How Does the Internet Work? A Basic Introduction to the Worlds Biggest Computer Network.

How Does the Internet Work?

A Basic Introduction to the Worlds Biggest Computer Network

Aims of this Session

What is the Internet?How does the Internet work?How do I connect to the Internet?What happens when I connect?What do I need to do to safeguard myself and my computer?Where can I get more help?

How did it all Start?Grew out of an experiment begun in the 1960's by the U.S. Department of DefenceThe Web physically consists of your personal computer, web browser software, a connection to an Internet service provider, computers called servers that host digital data and routers to direct the flow of information.

Some Internet Facts

In North America and Europe 1 in 6 people use the Internet About 20 million households shop onlineOver 100 million domains registered to date and risingIts still only 1% of the worlds total population that own a computer!

How does it all work?

Telephone number0845 123456

Username and Password

Your Computer Your InternetService Provider

(ISP)

How does it all work?

ComputersAn Internet

Service Provider(ISP)

Computers

Part of the World Wide Web

Your Computer

The World Wide Web

Connecting Computers

Each computer on the Net is connected via a network of cablesYour computer connects to that network using an ISPWhen you connect you are given an IP address (172.16.24.10)

Hyper Text (HTML)

The glue that holds the Web together is called hypertext and hyperlinks. This feature allows electronic files on the Web to be linked so that you can easily jump between them

Domain Names

Domain Names are the familiar, easy to remember names for computers on the Internet (such as jubileecentre.net).They correspond to a series of numbers (called Internet Protocol numbers or IP addresses)

Computer Names & IP Addresses

Computer names (domain names) are resolved to IP addressesA huge database (the biggest in the world!) matches names to numbers

Demonstration of Superscan & Neotrace (see http://www.neotrace.com )

Demonstration of Superscan & Neotrace (Visual Trace)

What is a Domain Name?http://www.ianmayer.com/christmas/index.html

http:// short for Hypertext Transfer Protocolwww. is a page on the World Wide Web ianmayer.com is the domain namechristmas is the directory or folderindex.html is the name of the web page

Finding a Web Page?

What can you Access?

Pages of informationMusicPicturesVideoFilesProgramsIn fact anything that can be stored on a computer!

Caution

Because you are connected to a world wide network and you can access many resources - it make sense that others may also be able to access your information!Consider protection against misuseConsider creating policies

The Firewall

A firewall ISOLATES your computer from the Internet using a "wall of code" that inspects each individual "packet" of data as it arrives at either side of the firewall - inbound to or outbound from your computer - to determine whether it should be allowed to pass or be blocked.

What is a Firewall?

A firewall ISOLATES your computer from the InternetIt can be software or hardware

You need a Firewall if:

Your computer's files need to be accessed remotely across the Internet. You are operating any sort of Internet server such as Personal Web Server. You use any sort of Internet-based remote control or remote access programYou want to properly and safely monitor your Internet connection for intrusion attempts.

What is a Virus Scanner?

A virus scanner protects your computer from malicious files It is software that checks each file for any hidden dangers!

Virus ProtectionInstall a good programmeUpdate it regularlyAlways Scan attachments to emailsDon’t introduce any file to your system without checking it firstKeep backups of critical files

Policies and Procedures

Strategic planning of Information Technology (IT) must be aligned with the strategic corporate planning of the organisationHealth & Safety, Data Protection, Security, Support, Training, Purchasing, Backup, Internet & Email use etc. etc.

Further Training Available

Visit: www.idea.org.uk/goEmail:idea-support@mcr1.poptel.org.uk Tel: 0161 247 6172Advanced Internet, HTML Training and Real-time CommunicationsFree, self paced and on-lineYou will need to register with MIID first