Guidelines set by employers:

 It is up to companies to decide if personal emails should be

permitted on their systems

 Companies may specify which company devices are allowed to be

used

 There needs to be a company standard style when sending emails

 It must be made clear what email content is not permitted

 Employees should be told only to use their accounts when sending

emails

 There must be clear rules regarding the confidentiality of

information

 Staff need to be aware of the method and duration of storing emails

 Incoming emails should only be read by the recipient

 Company policy on how to deal with and prevent viruses must be

laid out

 Monitoring of emails may be carried out, and staff must be aware

that the company has the right to read all emails

 Suitable ongoing training will take place to ensure staff follow

company policy at all times

Carbon Copies (Cc) and Blind Carbon Copies (Bcc)

 Carbon copies are used to send the email to multiple recipients.

 Blind carbon copies are made to send the email to multiple

recipients without them acknowledging that it has been sent to
other recipients.

 Forward enables users to send an already existing email to a new

recipient.

 To attach files to be sent with an email, we make use of

Attachments.

Spam

It is defined as any unwanted email delivered via the Internet. These can
range from annoying to genuinely harmful, as they may contain viruses.

The main disadvantages are:

 wasting time
  annoying people

 using up valuable bandwidth on the internet, thus slowing it down

 may have viruses or be a part of a phishing scam

 can take up significant space in user inboxes

To minimize the spam you receive:

 use spam filters

 avoid disclosing your email address publicly

 don’t click on links in spam emails or reply to them

Effective Use of the Internet

Characteristics of the Internet:

 Allows individuals from all around the world to connect and chat
with one another instantaneously

 It runs on a distributed network design, which means a single

central authority does not control it.

 It is mainly used for transmitting data in a variety of formats, such

as text, photos, audio, and video.

Uses of the Internet:

 A vital communication tool that allows people to communicate via

emails, instant messaging, and other means.

 It acts as a massive database of information on almost any subject

 The Internet has transformed business by offering a platform for

online purchasing, electronic payments, and digital transactions,
allowing enterprises to reach global consumers.

Advantages of the Internet:

 users have access to an incredible amount of information,

empowering them to learn

 enables individuals and businesses to connect and communicate

with people from different parts of the world in real-time

 the Internet has made many things easier to complete, thus

providing simplicity and effectiveness

Disadvantages of the Internet:

  Raises data security and personal privacy hazards through the
possibility of identity theft, data breaches, and online monitoring.

 The spread of propaganda, fake news, and misinformation due to

the simplicity with which content can be created and distributed
online.

 The digital divide resulting from unequal Internet access threatens

to widen existing disparities.

The differences between the internet, intranet, and extranet:

 Definition:

o The Internet is a vast network of linked computer

networks and gadgets that communicate with one another
using the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP).

o The intranet is a secure network that operates within an

organization using internet technologies and protocols, such
as TCP/IP.

o Extranets are managed private networks that can give access

to third-party users and give users, such as partners,
suppliers, or clients, safe access to a portion of the intranet.

 Accessibility:

o The Internet is open and accessible to the public, allowing

users to access a wide range of information, services, and
resources worldwide.

o Intranets are restricted to internal users and typically secured

by firewalls and other security measures to maintain the
security of critical corporate data.

o Extranet provides authorized external users only limited

access, in contrast to the internet, which is public, or the
intranet, which is entirely restricted. To access the extranet,
these users need a secure login.

 Purpose:

o The Internet acts as a hub for intercultural dialogue, the

sharing of knowledge, and access to a range of Internet
resources, including websites, email, social media, online
shopping, and more.

o An intranet's main goal is to make it easier for employees to

communicate, work together, and share information.
 o Extranets make it easier for external stakeholders to
collaborate and communicate with a company. It enables the
organization and its reliable clients or partners to share
information, documents, and resources securely.

Many use the terms “Internet” and “World Wide Web” interchangeably.
However, they can’t be used in the same context:

- The internet refers to the global network of computers and other

devices connected through routers and servers. However, the World
Wide Web is a collection of websites and webpages accessed via the
Internet.

 Blog:

o It is a website or section of a website that continually shares

new information, frequently written informally or
conversationally, similar to a journal.

o usually presented in a reverse chronological manner

o usually managed by individuals or small groups

o allow for reader comments, facilitating some level of

discussion

o often focus on specific topics, such as food, travel, fashion,

technology, or personal experiences

o also serve as a platform for sharing opinions or insights

 Forum:

o an online discussion site where people can hold conversations

in the form of posted messages

o often organized around specific topics or interests and divided

into categories known as threads

o primarily focused on peer-to-peer interaction

o may require users to create an account before posting

o can be moderated or unmoderated

 A moderated forum is an online discussion forum in

which an administrator checks posts before they are
allowed to be posted.
  The internet is essentially a huge unmoderated forum.
No one ‘owns’ the internet, and it is essentially not
policed.

 Wiki:

o a type of website that allows users to add, remove, or edit

content

o designed to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing

from many people

o holds information on many topics which can be searched

o posts are not in chronological order

o structure is determined by the content or its users

o The most famous wiki is Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia

o changes can be tracked and reverted if necessary, and the

content is usually written in a neutral style

 Social networking:

o platforms where users can connect with others and share

content

o include platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and

LinkedIn

o require users to create a profile and allow them to share text,

images, videos, and links

o facilitate interaction, collaboration, and information sharing on

a large scale

o privacy settings allow users to control who can see their

content

The Functionality of the Internet

 Internet service providers (ISP): A company that provides

internet access. Typically, a monthly fee is charged for this service.
Users' accounts are created when registering with an ISP and
acquiring login information such as user ID and password.

 Uniform Resource Locator (URL): The address of a web page on

the WWW. It is a text-based address that uniquely identifies the
location of any resource available on the internet. The three main
components are:
  Protocol:

o It is the communication protocol used to transfer data

between the client and the server

o E.g. HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and others

 Domain:

o it is the name of the server where the resource is located

o it can be a name or an IP address

 Webpage/file name:

o it is the location of the file or resource on the server

o it can contain the name of the file or directory where the

resource is located

 A URL looks like this:

o protocol://domain/path/filename

o E.g. https://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/IGCSE/ICT is a URL

that consists of the HTTPS protocol, the domain name
"www.hoddereducation.co.uk", the path is “IGCSE” and the
filename is “ICT”

 A hyperlink is a word/phrase/image which references data that the

reader can follow by clicking or tapping, usually taking you to
another web page

 A web browser is a software application used to locate, retrieve, and

display content on the WWW, including web pages, images, video,
and other files

Use of Search Engines

There are two fundamental methods for obtaining information via the
Internet. The first method is to enter the URL if you know the website's
address. If you don't know where to look, the second option is to employ a
search engine to locate the information you seek.

 Advantages of using the Internet to find information

o information tends to be up to date because it is quicker and

easier to amend

o The Internet has vast amounts of information

 o searching for information using a search engine is fast and
easy

o people can look for information in the comfort of their own

home

o information on the internet is essentially free of charge

o webpages may have multimedia elements, making learning

more interesting

 Disadvantages of using the Internet to find information

o it isn’t regulated; anything can be posted

o always the risk of accessing inappropriate websites

o too easy to be distracted by the many distractions available

on the internet

o Some research skills are lost when using the internet, as

search engines do all the work for you.

Speed of Searching

 Search engines may scan billions of online pages to locate matches

to your search query in a fraction of a second.

 Your internet connection and the effectiveness of the search

engine's algorithms influence the speed.

Amount of Information

 Because search engines can deliver a deluge of information, utilising

particular and relevant search phrases is critical.

 Adding quotation marks for specific phrases, "+" signs for required
terms, and "-" signs for omitting terms can help narrow the search.

Finding Relevant and Reliable Information

 The search engine algorithm determines the relevancy of

information by considering parameters such as keyword frequency
& page quality.

 Reliable information is often obtained from recognized sources such

as educational, government, or well-known industry websites.

Evaluating Information Found on the Internet

 Although the internet provides much information, not all are genuine
or dependable.
  Consider the source's reputation and trustworthiness when
determining the information's dependability.

 Check the accuracy of information by comparing it to other reliable

sources.

 Assess whether the information is skewed, keeping an eye out for

views pushing a particular point of view.

 Check if the material is current, as obsolete information might be

deceptive.

Internet Protocols

Protocols are rules on which the sender and recipient agree when data is
exchanged between devices.

1. Hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP): when a web page is being

accessed, entering http:// at the front of an address tells the web browser
that ‘HTTP rules’ for communication are to be obeyed.

2. Hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS): A secure version of

HTTP that encrypts data for security.

3. File transfer protocol (FTP): network protocol used when

transferring files from one computer to another over the internet. It is
similar to HTTP, but the protocol specifically transfers files.

4. Secure sockets layer (SSL): a protocol that allows data to be sent

and received securely over the internet.

Risks of Using the Internet

 Inappropriate and unlawful content: The internet may attract people

to potentially dangerous or illegal materials.

 Data restriction: Parental, educational, and ISP restrictions can all be

used to restrict access to specific information or websites.