Select the first letter of the word from the list above to jump to appropriate section of the glossary or type the term on which you want to search.

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default browser

the Web browser that will automatically retrieve Web pages when you log onto the World Wide Web. For example, a computer may have both Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer installed, but always opens Navigator because it is set as the default browser.

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default drive

the drive the computer automatically uses unless another is selected.

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degauss

to demagnetize.

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Deja News

a search engine used primarily to search the Newsgroups. see search engine.

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Del

the Delete key on a computer keyboard. The Del key eliminates items selected on the display monitor.

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delete

to remove unwanted programs, files, text, or graphics from a computer.

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Dell Computer Corporation

a popular computer hardware company offering a full range of computer systems, including desktop computer systems, notebook computers, workstations and network server and storage products, as well as an extended selection of peripheral hardware and computing software. Dell’s business is based on direct sales of custom-built products, thereby eliminating the need for an extensive network of wholesale and retail dealers, and avoiding typical dealer mark-ups and other related costs.

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Denial of Service

an assault on a network that floods it with so many additional requests that regular traffic is either slowed or completely interrupted. Unlike a virus or worm, which can cause severe damage to databases, a denial of service attack interrupts network service for some period. A distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack uses multiple computers throughout the network that it has previously infected. The computers act as "zombies" and work together to send out bogus messages, thereby increasing the amount of phony traffic.

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denizen

slang term for an inexperienced, unsophisticated individual who serfs the Web.

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desktop

everything appearing on your computer screen at any given time. The desktop in a Windows system with no programs running, usually displays icons that represent shortcuts to opening specific programs. see icon, shortcut.