Axram - F


FAT File Allocation Table. A special part of every disk that stores information about which parts of a disk are used, which are unused, and which parts cannot be used because they’re faulty.
File. A collection of information stored on a disk, and accessible using a name.
File attribute. Information that defines the characteristics of a file. Some characteristics of a file may be hidden, read-only, locked, or archive. Changing a file’s attributes does not affect the file’s contents but does affect the computer’s ability to modify or view the file.
File compression. The squeezing of a file into a smaller size so that it takes up less disk space or takes less time to transmit, e.g. a zip file.
File conversion. The translation of one file format or file structure into another one, e.g. a MS Word .doc file to an Adobe Acrobat file .PDF.
File server. A network computer that stores all of the users’ programs and data files on its own hard disk. Most large networks have at least one file server. File servers are particularly useful for acting as post offices for electronic mail messages or other applications where users need to share files or send them back and forth.
File sharing. The ability of a network computer to share files or directories on its local disks with remote computers.
File size. The amount of disk space that a file requires for its existence, usually measured in bytes.
File system. In an operating system, the overall structure in which files are named, stored, and organized.
Firewall. A security solution which segregates one portion of a network from another portion, allowing only authorized network traffic to pass through according to traffic filtering rules.
Format string attacks A class of vulnerabilities, previously thought harmless. Format string attacks can be used to crash a program or to execute harmful code. Format string bugs most commonly appear when a programmer wishes to print a string containing user supplied data. The programmer may mistakenly write printf(buffer) instead of printf(“%s”, buffer). The first version interprets buffer as a format string, and parses any formatting instructions it may contain. The second version simply prints a string to the screen, as the programmer intended.
Freeware. Software that’s copyrighted but allowed to be copied and give away freely without cost, the programmer may include harmless but sometimes irritating adware. In comparison, public domain software is not copyrighted and can be copied freely, and shareware is copyrighted and can be copied freely but must be paid for if used regularly.
FTP. File Transfer Protocol. The standard method of transferring files using TCP/IP. FTP allows you to transfer files between dissimilar computers, with preservation of binary data and optional translation of text file formats.

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