Updated Articles and Resources
- "What is 'TLDR'? What Does 'TLDR' Mean?"Created: 2009-11-04 @ 15:47:51 EST
You see this peculiar expression, "TLDR", while participating in online discussions. What exactly does it mean? … - A Visual Guide: the Top 35 Torrent Search Engines of 2009…Created: 2009-11-04 @ 15:16:34 EST
Bit torrents have become the backbone of P2P file sharing. At the center of this P2P frenzy: the Top 35 Torrent Search Engines of 2009… - What Is 'Voice over IP'?Created: 2009-10-28 @ 18:28:57 EDT Updated: 2009-10-29 @ 17:06:32 EDT
You hear about people using the Internet as a telephone service, and how it can save hundreds of dollars in phone bills. But what exactly is 'VOIP', and how does it work?… - Internet 101: The Beginner's HandbookCreated: 2009-10-21 @ 13:33:54 EDT Updated: 2009-10-21 @ 13:59:38 EDT
Here is a kind of 'owner's manual' to the Internet and the World Wide Web: a collection of tutorials and guiding advice for new Internet users. From executive summary, to basic and intermediate sea… - What is 'leet' or '1337'?Created: 2009-10-15 @ 13:45:21 EDT
What exactly does 'leet' or '1337' mean?… - Your Favorite Hacker MoviesCreated: 2009-10-12 @ 13:50:01 EDT
While hacker movies certainly aren't technically accurate, they are a lot of fun. About.com readers write: their favorite hacker movies of all time… - What Is 'Port Forwarding'? How Do I Set My Own Port Forwards?Created: 2009-10-07 @ 22:52:42 EDT
You hear about 'port forwarding' as a way to improve your download and game speeds, but what exactly is port forwarding? About.com explains how port forwards work, and where you can get informatio… - What is 'ASP' (Application Service Provider)?Created: 2009-10-04 @ 15:40:05 EDT
The people at the office keep talking about "ASP's will reduce our costs" and "you'll love the new ASP tool we just bought". But what exactly does all this stuff mean? About.com… - Understanding Codecs: What Is a 'Codec'? Why Are They Important?Created: 2009-09-30 @ 10:27:56 EDT
"Codec" is a technical term for the "compression/decompression" of large downloadble files. Commonly associated with music and movie files transmitted through the Internet, code… - How Do Spammers Get My Email Address?Created: 2009-09-23 @ 23:54:34 EDT
Have you ever wondered how spam solicitors find your email address? About.com explains how… - What Is a 'Computer Virus'?Created: 2009-09-17 @ 21:13:37 EDT
An Internet FAQ: what exactly are viruses, and what does a user need to know about them?… - The Top Internet MemesCreated: 2009-09-14 @ 10:40:42 EDT
Here they are: the Top Internet Memes, 2009 - as voted by a panel of opinionated judges… - What is 'SSL'? What is 'SSH'?Created: 2009-08-13 @ 12:06:38 EDT
You see these odd technical expressions around the Net. Techie guys say "we use full SSL for our shopping carts" or "our network administrators use full SSH management techniques&quo… - What Is 'Scareware'?Created: 2009-08-11 @ 14:05:56 EDT
The New York Times reports that a Russian operation is earning an estimated $5 million a year selling fake antivirus software, or "scareware." What exactly is scareware, and how does the … - User Favorites: Most Useful Websites, 2009Created: 2009-07-27 @ 15:56:15 EDT Updated: 2009-07-27 @ 16:33:02 EDT
Do you have a favorite website that you consider extremely useful? A web page that has really helped you with decisions, news, or broadening your knowledge? Let us know at About.com… - The Best Torrent P2P SoftwareCreated: 2009-07-21 @ 16:31:06 EDT
Here they are: the most popular bit torrent file-sharing programs of 2009, as voted on by readers… - What Are The Best Bit Torrent Search Engine Sites of 2009?…Updated: 2009-11-04 @ 15:14:17 EST
Bit torrents are the most popular way to download music and movie files from the Internet. Bit torrent sharing is actually quite easy to learn, and millions of files are downloaded every day throug… - The Top 35 Torrent Sites of 2009Updated: 2009-11-04 @ 15:13:25 EST
Bit torrents have become the backbone of P2P file sharing. At the center of this P2P frenzy: the Top 35 Torrent Search Engines of 2009… - The Top 10 Most Useful Web SitesUpdated: 2009-11-04 @ 15:11:01 EST
The Ten Most Useful Web Sites, 2009… - PayPal 101: Understanding How PayPal WorksUpdated: 2009-11-04 @ 15:10:39 EST
A beginner's tutorial explaining PayPal.com, how it works, and why millions of people use PayPal to make online purchases… - The 15 Most Addictive Flash Games, 2009Updated: 2009-11-02 @ 10:57:15 EST
Here they are: the 15 most addictive Flash online games, as voted on by the About.com readership… - Bit Torrent Downloading: An Interview with a Bit Torrent Web Master …Updated: 2009-11-02 @ 10:56:02 EST
Bit Torrent Downloading: An Interview with a Bit Torrent Web Master from ShareTV.org… - Try Google Earth: a Magnificent Satellite View of the World.…Updated: 2009-10-27 @ 17:22:24 EDT
An introduction to one of the most impressive Google products today: searchable satellite photos of the planet… - Internet 101: Beginner's Handbook of Tutorials…Updated: 2009-10-21 @ 13:47:55 EDT
Here is your "owner's manual" to the Internet: a collection of tutorials and guiding advice for new Internet users. From executive summary, to basic and intermediate searching, to network… - Internet 101: Lesson 1 -- Equipment NeededUpdated: 2009-10-21 @ 13:28:27 EDT
Internet 101: Lesson 1 -- Equipment Needed… - eBay: Do's and Don'ts for Beginning eBayers, 2009…Updated: 2009-10-19 @ 13:55:19 EDT
Buying and selling on eBay is not difficult, but it does demand a savvy "buyer beware" attitude, and a forthright attitude of honesty. Compiled from years of eBay experience, here is the … - Internet Abbreviations & Acronyms: Email and Chat Shorthand!…Updated: 2009-10-19 @ 00:46:43 EDT
The world of Internet conversation abbreviations: BRB, ROFLMAO, TTYL, RTFM, IMHO... what does it all mean?… - What is NWT? What is NWOT?Updated: 2009-10-15 @ 13:40:30 EDT
"So what exactly does 'NWT' and 'NWOT' stand for? What does it mean?"… - "What is an 'IP Address'? Is it the same as 'Domain Name'?"…Updated: 2009-10-14 @ 15:12:34 EDT
You see this "ip address" expression more and more. Your computer has an ip address, your phone has an ip address. Even Coke machines have ip addresses. But what exactly is an "ip ad… - RSS - What is 'RSS'?Updated: 2009-10-14 @ 15:10:58 EDT
Also known as "Really Simple Syndication", RSS is the best way to satisfy your info-junkie cravings. Read how it works here… - What Exactly Does Spyware Do?Updated: 2009-10-14 @ 15:10:21 EDT
You hear about "spyware" and "malware" in many tech news articles. But what exactly does spyware do?… - User Favorite Bit Torrent SitesUpdated: 2009-10-12 @ 13:49:39 EDT
About.com users submit their suggestions: favorite bit torrent sites for P2P downloading… - DVD+R and DVD-R: A Beginners ExplanationUpdated: 2009-10-11 @ 20:59:13 EDT
There is a difference between DVD+R and DVD-R media, and this article explains how. Brought to you by your About Guide to Internet for Beginners… - FTW: "What is 'FTW'? What Does It Mean?"Updated: 2009-10-09 @ 00:27:37 EDT
You see this peculiar expression, "FTW", while participating in online discussions. What exactly does it mean? … - What Is 'Clownshoes'? What Does Clownshoes Mean?…Updated: 2009-10-09 @ 00:27:19 EDT
You see and hear the expression "clown shoes" in conversations, both in person and online. But what exactly does clown shoes mean? About.com explains… - The Coolest Web Sites of 2008Updated: 2009-10-08 @ 19:20:56 EDT
Here they are: the "Coolest Web Sites" of 2008, as voted on by About readers… - Internet Beginner's HandbookUpdated: 2009-10-08 @ 19:20:28 EDT
More than a Survival Guide, this is a collection of tutorials and guiding advice for new Internet users. From executive summary, to basic and intermediate searching, to network etiquette and online… - Plug-Ins 101: What You Need to Know for Internet Browsing…Updated: 2009-10-08 @ 19:19:03 EDT
"Plug-Ins 101" is a quick tutorial for explaining the top 11 Internet browser plug-ins, and how to find and install them. Brought to you by your About Guide to Internet for Beginners… - Internet 101: Beginner's TutorialUpdated: 2009-10-07 @ 22:56:49 EDT
Internet 101: Beginner's Tutorial, Including Overview of the Internet… - Zip Files: How to Unzip Them With the Right Software.Updated: 2009-10-07 @ 22:56:38 EDT
Zip Files: How to Unzip Them With the Right Software. A beginner's explanation of Zip file archives, WinZip software, and how it all works… - The 20 Best Hacker Movies, Page 1Updated: 2009-10-07 @ 22:54:52 EDT
While none of these movies depict what hacking truly involves, each of these stories is memorable in some way as good escapist fiction. Here they are: The 20 Best Hacker Movies, as voted on by a pa… - Spyware-Malware 101: Understanding the Secret Digital War of the Int…Updated: 2009-10-07 @ 22:53:51 EDT
Spyware is the greatest threat facing Internet users today. Combining the infestation qualities of viruses, with the twisted genius of purposeful programming, these rogue "malware" progra… - "What is 'PMSL'? What Does it Mean?"Updated: 2009-10-07 @ 22:53:31 EDT
You see this peculiar expression in online games or in instant messages. But what exactly does it mean?… - IE User Tip: Opening Links in New WindowsUpdated: 2009-10-07 @ 22:53:13 EDT
IE User Tip: Opening Links in New Windows… - What Is 'L2P'? What Does L2P Stand For?Updated: 2009-10-07 @ 22:53:07 EDT
You see this weird :L2P" expression in online gaming. Players are posting "L2P" to each other in game chat, and you don't know what it means. About.com explains the L2P expression h… - How Bad Hacking Really Is: an Interview With an ExpertUpdated: 2009-10-07 @ 22:52:37 EDT
Jacques Erasmus is a "white hat" hacker... a once-dishonorable craftsman who has now chosen to work for the protection of corporate networks. Here is a video of how Windows XP gets hacke… - The Student's Quick Reference Guide to Internet ResearchUpdated: 2009-10-07 @ 22:47:25 EDT
What every college, university, and high school student should know about successful academic research using the Internet… - How to Create a Good Password , Part 1Updated: 2009-10-07 @ 22:45:52 EDT
Has no one ever explained to you the secrets to a strong password? Here are several examples of strong passwords, and how you can create your own… - Lock Down Your PC!Updated: 2009-10-07 @ 22:45:20 EDT
Broadband home users beware: you are targets for hackers and crackers! Have you changed your guest account, enabled ICF service, configured your restricted folders, and retooled your admin login? I… - The Best Anti Spyware Programs, 2009Updated: 2009-10-03 @ 21:03:50 EDT
Here they are: The Best Anti Spyware Tools of 2009! There are some old friends here, but a couple of new players have joined the fray and set a new standard in the War on Malware. Read more here… - How to Speak Like an Internet Gaming GeekUpdated: 2009-09-23 @ 23:54:57 EDT
So, you're tired of those teenage kids knowing more about computers and computer games than you. They speak in an obscure subculture language that is part technical, part expressive. How do you get… - What is a 'hacker'? Is that the same as a 'haxor' or 'hax0r'?Updated: 2009-09-14 @ 14:49:20 EDT
So what exactly is a hacker? A haxor? A hax0r? Are they all the same terms? About.com explains here… - What Is a 'Meme'? What Are the Top Internet Memes?Updated: 2009-09-09 @ 17:21:02 EDT
You have undoubtedly experienced modern Internet memes, but may not be aware of it. Perhaps you have been "Rickrolled", or watched a video of the "Star Wars Kid". All of these, … - eBay 101: Beginners Guide to Buying and Selling at eBay and eBaymoto…Updated: 2009-09-09 @ 10:30:56 EDT
For the new eBayer: a free online e-book reference from the About Network - The Learner's Guide to eBay.com and eBaymotors.com… - What is 'QFT'?Updated: 2009-09-09 @ 10:27:30 EDT
You see this peculiar expression, "QFT", while participating in online discussions. What exactly does it mean? … - What Are "Pump and Dump" Internet Scams?Updated: 2009-09-08 @ 14:31:02 EDT
Spam email messages will sometimes reach your mailbox, claiming to know about a stock investment that will rapidly grow within days. But these are often scams, and About.com explains how… - The Firefox Handbook 2009Updated: 2009-09-08 @ 14:30:48 EDT
Firefox Browser Handbook: Beginner and Intermediate Guidance on the slickest new browser today… - Tutorial: Organizing Favorites in IEUpdated: 2009-09-08 @ 14:30:16 EDT
Tutorial: Organizing Favorites in IE6 or IE7… - How to Install and Configure MUTE Networking Software - P2PUpdated: 2009-09-08 @ 00:28:36 EDT
"MUTE" File Sharing is an emerging online network dedicated to private downloading. The users of MUTE are masked, and their identities are concealed from each other. Here is how to insta… - Top 12 Free Internet DownloadsUpdated: 2009-09-06 @ 22:24:23 EDT
Here they are: the 12 most useful free downloads on the Internet this year, as voted on by a panel of semi-scientific computer geeks… - IE7 Handbook: Tips and TricksUpdated: 2009-09-06 @ 22:24:05 EDT
Take charge of your Internet Explorer Web Browser: Open URLs quickly, control your bookmarks, run full screen mode, enhance your toolbars, spawn new windows, run multiple browsers, and more! Excell… - "What is 'MT'? What Does it Mean?"Updated: 2009-09-06 @ 22:23:35 EDT
You see this peculiar expression in online games or in instant messages. But what exactly does it mean?… - What Exactly Is 'Codec', and Why Would I Ever Need It?Updated: 2009-09-05 @ 11:48:26 EDT
"Codec" is a technical term for the "compression/decompression" of large downloadble files. Commonly associated with music and movie files transmitted through the Internet, code… - How to Speed Up Your Dial-Up Modem Connection!Updated: 2009-09-03 @ 17:24:10 EDT
Are you stuck with a slow dial-up Internet connection? Short of getting high-speed bandwidth, here is a compression-proxy solution that will get you six- to ten-times regular modem speed while stil… - "What is 'MUTE' File Sharing?" - An Alternative to Bit Torrent Downl…Updated: 2009-09-03 @ 17:23:48 EDT
"MUTE" File Sharing is an emerging online network dedicated to private downloading. The users of Mute are masked, and their identities are concealed from each other… - What is "DD"? What Does DD Stand For?Updated: 2009-09-03 @ 17:23:29 EDT
People regularly use the strange abbreviation "DH" in forum discussions online. But what exactly does DH mean? About.com explains… - "How do I play .bin, .cue, .dat and .rar movie files?"Updated: 2009-09-03 @ 17:23:18 EDT
Are you having problems playing a .rar or .bin file movie? Frustrated over why your 24-hour download isn't showing for you? Here is the explanation of how to play downloaded movies in .bin, .cue,… - The Top 10 Internet/Email Scams, 2009Updated: 2009-09-03 @ 17:22:08 EDT
The 10 nastiest Internet scams and con games of 2009. See examples and explanations here… - What is 'Flash'? Is that the same as 'Adobe Flash'?Updated: 2009-09-02 @ 23:33:36 EDT
You hear about "Flash" web sites, and you know that you should install something called "Flash Player". But what exactly is "Flash"? About.com explains… - What is "DH"? What Does DH Stand For?Updated: 2009-09-02 @ 23:33:12 EDT
People regularly use the strange abbreviation "DH" in forum discussions online. But what exactly does DH mean? About.com explains… - Yahoo: What Does 'Yahoo' Stand For?Updated: 2009-09-02 @ 23:32:57 EDT
Yes, the famous name "Yahoo!" actually stands for something. Here is the explanation… - "What Exactly is an Internet 'Mashup'?"Updated: 2009-09-02 @ 23:28:26 EDT
You hear this "mashup" expression being used by techie friends of yours. They talk about "oh, that is such an awesome mashup". But what exactly does "mashup" mean? Abo… - Internet Research Guide for StudentsUpdated: 2009-09-02 @ 00:49:47 EDT
Here at About.com, we have assembled a quick reference guide for students to successfully utilize the Internet and Web as part of their academic work. Proper citation, resource checking, and format… - DVD Discs: DVD-R Versus DVD+RUpdated: 2009-09-01 @ 23:06:36 EDT
A semi-technical explanation of DVD media, and how these special cousins to compact discs are changing how we store music and video… - Internet Overview: Getting Started Learning the NetUpdated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:26:20 EDT
Internet Overview: Getting Started Learning the Net… - What is "I.M." and "Instant Messaging"?Updated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:25:26 EDT
A quick explanation for new I.M. users… - The Internet's Cloaked Web, ExplainedUpdated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:22:48 EDT
New Internet users will often confuse Primary Web with Secondary "Cloaked" Web. Here is an explanation of the difference… - Emoticons & Smileys 101: Understanding The Smiley Shapes of Internet…Updated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:22:02 EDT
Emoticons are modern day hieroglyphs. These "emotional icons" are used as creative shorthand in email conversations to convey emotion and style. Here is a list of both the common and the … - Understanding URL's: How Internet URL Addresses WorkUpdated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:20:58 EDT
Tutorial: An explanation of Internet addresses and uniform resource locators (URL's) for beginning users… - Understanding Music Downloading: P2P File SharingUpdated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:20:36 EDT
Downloading Music MP3s: how Peer-to-Peer File Sharing works, and how the law barely allows it… - Internet Research for Students: The Best Search Engines for Students…Updated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:20:16 EDT
From About.com: the Student's Quick Reference Guide to Internet Research. … - Email Tutorials: Start HereUpdated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:19:56 EDT
Email Essentials: basics for newbies, and intermediate and advanced tips for users who want to message more effectively. … - StumbleUpon.com: a Smart Alternative to Googling!Updated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:19:37 EDT
StumbleUpon.com is a special free web navigation service. Instead of using library science and Google indexing, Stumble Upon is based on a community of users who share their personal interest sugg… - Have You Been "Email Hoaxed" Lately?Updated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:19:20 EDT
Hoax emails are everywhere. What's even worse: people enjoy forwarding these compelling-but-false stories. Don't get fooled by these hoax forwards! Use this guide to research and confirm whether … - Torrents 101: the Basics of How Bittorrents WorkUpdated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:18:51 EDT
It's the latest way to download music and movie files from the internet. Quickly becoming more popular than Kazaa and eDonkey, BitTorrent sharing is actually quite easy to learn. Here is a 10-minu… - eBay 101: Sample Transactions for New BuyersUpdated: 2009-09-01 @ 01:16:52 EDT
A free online e-book, from the About.com Network: Beginner's Guide to eBay Basics … - Increasing Torrent Download Speed: "How Do I Speed Up My Torrent Dow…Updated: 2009-08-25 @ 03:45:22 EDT
If you are tired of slow torrent download speeds, then here is one setting that can increase your torrent download speed by up to 5x… - What is "Lolcats"?Updated: 2009-08-13 @ 11:55:51 EDT
Lolcats, also known as "icanhazcheezburger", is a modern Internet phenomenon. Purposely employing bad grammar and poor spelling, lolcats has captured the hearts of animal lovers everywhe… - Cloaked Internet: "What is 'The Invisible Web'?"Updated: 2009-08-13 @ 11:51:30 EDT
90% of the Internet is "invisible" to search engines. As of August 2007, over 220 billion web pages cannot be found through Google or Yahoo or Ask.com. Oddly, this invisible content is th…