A faster, pricier type of storage that makes your computer boot up and load programs much quicker.

For pumping out audio, obviously. A good set of headphones can really up your jam sessions.

That little area, usually bottom-right on Windows, that holds status icons and background apps.

Properly powers down the computer, saving data and closing programs first.

A low-power state that quickly resumes where you left off. Ideal for taking breaks.

A small file that just points to another file, folder, or program. Handy for quick access.

Program files your OS needs to function. Best not to tinker with these.

Data organized into a grid of cells. Microsoft Excel’s XLSX is a de facto standard.

Scalable Vector Graphics. An XML-based image format that can scale to any size without pixelation.

Secure Sockets Layer. An encryption protocol used to secure data sent over the internet. Usually via HTTPS.

A website that finds other websites based on keywords.

Watching a video or listening to audio in “real-time”, as it’s sent to you, rather than downloading first.

A powerful computer that stores websites and apps, “serves them up” to client devices upon request.

Connects multiple wired devices on a network so they can talk to each other.

Defines which part of an IP address identifies the network and which part identifies the device.

Unsolicited bulk messages, usually email. Most inboxes filter spam out automatically.

Malware that spies on your computer activity, collecting personal data to send to hackers.

Exploiting human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. Phishing is a prime example.

Adding random data to a hash to make it harder to crack. A pinch of salt keeps your hash secure!

Playing media in real-time as it’s sent over the internet. Services like Spotify and Netflix use streaming.

Audio from multiple speakers positioned around you. 5.1, 7.1, Dolby Atmos are popular setups.

A normal account for day-to-day use. Can’t accidentally (or purposely!) mess up the system.

Structured Query Language. The programming language most databases use for managing data. Pronounced “sequel”.

Viruses and their nasty friends can throw a real wrench in the works. Run a full system scan just to be safe.

A stripped-down Windows environment for troubleshooting issues. Hold Shift while clicking Restart.

Rolls Windows back to a previous state without affecting your files. A great “oops” button.

I know I sound like a broken record, but seriously. Update. Your. Software. Automatically if possible.

A handy utility for capturing screenshots. Way easier than the old Print Screen dance.

Drag a window to the side of the screen to “snap” it there. Drag windows to corners to snap them to quarters. Mmm, satisfying.

A faster, pricier type of storage that makes your computer boot up and load programs much quicker.

For pumping out audio, obviously. A good set of headphones can really up your jam sessions.

That little area, usually bottom-right on Windows, that holds status icons and background apps.

Properly powers down the computer, saving data and closing programs first.

A low-power state that quickly resumes where you left off. Ideal for taking breaks.

A small file that just points to another file, folder, or program. Handy for quick access.

Program files your OS needs to function. Best not to tinker with these.

Data organized into a grid of cells. Microsoft Excel’s XLSX is a de facto standard.