Glossary 51
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Router
— A device that directs traffic from one network to another.
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SIM
— Subscriber Identification Module. Found in LTE and GSM network
technology, the SIM is a card containing identification information
for the subscriber and their account. The SIM card can be moved to
different devices.
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SSID
— Service Set IDentifier. The name assigned to a Wi-Fi network.
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TCP/IP
— Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The set
of communications protocols used for the Internet and other similar
networks.
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USB
— Universal Serial Bus. A connection type for computing device
peripherals such as a printer, mobile modem, etc. USB connectors may
be used for data transfer or charging.
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USB Port Types
— The USB ports on computers and hubs have a
rectangular Type A socket, and peripheral devices have a cable with
a Type A plug. Peripherals that do not have an attached cable have a
square Type B socket on the device and a separate cable with a Type A
and Type B plug. Ports and connectors are available in different sizes (for
example, standard, mini, and micro).
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VPN
— Virtual Private Network. A secure private network that runs over
the public Internet. Commonly used to connect to an office network
from elsewhere.
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WCDMA
— Wideband Code Division Multiple Access. An air interface
standard found in 3G mobile telecommunications networks. The most-
commonly used member of the UMTS family.
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WWAN
— Wireless Wide Area Network. A public network that extends
beyond architectural, geographical, or political boundaries (unlike a
LAN, which is usually a private network located within a room, building,
or other limited area).
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WEP
— Wired Equivalent Privacy. An IEEE standard security protocol for
802.11 networks. Superseded by WPA and WPA2.
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WPA/WPA2
— Wi-Fi Protected Access. A security protocol for wireless
802.11 networks from the Wi-Fi Alliance.