Reference
Web3 & Linux Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the Web3, blockchain, security, and Linux terms used across this site — each one linked to the full guide where it's covered in depth.
28 terms
A
Advanced Protection Program
Google's strongest account-security tier. It enforces sign-in with security keys or passkeys, blocks unverified third-party apps, and deep-scans every Chrome download.
Read the full guideapt
The package manager at the core of Debian and Ubuntu. `apt update` refreshes the list of available software; `apt upgrade` installs the newer versions.
Read the full guideD
Debian
One of the oldest and most influential Linux distributions, and the foundation Ubuntu is built on. Its Live images can even run from a USB with persistent storage.
Read the full guideDiskPart
Windows' built-in command-line tool for wiping, partitioning, and formatting drives. It never asks for confirmation, so always verify the disk number with `list disk` first.
Read the full guideDocker
A container platform that packages an application together with its dependencies so it runs identically on any machine. Containers isolate software from the host system.
Read the full guideDocker Compose
A Docker companion tool for defining whole multi-container applications in a single YAML file — one `docker compose up` starts the entire stack.
Read the full guideE
Ethereum
The largest smart-contract blockchain. Running your own node means you verify transactions yourself instead of trusting someone else's RPC endpoint.
Read the full guideeVTOL
Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft — the "flying car" category. These aircraft take off and land like drones, then cruise forward like small planes.
Read the full guideext4
The standard, most reliable filesystem for Linux drives. On SSDs, pair it with TRIM and the `noatime` mount option to keep the drive fast and healthy.
Read the full guideG
Geth
Go-Ethereum, the most widely used Ethereum client. It ships as the `ethereum/client-go` Docker image, so a full node is one `docker run` away.
Read the full guideGitHub Pages
Free static website hosting served straight from a GitHub repository on a global CDN. Any repo of plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can be live in minutes.
Read the full guideGPT
GUID Partition Table — the modern disk-partitioning standard. It is required for UEFI booting and for drives larger than 2TB.
Read the full guideH
Have I Been Pwned
A free database where you can check whether your email address has appeared in a known data breach. Its Domain Search tool watches every address on a company domain.
Read the full guideI
IceRiver KS3M
A Kaspa ASIC miner that pulls roughly 3200W at 180–285V AC. On US 110–120V power, it needs a copper-coil step-up transformer on its own dedicated circuit.
Read the full guideK
Kali Linux
The security-testing Linux distribution, loaded with tools like nmap, Wireshark, and Metasploit. It runs on bare metal, in VMs, or inside WSL2 with the Win-KeX GUI.
Read the full guideKaspa
A proof-of-work blockchain built on the GHOSTDAG protocol, which lets blocks be mined in parallel instead of one at a time. The Rust node (kaspad) runs it.
Read the full guideM
Monero
The privacy-focused cryptocurrency with untraceable transactions. Its CLI wallet, `monero-wallet-cli`, sends funds straight from the terminal with a simple `transfer` command.
Read the full guideS
Shodan
A search engine for internet-connected devices — webcams, routers, servers, and control systems. Security pros use it to see exactly what a network exposes publicly.
Read the full guideSmart Contract
A program deployed to a blockchain that runs exactly as written, with no owner able to change it after deployment. Reads are free; writes are transactions that cost gas.
Read the full guideSnap
Ubuntu's containerized package format. Snaps update in the background, so refreshing a stubborn snap like the Snap Store means stopping its processes first.
Read the full guideStratum Bridge
Software that translates between a mining pool's Stratum protocol and your own node, letting ASIC miners point directly at your Kaspa setup instead of a public pool.
Read the full guidesystemd
The service and init manager on modern Linux distributions. `systemctl restart` (or `start` and `stop`) is how you control nearly everything the system runs.
Read the full guideT
TailsOS
The amnesic privacy operating system that routes all traffic through Tor and leaves no trace on the host machine. Encrypted persistent storage lets chosen files survive reboots.
Read the full guideTTY
A text-only virtual console on a Linux desktop. When the GUI freezes, Ctrl+Alt+F3 drops you into one with full command-line access to fix things.
Read the full guideU
UEFI
The modern firmware standard that replaced the BIOS. It boots from GPT-partitioned disks and requires a small FAT32 EFI System Partition.
Read the full guideW
Win-KeX
The Kali Desktop Experience for Windows — `kex --win` opens a full Kali Linux GUI window from inside WSL2, no dual boot needed.
Read the full guideX
X Server
The program that draws the Linux graphical desktop. When the GUI hangs, restarting the display manager with `systemctl restart display-manager` usually revives it.
Read the full guideXDG
The freedesktop standard that defines Linux default folders like Downloads and Documents. `xdg-user-dirs-update --set` moves them to any drive you choose.
Read the full guide