S
scam: To con, cheat, trick, swindle, sting, or rip off others. Online
scams may take the form of deceptive e-mails or other communications
via instant messaging, blog comments, and so on, designed to part you
from your money or identity.
search engine: An Internet service that allows you to search for infor-
mation and documents on the Web.
smart phone: A handheld device that incorporates features of a mobile
phone, with PDA functions such as a calendar or contact database.
Smartphones allow you to install additional features.
SMS (Short Message Service): A form of text messaging used on cell
phones, sometimes used between computers and cell phones.
social networking: A category of Internet applications used to help
connect friends, business associates, or others using a variety of com-
munication tools.
spam: Unsolicited e-mail messages that attempt to sell you something.
Also known as junk e-mail.
spim: Spam sent via instant messages.
splog: Spam sent via blogs.
spyware: Software that collects information about you without your
knowledge or consent and sends it back to whoever wrote the spyware
program. Spyware might look for your bank account numbers, personal
information, and so on. Spyware is illegal and pervasive.
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM card): A small card used in most cell
phones that holds your identity, authentication, address book, and so on.
surfing: Similar to channel surfing on television, Internet surfing
involves users browsing around various Web sites, following whatever
interests them.
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