Access control list (ACL) - A list that contain permissions defining who or what can access the object to which it is applied.
ActiveX - A technology developed by Microsoft that allows Web developers to make Web pages interactive and provide the same types of functions as Java applets.
Ad hoc wireless network - An 802.11 wi-fi network that operates in a computer-to-computer manner instead of going through a wireless access point (WAP).
Administrator – It is a type of Vista user with all privileges to operate, maintain, install/uninstall, monitoring and modify the Vista system and all applications. This type of user can also add, remove and modify other users.
Admin Approval Mode - A default setting in which Vista runs most applications with standard user permission even when logged on with an administrative account.
Aero - The new user interface for Windows Vista, except for the Start and Home Basic editions.
Aero Glass – A user interface in Vista that Provides 3-D animation, transparency, and other visual effects and requires a higher level of system resources and a DirectX 9-capable video card.
Anti-spyware - Software that detects known or potential spyware on a computer, alert the user, and/or remove or quarantine the spyware. Avalon - See "Windows Presentation Foundation" (WPF).
Backup and Restore Center – The Vista interface for tools used to perform backup and recovery of the system and data.
Bcdedit - A command-line tool in Windows Vista for creating and reconfiguring the bootloader, which no longer uses the boot.ini file.
BitLocker - A security feature in the Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista that provides encryption of the entire operating system volume using a TPM chip or a USB key.
Custom Scan - A Defender option that scans only those locations you specify.
Defender- See Windows Defender Desktop Search - A feature built into Windows Vista with which you can search for files by name (or partial name), date, author, and many other properties, directly from the Start menu.
Desktop Windows Manager (DWM) - A windowing system in Windows Vista editions (all except Starter and Home Basic) that support Aero, which handles drawing of content to the screen.
Elevated privilege – When a user account has privileges greater than its normal user privileges, which are temporarily authorized by system admin.
Encrypting File System (EFS) - An encryption method based on digital certificates, which allows users to protect the confidentiality of their data on a per-file or per-folder basis.
Exceptions - In the Windows firewall, programs, services, or ports you unblock so its packets can go through.
File/registry virtualization - A new feature that gives an application its own virtualized view of a resource it is attempting to modify.
Firewall profiles – It refers to different firewall configurations for different situations.
Flip/Flip 3D - The new window management feature in Windows Vista that allows you to flip through thumbnails of open windows using [Alt][Tab].
Full Scan - A Defender option that scans the entire computer.
Heuristics - In the Defender context, a method of determining what programs are likely to be spyware based on their behavior and patterns before they have been identified by definitions.
Internet Explorer 7 - The Web browser included in Windows Vista, which provides tabbed browsing, new security mechanisms, and other enhancements.
Internet Explorer Protected Mode - A new mode of operation for IE 7 in Windows Vista that utilizes Vista's User Account Control (UAC) to isolate IE from other applications and prevent add-ons from writing content to any location except the Temporary Internet Files folder without user permission.
Internet Information Services (IIS) - Web server software built into Windows Vista, which has been rewritten with a modular architecture and stores Web server configuration information in XML files instead of the metabase.
IPSec - Internet Protocol Security, a standard to provide authentication, integrity, and confidentiality at the network layer to packets while traveling across an IP network.
IPv6 - The next generation of the Internet Protocol (IP) that forms the Network Layer component of the TCP/IP protocol suite, which is supported by Windows Vista.
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) - a standardized interface into which you can plug snap-ins to perform different administrative tasks.
Network Access Protection (NAP) - A client feature supported by Windows Vista that provides for monitoring and isolation of computers on a Longhorn server-based network that do not meet administrator-defined health status requirements.
Network Center - A Control Panel applet in Windows Vista through which users can see the status of their network connections and make configuration changes.
Network Explorer - This replaces Windows XP's My Network Places; it's an interface through which users browse the network in Windows Vista.
Network Map - A new feature in Windows Vista that graphically represents how devices are connected on the network.
Network projector - Projectors connected to the local network, which can be discovered by Vista via search or by entering the projector's URL or UNC name and accessed over the network.
NTLM - NT LAN Manager authentication based on a challenge/response process between the client and server. Supported by Windows NT and later Microsoft operating systems.NTLMv2 is a cryptographically stronger version.
Over-the-Shoulder Credentials (OTS) – A feature in Vista wherein a user is treated as a standard user until he needs to perform a task that requires elevated privilege. Then the user is promoted to enter the credentials to the account that has such privilege to perform the task.
Parental controls - A feature in Windows Vista that allows parents to more easily monitor and manage children's computer usage on family computers.
People Near Me - Windows Vista service for allowing applications to discover other Vista users on the local subnet.
Phishing - A type of technology-based social engineering ploy in which computers users are directed, usually via e-mail, to a Web site that purports to be that of a bank, credit card company, e-commerce merchant, governmental agency, etc. that requires users to enter confidential information.
Phishing Filter - A feature in Internet Explorer 7 that warns users about potentially fraudulent Web sites and blocks such sites.
Piggybacking - A method used by viruses and other malicious software that exploits a legitimate account or process and runs with the same level of privileges.
Previous Versions - A tab in the Properties sheet for files in Windows Vista that lets you access read-only snapshots of the files from an earlier point in time.
Principle of least privilege - A security model under which all accounts run with the lowest possible level of privileges that will allow them to do their jobs.
Quick Scan - A Defender option that scans only locations commonly infected by spyware.
ReadyBoost - A new disk caching technology in Windows Vista by which computers can utilize the memory on a USB 2.0 flash memory device or card with 256MB to 4 GB of memory, or extra RAM on other networked PCs, to enhance system performance.
Real-time protection - A Defender feature that alerts you immediately when suspected spyware attempts to install itself or run.
Remote Assistance (RA) - An application enables experienced users or help desk personnel to see and control the desktop of a novice user's computer from a remote location to help troubleshoot problems or demonstrate how to perform tasks.
Restricted services - Services that run under lower privileges.
Right Management Service (RMS) - A feature in Vista to encrypt confidential documentation with policies.
Scripting - Use of a simplified programming language (calling scripting language) to create a set of instructions for a Web page.
Search Folders - A new tool in Windows Vista that allows you to save search criteria so it can be used again to run the same search, displaying updated information.
Secure Desktop - The darkened desktop that appears when the UAC dialog box is open, indicating that the desktop is locked and can't be interacted with.
Security agents - In the Defender context, software that monitors specific files, programs, or settings for indications of spyware infection.
Security Identifier (SID) - A unique value assigned to an object by which it is identified. Security zones - A technique used in IE to allow you to assign different levels of security to different sets of Web sites depending on where they're located or how much you trust them.
Service Control Manager (SCM) - The Windows component that maintains a database of installed services and manages each service's state.
Service isolation - A Vista security mechanism enabling services to isolate themselves from other services.
Services - Programs that are managed in Windows by the Service Control Manager (SCM).
Session 0 isolation - A Vista security mechanism that prevents user accounts and user applications from running in session 0, reserving it for services and other applications not associated with a user logon.
Shield icon - A symbol indicating that the operation performed by clicking a button marked with this icon requires administrative privileges.
Sidebar - An area on the Vista desktop that contains the user's choice of "gadgets," such as clocks, memory/CPU monitoring meters, calendars, weather information applets, dictionaries, and slideshows.
SideShow - Technology in Windows Vista that allows hardware vendors to put a small secondary display in the cover of a portable computer, on a Media Center remote control, in a keyboard, etc., to view critical information such as e-mail without opening or turning on the computer.
Snipping Tool - A new screen capture application in Windows Vista that allows you to take screenshots of areas you define and mark on or to highlight them, save them, copy them, or send them in e-mail.
Speech Recognition - Now integrated into the operating system in Windows Vista, it allows users to control the computer through voice commands and dictate into some applications.
SpyNet - The Microsoft online community that shares information about spyware and potential spyware to Certification authority (CA); a trusted third-party that issues digital certificates to verify the identity of users and computers.
Spyware - Malicious software that is installed without the knowledge or permission of the user and that collects information about the user or computer and may send it back to the spyware maker.
SSL/TLS - Transport Layer Security (TLS) uses public key (asymmetric) encryption and digital certificates to assure users that the Web servers with which they're doing business have had their identity verified (authentication) and symmetric encryption, such as DES/3DES or AES, to encrypt traffic.
Standard user – A type of users in Vista, who can run applications and use the system in daily basis, but can not install new applications and perform other tasks that requires admin privileges.
Stateful packet filtering - The process of allowing or blocking data packets based on the contents of a "state table" that is maintained by a firewall.
Sync Center - A new Control Panel applet in Windows Vista that provides a centralized interface for managing synchronization tasks.
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) - A chip on the motherboard of some computers that can be used in conjunction with Vista's BitLocker feature to provide whole volume encryption.
User Account Control (UAC) - A security technology in Windows Vista that reduces exposure to attacks by running in nonadministrative mode, even when logged on with an administrative account, unless and until administrative privileges are required to perform a task. Users must give explicit permission to elevate to administrative mode and enter administrative credentials.
Web Filter – A feature in the Vista Parental Control that allows user to block access to a specific web site or specific types of web content.
Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) - the graphics driver model supported by Windows Vista that's required for display of the full Aero Glass effects.
Windows Calendar - An application built into Windows Vista that provides some of the same functionality as Outlook's calendaring feature and supports the iCalendar format. It also allows sharing and publishing of calendars.
Windows Contacts - The new personal information management (PIM) application built into Windows Vista that replaces the Windows Address Book (WAB); it's based on XML files.
Windows Easy Transfer - A feature in Windows Vista for migrating settings from a Windows 2000 or XP computer to a Windows Vista computer, accessed from the Accessories | System Tools menu.
Windows Defender - An anti-spyware solution built into Windows Vista and configurable through the Control Panel applet or Security Center.
Windows DVD Maker - A new application included in premium editions of Vista for creating/burning DVDs.
Windows Experience Index - A benchmarking tool built into Vista that analyzes various subsystems and reports on performance in comparison to other Windows Vista systems.
Windows Firewall – A personal firewall included in Windows Vista.
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security - A feature in Windows Vista that extends the basic built-in firewall to provide for blocking of both inbound and outbound connections and configuration of separate domain, private network, and public network profiles. Windows Imaging Format (WIM) - A file-based disk image format supported by Windows Vista.
Windows Mail - The e-mail client included in Windows Vista, which replaces Outlook Express and stores messages as individual files instead of in a binary database for better searching and less chance of corruption.
Windows Media Center - An application included in Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate editions, previously available in Media Center Edition of Windows XP, for organizing and playing music, videos, and recorded television programs. It has digital video recorder (DVR) functionality on computers that have TV tuner cards installed.
Windows Meeting Space - A peer-to-peer networking application built into Windows Vista for sharing desktop, programs, files, notes, and presentations among up to 10 users. It replaces Microsoft NetMeeting.
Windows Mobility Center - A new Control Panel applet in Windows Vista that provides a central interface for configuration information relating to mobile computers; included in Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions.
Windows Photo Gallery - A new application in Windows Vista manages graphics and videos, imports from digital cameras, and allows for basic image editing.
Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows P.E.) - The basis of the Vista setup process, which runs the entire setup in a graphical interface, doing away with the initial text-based portion of setup used by previous operating systems.
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) - The programming interface for creating applications integrated into the Vista core functions, which was code named Avalon.
Windows Security Center (WSC) – A central interface in the Windows Vista system for user to manage security features and handle security problems. Windows Service Hardening - A new security feature in Windows Vista that protects services from being compromised by running them under more limited accounts.