Glossary

ARCHIVED 2023-01-27, DATE APPROXIMATE · VERSION 20230127_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20221022_rev01

Full text changes — 20221022_rev01 to 20230127_rev01

COLOUR MARKS THE SEVERITY OF A FLAGGED CLAUSE · + AND − MARK ADDED AND REMOVED

 ## A
 Ad blocker
+An ad blocker is a piece of software-often a browser extension-that blocks ads on Web pages, videos, streams, podcasts, or apps. Ad blockers often improve your browsing experience, but can bring security risks.
+Third-party ads are annoying. But they also go hand-in-hand with trackers, working together to secretly collect your browsing and search data. This data is then sold to third-party advertisers, leading to ad retargeting, privacy and security risk, slow-downs in page load, battery drain, mobile data burn, and more. Extension-based ad blockers bring their own set of risks. Brave's ad-block feature-Brave Shields-is built right into the browser, and blocks third-party ads and trackers by default.
 AMP
 AMP is a non-standard form of HTML developed and pushed by Google. AMP pages look like they're coming from the original publisher's site, but in fact are cached versions of these pages that live on Google's servers. This makes AMP harmful to privacy, security, and the openness of the Web. AMP pages are often slower than the original publisher versions, too.
 Anonymity
 Big tech generally refers to any large technology company that makes widely-used software and hardware.
 Bounce Tracking
 Bounce tracking (aka "redirect tracking") is when a tracker can know you and / or your interests by inserting an intermediary link between pages you visit. For example, if you're on dogs.com and you click a link to cats.com, you might briefly be taken to tracker.com first. The tracker could learn you like cats and dogs, and use this data to sell targeted ads. (Note this intermediate bounce to tracker.com will happen so quickly you won't notice, unless you're closely watching the address bar.)
+Browser
+[Browser](https://brave.com/glossary/browser/)
+A browser is a mobile or desktop app you can use to browse the Web. The browser "calls" the server on which a website is hosted, and then renders that site for you in an intelligible way. Note that a browser is different than a search engine.
+A browser (or Web browser) is an app for your computer, tablet, or smartphone that lets you look at and interact with websites. The browser "calls" the server on which a website is hosted, and then renders that site for you in an intelligible way. Note that a browser is different than a search engine.
 ## C
+Cache
+[Cache](https://brave.com/glossary/cache/)
+Cache (or caching) is the storage of data to prevent the need for future requests. Caching means your browser stores some data about previously visited websites so those sites / pages load faster the next time you visit.
+Cache (also known as "browser cache" or "Web cache") is a temporary storage area on your device that holds copies of frequently accessed webpages, images, and other online content. Allowing your browser to store some data about previously visited websites prevents the need for future requests, and helps those sites / pages load faster the next time you visit.
 Client
 A client is the hardware or software that accesses a service on a server. Your phone, tablet, or computer-and in some cases the software on those devices, like your browser-will be considered a client.
+Cookie
+[Cookie](https://brave.com/glossary/cookie/)
+A cookie is a snippet of data that a website (the server) places on your device (the client). In some cases these are benign, and required for the site or app to function (e.g. to know you put an item in a shopping cart). In other cases, cookies can be used to track your browsing activity, search history, and to follow you across the Web. Note that the term "cookie" is used in two different ways: to describe a specific way of setting values on browsers; and as a general term for all ways sites can store values on clients.
+A cookie is a small piece of data that a website (the server) places on your device (the client). The exact meaning of cookie contents is specific to each website. In some cases these are benign, and required for the site or app to function (e.g. to know you put an item in a shopping cart). In other cases, cookies can be used to track your browsing activity, search history, and to follow you across the Web. Note that the term "cookie" is used in two different ways: to describe a specific way of setting values on browsers; and as a general term for all ways sites can store values on clients.
 ## E
+Encryption
+[Encryption](https://brave.com/glossary/encryption/)
+Encryption is a cryptography term that means a message or data is indecipherable to outside observers. In Web browsing, this can mean data is unreadable as it moves across the internet. If the data is also only readable by the site or app you want to view, it would be "end-to-end" (E2E) encrypted. Note that E2E encryption has very specific technical requirements, and most services that claim to offer it actually don't. Also note that in some cases the parties on the website you're viewing can see your message content (e.g. Facebook can see what you post in the WhatsApp client).
+Encryption is a cryptography term that means a message or data is indecipherable to outside observers. In Web browsing, this can mean data is unreadable as it moves across the Internet. If the data is also only readable by the site or app you want to view, it would be "end-to-end" (E2E) encrypted. Note that E2E encryption has very specific technical requirements, and most services that claim to offer it actually don't. Also note that in some cases the parties on the website you're viewing can see your message content (e.g. Facebook can see what you post in the WhatsApp client).
+Extension
+[Extension](https://brave.com/glossary/extension/)
+An extension is a small software module that can be downloaded and added to a Web browser to augment it's out-of-the-box functionality. Common browser extensions include ad blockers, spell-checkers, dark-mode / visual altering tools, and crypto wallets. Extensions are usually made by third parties (i.e. not the browser), and not always policed or vetted for security / privacy risks.
+A browser extension (usually just "extension") is a mini-app that can be downloaded and added to a Web browser to augment it's out-of-the-box functionality or to add a new feature. Common browser extensions include ad blockers, spell-checkers, dark-mode / visual altering tools, and crypto wallets. Extensions are usually made by third parties (i.e. not the browser), and not always policed or vetted for security / privacy risks.
 ## F
 Filter lists
 A filter list is a list of ads, trackers, pop-ups, cookie consent notifications, or other website annoyances that people often prefer to block. Filter lists are commonly applied by ad blockers (either extension-based or browser-native options) to shield you from these annoyances.
 First-party ad
 A first-party ad is an ad served directly from the website you're visiting, or the browser you're using to visit that site. With a third-party ad, by contrast, the ad comes from a different website than the one you're visiting. First-party ads are generally more secure and private, and present less risk of tracking or data collection.
 ## H
+HTML
+[HTML](https://brave.com/glossary/html/)
+HTML is short for HyperText Markup Language, the standard coding (or "markup") language used to build pages that render in a Web browser. Your browser displays the HTML in an intelligible way with words, images, and formatting.
+HTML (short for "HyperText Markup Language") is a system of special notations that specify what a webpage should look like and how it should work. HTML is how webpages-including their text, images, tables, links, forms, and so on-are transmitted over the Internet to your device. HTML is the standard coding (or "markup") language used to build pages that render in a Web browser.
 HTTPS
 HTTPS is short for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure, a protocol for secure communication on the Web. HTTPS is an extension of the core HTTP standard, and generally protects data in transit between the server (where a website or app "lives") and the client (phone or computer) you're browsing from. Some browsers now automatically upgrade sites to HTTPS, or will warn you if HTTPS isn't available; sites where HTTPS is not available should be visited with caution.
 ## I
 Phishing refers to sending fraudulent communications that appear authentic to trick users into submitting personal information or installing malware. Phishing often takes place via email, with the sender pretending to be a well known person or company. Phishing messages typically invoke a sense of urgency or panic, and compel readers to take immediate action-often clicking a link or navigating to a fake version of a website.
 Privacy
 In the context of computing, privacy refers to keeping personal, financial, and browsing data free from observation and not letting unauthorized parties access it. Protecting one's privacy when browsing the Web entails blocking trackers, blocking or partitioning third-party cookies, and blocking fingerprinting and other means of identifying a person and monitoring their online activity.
+Private (incognito) window
+[Private (incognito) window](https://brave.com/glossary/private-incognito-window/)
+A private window is a Web browser window that deletes temporary files (like cookies, browsing activity, and form data) when the window is closed. Some types of private windows may also use an ad-blocker to stop harmful scripts, ads, and trackers from loading, but many don't. When using a private window, your activity is still visible to parties like network administrators, governments, or your ISP.
+A private window (or incognito window), is a browser window that forgets everything you did in it when you close it. Different browsers use different names for the same feature. Brave, Safari, and Firefox use "private window," while Chrome uses "incognito window" and Edge uses "InPrivate window." Note that this "forgetting" only refers to data stored on your device.
 ## R
 Randomness
 Randomness is the quality of lacking organization or structure, or otherwise being unpredictable. In the context of digital security, randomness plays an important role in cryptography and encryption-often used to generate random strings of characters and numbers known as "keys."
 Retargeting
 With regard to online advertising, retargeting is when users of a site or app are contacted via ads or emails to revisit the site or app, often to complete a purchase, or otherwise complete the conversion process. An example of retargeting is receiving an ad for a product you left in your shopping cart on a site. Retargeting often relies on cookies installed on a user's device to work effectively.
 ## S
+Safe browsing
+[Safe Browsing](https://brave.com/glossary/safe-browsing/)
+Safe browsing is a Google Service that warns users about fraudulent or malicious websites when a user attempts to visit them.
+Safe Browsing is a service, run by Google, that catalogs fraudulent or malicious websites. It's integrated into several major browsers-including Brave, Chrome, Safari, and Firefox-so that they can warn you if you're about to visit such a site. Edge uses a similar (though slightly different) service that's run by Microsoft.
 Search engine
 A search engine is a type of software that enables users to search for content on the Web. Search engines produce results in the form of links to Web pages, images, videos, and more. Most web browsers have address bars that can both navigate to specific URLs, and carry out Web searches.
 Security
 Tracker
 A tracker is a piece of technology that is inserted into the code of a website you visit in order to record your on-site activity. Trackers collect info like site visits, searches, and clicks as you browse.
 ## U
+URL
+[URL](https://brave.com/glossary/url/)
+Uniform resource locator (URL) is the technical term for a Web address (like https://www.brave.com/glossary). A URL specifies the location of a resource on the Web, like a website, and provides a method for reaching it. When browsing the Web, URLs appear in the address bar of your browser.
+A URL (short for Uniform Resource Locator) is a string of letters, numbers, and special characters that identifies a place on the Internet, such as a website, and provides a method for reaching it. When browsing the Web, URLs appear in the address bar of your browser, as with `https://www.brave.com/glossary`. For this reason URLs are sometimes called "addresses."
 ## V
 VPN
 A virtual private network (VPN) enables data to be sent over the Internet through an encrypted channel (or "tunnel") for extra privacy and security. VPNs can be used to remotely access private networks, or to shield personal info (like your IP address).