Excellence College of Sciences

BS COMPUTER

Topic # 11
What is the Internet?
Internet is a global network that connects billions of computers across the world
with each other and to the World Wide Web. It uses standard internet protocol
suite (TCP/IP) to connect billions of computer users worldwide. It is set up by
using cables such as optical fibers and other wireless and networking
technologies.
Why is the Internet Called a Network?
Internet is called a network as it creates a network by connecting computers and
servers across the world using routers, switches and telephone lines, and other
communication devices and channels. So, it can be considered a global network
of physical cables such as copper telephone wires, fiber optic cables, tv cables,
etc. Furthermore, even wireless connections like 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi make use of
these cables to access the Internet.
Internet is different from the World Wide Web as the World Wide Web is a
network of computers and servers created by connecting them through the
internet. So, the internet is the backbone of the web as it provides the technical
infrastructure to establish the WWW and acts as a medium to transmit
information from one computer to another computer. It uses web browsers to
display the information on the client, which it fetches from web servers.
Features of Internet
Accessibility: An Internet is a global service and accessible to all. Today,
people located in a remote part of an island or interior of Africa can also use
Internet.
Easy to Use: The software, which is used to access the Internet (web browser),
is designed very simple; therefore, it can be easily learned and used. It is easy to
develop.
Interaction with Other Media: Internet service has a high degree of
interaction with other media. For example, News and other magazine,
publishing houses have extended their business with the help of Internet
services.
Low Cost: The development and maintenance cost of Internet service are
comparatively low.
Extension of Existing IT Technology: This facilitates the sharing of IT
technology by multiple users in organizations and even facilitates other trading
partners to use.
Flexibility of Communication: Communication through Internet is flexible
enough. It facilitates communication through text, voice, and video too. These
services can be availed at both organizational and individual levels.

Internet Software
Internet Software comprises of all the tools needed for networking through
computer. Following are a few important components of the Internet Software −
 Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
 Dialer Software
 Interment Browser
Internet Applications
Internet applications are server-based applications. Following are a few Internet
Applications −
 World Wide Web (WWW)
 Electronic mail (e-mail)
 File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
 Telnet (i.e., log-in to the computer located remotely)
 Internet Relay Chat (IRC) (Real time video chatting)
Uses of the Internet
Some of the important usages of the internet are:
 Online Businesses (E-commerce): Online shopping websites have
made our life easier, e-commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart, and
Myntra are providing very spectacular services with just one click
and this is a great use of the Internet.
 Cashless Transactions: All the merchandising companies are
offering services to their customers to pay the bills of the products
online via various digital payment apps like Paytm, Google Pay, etc.
UPI payment gateway is also increasing day by day. Digital payment
industries are growing at a rate of 50% every year too because of the
INTERNET.
 Education: It is the internet facility that provides a whole bunch of
educational material to everyone through any server across the web.
Those who are unable to attend physical classes can choose any
course from the internet and can have point-to-point knowledge of it
just by sitting at home. High-class faculties are teaching online on
digital platforms and providing quality education to students with the
help of the Internet.
 Social Networking: The purpose of social networking sites and apps
is to connect people all over the world. With the help of social
networking sites, we can talk, and share videos, and images with our
loved ones when they are far away from us. Also, we can create
groups for discussion or for meetings.
  Entertainment: The Internet is also used for entertainment. There
are numerous entertainment options available on the internet like
watching movies, playing games, listening to music, etc. You can
also download movies, games, songs, TV Serial, etc., easily from the
internet.

TOPIC # 12:

What is email?
Electronic mail, commonly shortened to “email,” is a communication method
that uses electronic devices to deliver messages across computer networks.
"Email" refers to both the delivery system and individual messages that are sent
and received.
Today, email is one of the most popular methods of digital communication. Its
prevalence and security vulnerabilities also make it an appealing vehicle for
cyber attacks like phishing, domain spoofing, and business email compromise
(BEC).
How does email work?
Email messages are sent from software programs and web browsers,
collectively referred to as email ‘clients.’ Individual messages are routed
through multiple servers before they reach the recipient’s email server, similar
to the way a traditional letter might travel through several post offices before it
reaches its recipient’s mailbox.
Once an email message has been sent, it follows several steps to its final
destination:
1. The sender’s mail server, also called a Mail Transfer Agent (MTA),
initiates a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) connection.
2. The SMTP checks the email envelope data — the text that tells the
server where to send a message — for the recipient’s email address,
then uses the Domain Name System (DNS) to translate the domain
name into an IP address.
3. The SMTP looks for a mail exchange (MX) server associated with
the recipient’s domain name. If one exists, the email is forwarded to
the recipient’s mail server.
4. The email is stored on the recipient’s mail server and may be
accessed via the Post Office Protocol (POP)* or Internet Message
Access Protocol (IMAP). These two protocols function slightly
differently: POP downloads the email to the recipient’s device and
deletes it from the mail server, while IMAP stores the email within
 the email client, allowing the recipient to access it from any
connected device.

What are the parts of an email?

An individual email is made up of three primary components: the SMTP
envelope, the header, and the body.
SMTP envelope
The SMTP “envelope” is the data communicated between servers during
the email delivery process. It consists of the sender’s email address and
the recipient’s email address. This envelope data tells the mail server
where to send the message, just as a mail carrier references the address on
an envelope in order to deliver a letter to the correct location. During the
email delivery process, this envelope is discarded and replaced every time
the email is transferred to a different server.
Header
Like the SMTP envelope, the email header provides critical information
about the sender and recipient. Most of the time, the header matches the
information provided in the SMTP envelope, but this may not always be
the case.

The header may also contain a number of optional fields that allow the
recipient to reply to, forward, categorize, archive, or delete the email.
Other header fields include the following:

o The ‘Date’ field contains the date the email is sent. This is a
mandatory header field.
o The ‘From’ field contains the email address of the sender. If
the email address is associated with a display name, that may
be shown in this field as well. This is also a mandatory header
field.
o The ‘To’ field contains the email address of the recipient. If the
email address is associated with a display name, that may be
shown in this field as well.
 o The ‘Subject’ field contains any contextual information about
the message the sender wants to include. It is displayed as a
separate line above the body of an email.
o The ‘Cc’ (carbon copy) field allows the sender to send a copy
of the email to additional recipients. The recipients marked in
the ‘To’ field can see the email address(es) listed in the ‘Cc’
field.
o The ‘Bcc’ (blind carbon copy) field allows the sender to send
a copy of the email to additional recipients. The recipients
marked in the ‘To’ field cannot see the email address(es) listed
in the ‘Bcc’ field.
Body
The body of an email contains any information the sender wishes
to send: text, images, links, videos, and/or other file attachments,
provided that they do not exceed the email client’s size restrictions.
Alternatively, an email can be sent without any information in the
body field.

What is an email client?

An email client is a software program or web application* that enables users to
send, receive, and store emails. Popular email clients include Outlook, Gmail,
and Apple Mail.
What is an email address?
An email address is a unique string of characters that identifies an email
account, or ‘mailbox,’ where messages can be sent and received. Email
addresses are formatted in three distinct parts: a local-part, an “@” symbol, and
a domain.
For example, in the email address [email protected], “employee”
denotes the local-part and “example.com” denotes the domain.
Uses of email
The following are the most common use cases for email:
 Individual or group communications. Email is a beneficial way to
communicate with individuals or small groups of friends or
colleagues. It enables users to easily send and receive documents,
images, links and other files. It also gives users the flexibility to
communicate with others on their own schedule.
 Notifications, reminders and follow-ups. Individuals, small groups
or organizations can send follow-up emails after appointments,
 meetings or interviews, or to remind participants of approaching
events, due dates and time-sensitive activities.
 Conveying information to a large group of people. Companies can
use email to convey information to a large number of employees,
customers and potential customers. Email is frequently used for
newsletters, where mailing list subscribers are sent specific, promoted
content from a company and direct email marketing campaigns, where
an advertisement or promotion is sent to a targeted group of
customers.
 Turning leads into paying customers. Email can also be used to
make a potential sale into a completed purchase. For example, a
company may create an automated email that's sent to online buyers
who keep items in their shopping cart for a specific amount of time.
The email may remind the customer that they have products sitting in
their cart and encourage them to complete the purchase before the
items run out of stock.
 Reviews and surveys. Follow-up emails asking customers to submit a
review after making a purchase may include a survey asking them to
review the quality of service or the product they've recently received.
Advantages of email
Email is a fast, reliable and portable way of communicating with others. The
following are some common benefits of using email for both personal and
professional purposes:
 Cost-effectiveness. There are various free email services available to
individuals and organizations. Once a user is online, there are no
additional charges for the service.
 Flexibility. Email provides users with a nonurgent communication
process that enables them to send a response when it's convenient for
them. This also encourages users to communicate regardless of their
different schedules or time zones.
 Easy access. If the user has access to the internet, then email can be
accessed from anywhere at any time.
 Speed and simplicity. Emails are quick and easy to compose, with
information and contacts readily available. They can also be
exchanged quickly with minimal lag time.
 Mass delivery. Email makes it possible and easy to send one message
to large groups of people.
  Message filtering. Email enables users to filter and categorize their
messages. This can prevent the visibility of unwanted emails, such as
spam and junk mail, while also making it easier to find specific
messages when they're needed.
 Message storage and retrieval. Email exchanges can be saved and
searched for easy retrieval. This enables users to keep important
conversations, confirmations or instructions in their records and
quickly retrieve them if necessary.
TOPIC # 13:
IT Security & Other Issues:
IT security is a set of cybersecurity strategies that prevents unauthorized access
to organizational assets such as computers, networks, and data. It maintains the
integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information, blocking the access of
sophisticated hackers.
What is the difference between IT security and information
security (InfoSec)?
Although IT security and information security sound similar, they do refer to
different types of security. Information security refers to the processes and tools
designed to protect sensitive business information from invasion, whereas IT
security refers to securing digital data, through computer network security.
What are the threats to IT security?
Threats to IT security can come in different forms. A common threat is
malware, or malicious software, which may come in different variations to
infect network devices, including:
 Ransomware
 Spyware
 Viruses
These threats make it even more important to have reliable security practices in
place. Learn more about malware to stay protected.
Types of IT security
Network security: Network security is used to prevent unauthorized or
malicious users from getting inside your network. This ensures that usability,
reliability, and integrity are uncompromised. This type of security is necessary
to prevent a hacker from accessing data inside the network. It also prevents
them from negatively affecting your users’ ability to access or use the network.
Internet security: Internet security involves the protection of information that
is sent and received in browsers, as well as network security involving web-
based applications. These protections are designed to monitor incoming internet
traffic for malware as well as unwanted traffic. This protection may come in the
form of firewalls, antimalware, and antispyware.
Endpoint security: Endpoint security provides protection at the device level.
Devices that may be secured by endpoint security include cell phones, tablets,
laptops, and desktop computers. Endpoint security will prevent your devices
from accessing malicious networks that may be a threat to your organization.
Advance malware protection and device management software are examples of
endpoint security.
Cloud security: Applications, data, and identities are moving to the cloud,
meaning users are connecting directly to the Internet and are not protected by
the traditional security stack. Cloud security can help secure the usage of
software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications and the public cloud. A cloud-access
security broker (CASB), secure Internet gateway (SIG), and cloud-based unified
threat management (UTM) can be used for cloud security.
Application security: With application security, applications are specifically
coded at the time of their creation to be as secure as possible, to help ensure
they are not vulnerable to attacks. This added layer of security involves
evaluating the code of an app and identifying the vulnerabilities that may exist
within the software.
TOPIC # 14:
What is Ecommerce?
Ecommerce refers to when individuals or companies buy and sell goods or
services online. Ecommerce can take place within a company's smartphone app,
on a social media platform, or in an online marketplace. You can participate in
ecommerce anywhere you can establish an internet connection. Common
examples includes online shopping, electronic payments, online auctions, and
internet banking.

What is an ecommerce website?

An ecommerce website is your digital storefront on the internet. It facilitates the
transaction between a buyer and seller. It is the virtual space where you
showcase products, and online customers make selections. Your website acts as
the product shelves, sales staff, and cash register of your online business
channel.
Businesses might create a branded store experience on a store like Amazon,
build their own commerce site on a dedicated domain, or do it all for a multi-
channel approach.
What is an ecommerce business?
An ecommerce business is a company that generates revenue from selling
products or services online. For example, an ecommerce company might sell
software, apparel, housewares, or web design services. You can run an
ecommerce business from a single website or through multiple online channels
like social media and email.

How does ecommerce work?

Ecommerce works by connecting buyers and sellers using various electronic
channels. For example, you need a channel, such as a website or social media,
so customers can find products and services to purchase. Then a payment
processor enables the exchange of the goods or services. Once the transaction
succeeds, the customer receives a confirmation email or SMS, and a printable
receipt.
If the transaction is for goods, then the seller ships the items and sends the
customer a tracking number via email or SMS. If the transaction is for a service,
then the service provider can reach out to schedule and complete the service.

Steps to starting an ecommerce business

The steps to starting an ecommerce business can vary depending on factors like
what you want to sell. For example, if you're selling services, then there’s no
need to manage inventory or fulfillment. However, if you want to sell products
online, then inventory and fulfillment will likely play a critical part in your
operations.

Here are some steps you can follow to get started:

1. Research business ideas

2. Make sure there’s demand for the products you want to sell

3. Determine how you'll sell and ship products to customers

4. Find suppliers and manufacturers

5. Choose which online channels you'll sell through (e.g., an Amazon

store)

6. Create a website or online storefront and upload products

7. Create a plan for your fulfillment strategy

 8. Begin attracting customers with promotions

What are the types of ecommerce?

Ecommerce takes as many different forms as there are various ways to shop
online channels. A few common business models that shape the world of
ecommerce are:
 B2C – Businesses sell to individual consumers (end-users). The most
common model with many variations.
 B2B – Businesses sell to other businesses. Often the buyer resells
products to the consumer.
 C2B – Consumers sell to businesses. C2B businesses allow customers to
sell to other companies.
 C2C – Consumers sell to other consumers. Businesses create online
marketplaces that connect consumers.
 B2G – Businesses sell to governments or government agencies.
 C2G – Consumers sell to governments or government agencies.
 G2B – Governments or government agencies sell to businesses.
 G2C - Governments or government agencies sell to consumers.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of ecommerce?

Benefits of ecommerce
Conducting sales online has some significant advantages. Among the top
benefits, ecommerce:
 Is growing rapidly
 Offers global marketing reach
 Provides the ease of ordering products online
 Generally involves lower operating costs
 Gives direct-to-consumer access

Rapid growth
In 2021, U.S. small- and medium-sized businesses selling in the Amazon store
exported over 225 million products and international sales reached a
whopping $2 billion. Amazon shoppers purchased 3.9 billion products, roughly
7,500 items per minute.
Global marketing reach
In the past, a business’s reach was limited by the number of people able to
physically enter through a store’s front doors. Today, ecommerce allows you
to reach customers across the world. The rise in internet usage and the growth of
social media have made it easier for ecommerce business owners to reach a
diverse new mix of customers.
Ease of ordering products
With all the different types of ecommerce, customers can browse options and
make purchases from anywhere with just a few clicks. Amazon makes it easy to
sort and compare products by price or features. Online payment innovations
like Amazon Pay further streamline the checkout process.
Lower operating costs
Creating and maintaining a website is less expensive than running a traditional
brick-and-mortar store. You can start an ecommerce business channel without
leasing retail space, hiring a team of employees, or having a large warehouse.
Direct-to-consumer access
Because of the internet, ecommerce brands can directly build relationships with
their audiences. You don’t need to pay for a giant billboard or TV ad campaign
to capture your audience’s attention. You can tailor your brand and marketing to
fit customer wants and needs down to special offers and personalized product
recommendations.