But as limitless as the possibilities seemed, there was a personal aspect that was lacking. While users could create home pages and post their own content on the Web, these individual sites lacked a sense of community. In the early 2000s, the Web became much more personal as social networking websites were introduced and embraced by the masses...

Personal URL Definition Many websites that host online communities allow you to create you own personal URL within the website. This custom URL typically serves as the Web address of your profile page and can be shared and bookmarked by other users. Examples of websites that allow you to choose a personal URL include social networking sites like Facebook, photo sharing sites like Flickr, and various Web forums. Users can choose a custom name, which will then become part of their personal URL. F...

Pinterest Definition Pinterest is a social networking website that allows you to organize and share ideas with others. You can share your own content as well as things that other Pinterest users have posted. Once you register for a free account, you can create your own "boards" to organize your content. Examples of topics include recipes, home decor, photography, quotes, and games. You can upload images and "pin" them to relevant boards. Other Pinterest users can browse your boards and comment ...

Permalink Definition Short for "permanent link." A permalink is a URL that links to a specific news story or Web posting. Permalinks are most commonly used for blogs, which are frequently changed and updated. They give a specific Web address to each posting, allowing blog entries to be bookmarked by visitors or linked to from other websites. Because most blogs are published using dynamic, database-driven Web sites, they do not automatically have Web addresses associated with them. For example, ...