The Internet and Its Uses

The Internet and the World Wide Web

Internet World Wide Web (WWW)

Uses transmission protocols such as Collection of webpages and other

TCP and IP (Internet Protocols) information on websites

Allows the user to communicate with Uses HTTP(S) protocols that are
other users via chat, email, calling and written using Hypertext Mark-up
more Language (HTML)

Worldwide Collection of URLs (Uniform Resource Locator) are

Interconnected Networks and Devices used for the location of the web
pages

Web browsers can access web

pages.

Uniform Resource Locator (URLs)

• URLs are used to locate and access web pages. The typical format of URLs is -

protocol://website address/path/file name

 • The protocol would usually be HTTP or HTTPS

• The website address would contain -

o domain host (www)

o domain name (website name)

o domain type (.com, .org, .net, .gov) or sometimes country codes (.uk,

.in, .cy)

• The path would usually become the file directory roots. for

example, https://www.znotes.com/computer-science

o The /computer-science is the file name

HTTP and HTTPS

• HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, and HTTPS stands for Hypertext

Transfer Protocol secure

• They are safety protocols maintained while transmitting data.

Web Browsers

• It is software used to connect to the internet

• It translates the HTML code

• ensures SSL & TLS security can be established

• Offers additional features like search history & ad blockers

 Retrieval and Location of web pages

• The browser sends the URL to the domain name server (DNS)

• DNS stores the index and matches it with the IP

• IP is sent to the browser if it exists

• The browser sends a request to the IP of the webserver

• Browser interprets the HTML

Cookies

• Cookies are small files stored on the user’s computer

• They are used to track data about the users and autofill forms or give

suggestions accordingly

• Types of Cookies -

Session Cookie Persistent Cookie

Temporary cookies are stored in Remembers the user’s login details so the
the RAM till the browser is closed. user doesn’t have to log in every time they
visit a website

Doesn’t collect any information on Stored on the hard disk on the computer until
the user their expiry date or the user deletes them

A good example is the virtual

shopping basket on e-commerce
websites.
Digital Currency
• Form of payment to pay for goods and services

• A few examples are Debit/Credit Cards, Apps (Paypal, Apple Pay, Bank

Transfers and many more)

• Cryptocurrency was later introduced due to the problem in centralised

banking systems.

• Cryptocurrency uses cryptography to maintain track of transactions.

• Cryptocurrency is also more secure because it uses Blockchain Network

Blockchain Network

• Blockchain Network involves several interconnected computers where the

transaction data is stored

• Hacking isn’t possible here as transaction details would be sent to all the

computers, and the data can’t be changed without the consent of all the

network members

How do blockchains work

Every time a transaction takes place, A block is created. The block would contain -

• Data - Name of the sender and the receiver, amount of money and more

• Hash Value - Unique value generated by an algorithm

• Previous Hash Value - Hash Value of the previous block in the chain
 The first block is

called the genesis block as it doesn’t point to any previous block (Previous Hash

Value - 0000)

Cyber Security
Brute Force Attack:

• Hackers try to guess your password by trying all the different combinations

of letters, numbers and symbols.

• Effect:

o Hacker gets access to user’s personal data (credit cards, passwords

and more)

• To remove risk:

o Use stronger passwords with more characters and symbols

Data Interception:
 • This involves stealing data by tapping into a wired or a wireless transmission

line

o Wardriving - The act of locating and using wireless internet

connections illegally

o Packet Sniffing - Uses Packet sniffers to examine packets sent over a

line; all the data collected is sent back to the attacker

• Effect:

o It can cause a computer to crash

o Can delete or corrupt files/data

• To remove risk:

o Install anti-virus software

o Don’t use software from unknown sources

o Be careful when opening emails from unknown

Distributed Denial of Service Attacks (DDoS)

• An attempt at preventing users from accessing part of a network

• Usually temporary but may be damaging

• An attacker may be able to prevent the user from:

o Accessing their emails

o Accessing websites

o Accessing online services

Hacking

• The act of gaining illegal access to a computer system

• Effect:

o This leads to identity theft, gaining personal information

o Data can be deleted, changed or corrupted

• To remove risk:

o Firewalls

o Strong passwords/ user IDs

o Use of anti-hacking software

• Difference between hacking and cracking

o Hacking breaks into computer systems to steal data

o Cracking is when someone edits a program code, malicious

Malware

• Stands for Malicious Software. A few examples are -

o Virus - A program that can replicate itself with the intention of deleting

or corrupting files, causing a computer malfunction

o Ransomware - Attackers encrypt the user’s data until a certain amount

of money is paid

o Adware - Displays unwanted ads on the user’s screen

o Trojan Horse - Programs that are disguised as legitimate software

 o Spyware - Sends data about all the activities of the user to the attacker

o Worms - Programs that can replicate themselves with the intention of

corrupting the entire network instead of the computer alone

Phishing

• Attackers send legitimate-looking emails to bait the user into giving out their

information.

• To remove risk:

o Don’t open links from unknown receivers

o Use anti-phishing tools

o Block pop-up ads

o Have an up-to-date browser

Pharming

• The attacker installs a malicious code on the computer, which redirects the

user to fake websites

• Effect:

o The user gives out login details and other personal details

• To remove risk:

o Using anti-virus software

o Checking the spelling and the weblink carefully

o Make sure that the green padlock is present in the URL bar
Social Engineering

• Attackers create a social situation which leads to victims giving out their

details (For example - Spam calls informing them that their account has been

hacked)

Keeping data safe from threats

• Access Levels - Having Different levels of access for different people (for

example - Only doctors can have access to patient’s data)

• Antivirus - Protects user’s computer from malware attacks

• Authentication - User proving who they are. The most common methods are

passwords, PINs, Mobiles (OTPs), biometrics and more)

Benefits and Drawbacks of Biometric Method

Biometric Benefits Drawbacks

Methods

Fingerprint Most Intrusive as

Scans development used to
methods are identify
very easy to criminals,
use and Can’t be
require very used if the
low storage finger gets
space to dirty or
store the
Biometric Benefits Drawbacks
Methods

biometric damaged
data. (e.g. cuts)

Retina Scan With very It is very

high intrusive,
accuracy, it Takes longer
Impossible to verify,
to replicate a Expensive to
person’s install and
retina set up

Face Non- Can’t identify

Recognition intrusive if there are
method, any changes
Relatively in the
cheaper lighting,
change in
age or
person’s age.

Voice Non- Voices can

Recognition Intrusive be recorded
method, and used for
verification is verification,
done quickly but low
and accuracy and
relatively illnesses
cheaper such as colds
or coughs
can affect a
Biometric Benefits Drawbacks
Methods

person’s
voice,
making
identification
impossible.

• Two-Step Verification - Requires two methods of authentication to prove who

the user is

• Automatic Software Updates - Latest updates contain patches which improve

device security

• Spelling and Tone - Fake emails tend to have wrong spelling and grammar

(amazonn instead of amazon), and the tone would also seem urgent

• Firewalls - Hardware or Software which monitors the traffic between a

network and the user’s computer

• Proxy Servers - Acts as an intermediate between the user’s computer and the

web server. They are used for -

o Filtering Internet traffic

o Keeping the user’s IP Address Confidential

o Blocking access to certain websites

o Attacks like DDoS and Hacking attack the proxy server, keeping the

web server safe.

 o Acts as a firewall as well.

• Privacy Settings - Used to limit who can access and see a user’s profile

• SSL (Secure Socket Layer) - Set of rules used while communicating with other

users on the internet.