Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Firewall Machine:. A.dedicated.gateway.computer.with.spe-
cial.security.precautions.on.it,.used.to.service.an.out-
side.network,.especially.Internet.connections.and.dial-in.
lines.. The. idea. is. to. protect. a. cluster. of. more. loosely.
administered.machines.hidden.behind.it.from.intrusion..
The.typical.irewall.is.an.inexpensive.microprocessor-
based.Unix.machine.with.no.critical.data,.with.modems.
and. public. network. ports. on. it,. but. just. one. carefully.
watched.connection.back.to.the.rest.of.the.cluster..The.
special.precautions.may.include.threat.monitoring,.call-
back,.and.even.a.complete.iron.box.that.can.be.keyed.
to.particular.incoming.IDs.or.activity.patterns.
Firmware:. A.sort.of.“halfway.house”.between.hardware.and.
software.. Firmware. often. takes. the. form. of. a. device.
that.is.attached.to,.or.built.into,.a.computer.(such.as.a.
ROM.chip).that.performs.some.software.function.but.
is.not.a.program.in.the.sense.of.being.installed.and.run.
from.the.computer's.storage.media.
Fix:. An.operational.expedient.that.may.be.necessary.if.there.
is.an.urgent.need.to.amend.or.repair.data.or.solve.a.
software.bug.problem.
Forensics (Computer):. The. discipline. of. dissecting. com-
puter. storage. media,. log. analysis,. and. general.
systems. and. data. examination. to. ind. evidence. of.
computer.crime.or.other.violations.
Freeware:. Literally,. software. provided. for. free.. Major. soft-
ware.developers.often.give.away.old.versions.of.their.
products.to.allow.users.to.try.them.at.no.charge.and,.
hopefully,.succeed.in.tempting.them.to.purchase.the.
current. release.. Independent. developers. may. give.
away. small. programs. to. establish. a. reputation. for.
useful.software,.which.then.enables.them.to.charge..
Cover. disks. attached. to. a. computer. magazine. often.
contain.freeware..As.with.shareware,.freeware.should.
be.approached.with.caution,.and.staff.should.be.dis-
suaded.from.trying.out.their.new.freeware.on.organi-
zation.equipment.
