Five Ways to Optimize Your Support Experience

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32 bit

A processor with 32-bit memory addresses can directly access 4 GB of RAM. To find if your operating system is 32-bit : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218. Connectify Hotspot can be used on both 32 and 64 bit operating systems

64 bit

A processor with 64-bit memory addresses can directly access more than 4 GB of RAM (much more than the typical current RAM sizes). To find if your operating system is 64-bit : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218. Connectify Hotspot can be used on both 32 and 64 bit operating systems.

3G

3G is a standard for mobile broadband that gives mobile devices like smartphones, tablets and USB modems the ability to connect to the Internet. 

4G

4G is the successor to the 3G standard (see above) and has peak speeds up to 5x as fast as its predecessor. 

Access Point

A wireless access point (AP), is a device that allows other devices to connect to a wired network wirelessly through Wi-Fi. Connectify Hotspot acts as a virtual router, Soft AP ( soft access point ) without the need for any additional hardware. 

Ad Hoc

An Ad Hoc network is a wireless connection in which devices communicate directly with each other when in range without the need for an access point. It can be used for data exchange or LAN games, but does not scale very well. Connectify Hotspot allows you to quickly set up an Ad Hoc connection to share internet with other wireless devices. For Windows XP and Vista, Ad Hoc mode is the only choice.

Antivirus

Antivirus (or anti-virus) software is used to prevent, detect, and remove malware, including computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Such programs may also prevent and remove adware, spyware, and other forms of malware.  Ex: Kaspersky, Zone Alarm, etc. 

AP Mode

See Access Point

Automatic Internet Selection

Connectify Hotspot intelligently chooses which Internet connection to share! When set to “Automatic,” Connectify Hotspot automatically detects your active Internet connection and makes necessary configuration changes to your Hotspot.

Bridge

A bridge, in computer networking terms, connects one local area network, LAN, to another. A bridge does not perform routing functions, and is therefore not a router. At this time, Connectify Hotspot CANNOT operate in bridge mode.

BSoD

Blue Screen of Death. Windows displays a blue screen when it encounters a critical error causing the system to crash. This is usually due to hardware conflicts or faulty device drivers.

Cellular Modem

A cellular modem is a type of modem which connects to a wireless cellular network instead of to the telephone system. When a mobile Internet user connects using a cellular modem, he/she is attached directly to the wireless ISP (Internet Service Provider) and can then access the Internet. 

Compatibility Mode

A compatibility mode is a software mechanism in which a computer's operating system emulates an older processor, operating system, and/or hardware platform in order to allow obsolete software to remain compatible with the computer's newer hardware or software.

Connectify Dispatch

Connectify Dispatch is an easy to use software-based multi-WAN load balancing application. It currently runs on Windows PCs and can be used in conjunction with Connectify Hotspot to provide multi-WAN capabilities to your personal access point.

Connectify Hotspot

Connectify Hotspot is an easy to use software router, wireless router, soft AP or virtual router for laptops and smart phones. With Connectify Hotspot, users can wirelessly share any Internet connection: a cable modem, a cellular card, or even another Wi-Fi network. Other Wi-Fi enabled devices can see and join your Connectify Hotspot just like any other Wi-Fi access point and are kept safe and secure by password-protected WPA2 Encryption.

Connectify Hotspot PRO

With the free version of Connectify Hotspot, you always have the full capability to turn your Windows 7 or 8 PC or laptop into a Wi-Fi Hotspot at the click-of-a-button. For users that want value-added functionality, and a greater level of control over their Hotspot, we are continually adding to the rich feature-set of Connectify Hotspot PRO.

Domain Name

The portion of a URL that identifies the Web site. For example, in www.connectify.me connectify is the domain. Each comain contains a suffix for the Top Level Domain. For example, .com, .edu, .gov are Top Level Domains.

Domain Name Service

A service that translates domain names to IP addresses stored on various well known servers on the Internet. Use of names, rather than numbers, for locating domains on the Internet makes it easier to remember.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

A computer networking protocol that provides dynamic IP addresses to new client machines on a network for a given amount of time. The IP addresses the server provides come from a predefined range of IP addresses for the network. Each address is valid for a specific lifetime. Use of DHCP eases manual network configuration.

Dynamic IP Address

The address given to a new computer or device by the DHCP server when it enters the network. This address may be different the next time the computer or device connects to the network.

Encryption Key

A string of alphanumeric characters used to encode information. The encoded data may be shared with more confidence that unintended recipients will not be able to interpret data. On transmission the data is encoded, and upon receipt the data is unencoded.

Encryption protocols

An encryption protocol is a security mechanism that secures a connection. The common wireless encryption protocols are WEP, WPA and WPA2 

Ethernet

A system for connecting a number of computer systems to form a local area network (LAN), via cables, with protocols to control the passing of information and to avoid simultaneous transmission by two or more systems.

Ethernet Card

A hardware device that handles an interface to a computer network and allows devices to access that network via a wire. 

Firewall

A part of a computer system or network that is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.

Hotfix

A hotfix is a package that includes one or more files that are used to address a problem in a software product (i.e., a software bug).  

Hotspot

A hotspot is a location that offers Internet access over a wireless local area network through a router connected to the Internet through a Internet Service Provider. Hotspots typically use Wi-Fi technology to create wireless local area network. Connectify Hotspot lets you create your own private hotspot.  Connectify Hotspot is a virtual router, soft access point or soft AP.

Infrastructure

Another term used to describe Access Point

Internet

A global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols.

Internet Access

Internet access refers to the means by which users connect to the Internet. 

Internet Connection Sharing

A Windows utility suite that allows a single Internet connection to be shared with numerous computers. A small local area network, LAN is configured that provides DNS and DHCP services to clients.

Internet Security

Internet security is a branch of computer security specifically related to the Internet. Its objective is to establish rules and measures to use against attacks over the Internet.

IP

Internet Protocol. The underlying communication protocol of the Internet. Protocol defines how to route information, called data packets, from one address to another. Commonly called TCP/IP, which references Transmission Control Protocl, which provide connection oriented links between sender and receiver.

License

A product key, also known as a Software key, is a specific software-based key for a computer program. It certifies that the copy of the program is original. Activation is sometimes performed offline by entering the key or, with software like Windows XP, online activation is required to prevent multiple people from using the same key.

Minidump

Applications can produce user-mode Minidump files, which contain a useful subset of the information contained in a crash dump file. Minidump files can be created very quickly and efficiently. Because minidump files are small, they can be easily sent over the internet to technical support for the application. You can find the Windows minidump at C:\Windows\Minidump (usually).

Mobile Broadband

Mobile broadband (strictly speaking Mobile Internet as the QOS doesn't meet international Broadband definitions) is the name used to describe various types of wireless high-speed internet access through a portable modem, telephone, or other device.

Mobile Hotspot

A portable device that provides a wireless hotspot. Connectify Hotspot makes your laptop a mobile hotspot when you create wireless networks as you travel about.

Notification Tray

The notification area is a portion of the taskbar that provides a temporary source for notifications and status. It can also be used to display icons for system and program features that have no presence on the desktop.

PPIP

Is a data link protocol commonly used in establishing a direct connection between two networking nodes. It can provide connection authentication, transmission encryption privacy, and compression.

Repeater

A device or software program that extends a wireless network. The name and password of the network do not change. Connectify CAN operate as a repeater with a PRO license.

Router

A device that forwards data packets to the appropriate parts of a computer network. 

SSID

Service Set Identifier - Wireless network name. #v 

SSL

Secured Sockets Layer. Common data encryption method used by many online businesses to secure data transmission.

TKIP

Temporal Key Integrity Protocol. Used with WPA and WPA2 to scramble the keys and ensure they have not been tampered.

UPnP Server

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) is a set of networking protocols for primarily residential networks without expert administrators that permits networked devices, such as personal computers, printers, Internet gateways, Wi-Fi access points, and mobile devices to seamlessly discover each other’s presence

URL

Uniform Resource Locator. Commonly called a web address. It is string that uniquely identifies a location or resource on the World Wide Web. For example, the URL for Connectify is http://www.connectify.me

Virtual Router

A software program that emulates the behavior of a hardware router. Namely, it provides connectivity between computer networks, provides IP address assignment and domain name services, network address translation and other networking tasks. Connectify Hotspot is a virtual router.

Virtual Wi-Fi Miniport Adapter

Creates a virtual wireless card, making Windows behave as if you have two or more cards installed on your system, instead of just one. It allows you to connect to more than one wireless network at a time. Keep in mind that the maximum bandwidth of your wireless card will be split when using this function. 

WAN Device

WAN is a form of wireless network. A wide area network differs from a local area network by the technology used to transmit the signal and their size. Wireless networks of all sizes deliver data in the form of telephone calls, web pages, and streaming video. 

Web Servers

Can refer to either the hardware (the computer) or the software (the computer application) that helps to deliver content that can be accessed through the Internet.

Wi-Fi

Wireless local area network: a local area network that uses high frequency radio signals to transmit and receive data over distances of a few hundred feet using Ethernet protocol.

Wi-Fi Boost

A colloquial term used to describe a device or program that extends the range of a wireless network. See repeater.

Wi-Fi Card

A Wi-Fi card gives devices the ability to connect to a radio-based computer network rather than a wire-based network such as Ethernet. You can find your Wi-Fi card by going to Control Panel > Device Manager > Network Adapters.

Wi-Fi Key

A wireless network key is a security feature that prevents unauthorized users from accessing a wireless network. It can be a simple password or a self-generated combination of digits and letters.

Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 is one of Microsoft Windows' server lines of operating systems. Released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008, and officially released on February 27, 2008, it is the successor to Windows Server 2003, released nearly five years earlier. 

Windows 7

Windows 7 is the previous release of Microsoft Windows, a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs, and media center PCs.

Windows 8

Windows 8 is the latest release of Microsoft Windows, a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs, and media center PCs.

Windows Update

Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer.

Windows Vista

Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs.

Windows XP

Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, and media centers. It was first released in August 2001, and is currently being phased out after a long and successful lifespan. The name "XP" is short for "eXPerience."

Wireless Broadband

Wireless Broadband is a fairly new technology that provides high-speed wireless internet and data network access over a large area.          

Wireless Drivers

A device driver is a program that determines how a computer will communicate with a peripheral device. Wireless (Wi-Fi) device drivers are provided by the device manufacturer, but can be acquired from the PC maker (i.e. Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, etc.) or Windows Update

Wireless Network

Wireless network refers to any type of computer network that is wireless, and is commonly associated with a telecommunications network whose interconnections between nodes are implemented without the use of wires. 

WPA2 Encryption

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2) is a certification program developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to indicate compliance with the security protocol created by the Wi-Fi Alliance to secure wireless computer networks. Connectify Hotspot only allows for WPA2 encryption when running in Access Point mode.