3.

Internet & E-Security

Internet
Concept of Internet:
The Internet is a vast network that connects computers all over the world. Through the
Internet, people can share information and communicate from anywhere with an Internet
connection.

The Internet consists of technologies developed by different individuals and

organizations. Important figures include Robert W. Taylor, who led the development of
the ARPANET (an early prototype of the Internet), and Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn,
who developed the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
technologies.

The Internet works through a series of networks that connect devices around the world
through telephone lines. Users are provided access to the Internet by Internet service
providers. The widespread use of mobile broadband and Wi-Fi in the 21st century has
allowed this connection to be wireless.

Uses of the Internet:

Here are the top uses of the Internet explained below in detail:
1. Communication
Communication is all about how we talk to each other and share important things. The

Internet has email, instant messaging, social media, online discussion forums, video, and

voice calls for the major portion of communication. The following tools make it easier

for us to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another.

 Email: Email was one of the earliest and most important uses of the Internet. It

allows people to send messages, share files, photos, and videos, and communicate

for both personal and business purposes There are numerous free email websites

that offer email services, and almost everyone has an email address.

 Social Media Platforms for Connecting: Social media is where we connect with

friends, family, and others online. We can share updates, pictures, and videos on

platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. It’s like having an online diary

on which others can see and comment. We can also use social media to find jobs

or connect with professionals through platforms like LinkedIn.

 Online Forums and Discussion Boards: Online forums are like virtual places

where people with similar interests can have conversations and ask questions. It’s

like being in a big group chat where you can discuss specific topics.

 Video and Voice Calls: Sometimes, we can’t meet in person, but we still want to

see and talk to each other. That’s where video and voice calls come in. Apps like

Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet let us talk to someone using our computer or

phone. We can see each other on the screen and have a conversation, just as if we

were in the same room.

2. E-Commerce
E-Commerce is about buying and selling things on the Internet. It’s like shopping, but the

Internet allows you to do it from your computer or phone instead of going to a physical

store. There are different parts to it that we’ll talk about.

 Online shopping and retail websites: Online shopping means buying things from

websites instead of going to a store. There are websites by various vendors to find

what you want, compare prices, read reviews, and order what you like. It’s like

going through a virtual store on your computer.

 Payment gateways and secure transactions: When you buy something online,
the payment gateway transfers your money from your bank or credit card to the
seller’s account. For example, you might see options like PayPal or Stripe for
making payments when buying something online.

3. Content Creation Using AI

With artificial intelligence (AI) advancements, the Internet offers tools to generate

content autonomously. These AI-powered content generators can produce articles, blog

posts, product descriptions, and social media captions based on specific input or prompts.

4. Online Banking
The Internet has been the most important factor in introducing Net Banking. We can

transfer money from our mobile phones, tablets, laptops, etc. There is no need to visit the

banks during rush hours, which takes hours to complete a simple cash withdrawal or

money transfer. Banks close at the end of the day, but the Internet is available 24/7.

The Internet allows payments for electricity bills, online shopping, etc.

5. Education
In today’s world, the Internet has new ways for our research and education. With the

Internet, we can access online databases and libraries, take online courses, collaborate

with others, find tutorials and resources, and attend classes online. The following uses of

the Internet have made learning more accessible and fun for everyone.
  Access to vast online libraries: With the uses of internet, researchers, students,

and teachers can find many articles, books, and other resources without leaving

home. This means we can find the information we need quickly and easily.

 E-learning platforms and online courses: Now, we can learn online! There are

special websites where we can take courses on different subjects. These courses

are flexible so that we can learn at our own speed and whenever possible. Many

websites have courses on various topics like Investment Banking, Financial

Modeling, Data Science, Python, etc. We can watch videos, do quizzes, and even

get certificates for finishing courses. It’s like having a school in our own homes!

 Virtual classrooms and distance learning programs: Sometimes, we can’t go to

a physical classroom. But the Internet lets us attend classes online! We can join

virtual classrooms using video calls and special software. Platforms like Zoom and

Microsoft Teams are used for virtual classrooms. We can talk to our teachers and

classmates, join discussions, and submit assignments online. Distance learning

programs are also available for people who can’t attend regular school. These

programs use online resources, video lectures, and virtual interactions to teach us.

6. Entertainment
Entertainment and media have become much easier and more fun because of the Internet.

The following features of the Internet showcase how we can create videos, share them

online, and watch any video we want.

 Streaming of movies, TV shows, and music: Streaming services on the Internet

are like giant libraries where we can watch and enjoy TV shows and movies and

listen to music without buying them. Instead of going to a store or waiting for a

specific time on TV, the Internet allows us to subscribe to services like Netflix and
 instantly watch many different things on our phones, computers, or TVs. It’s like

having access to a huge entertainment collection at our fingertips.

 Online gaming and multiplayer platforms: Online gaming lets us play video

games with people worldwide through a global internet connection. Games like

Fortnite are popular because we can join in big battles with many other players

who are also using the Internet. Platforms like Xbox Live and Steam on the

Internet bring gamers together.

 Content Creators and Influencers: Social media has also allowed creative

people to show their talents and get recognized for their work. Influencers create

videos or posts on the Internet through platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and

TikTok that many people enjoy.

7. Government Websites
The Internet provides access to government websites, such as The White House, National

Portal of India, National Informatics Centre, etc., where you can find helpful information.

These websites are user-friendly to navigate and find what you need, even if you’re not

tech-savvy. For example, you can complete the tax filing procedure online using the

website of the Income Tax Department instead of filling out physical tax forms at any

administrative office. Government websites also inform you of real-time updates on

policy changes or safety alerts.

8. Health
In today’s world, the Internet has changed how we care for our health and well-being by

making it easier to stay healthy, get the support we need, and connect with others in

similar situations. Let’s look at some ways the Internet has made things easier for us:
  Telemedicine and online consultations: Instead of going to the doctor’s office,

we can now have appointments through video calls. This is called telemedicine.

It’s helpful for non-emergency cases and saves time and effort. So, if you have a

minor illness, you can talk to a doctor online using apps like Doctor On Demand.

 Access to medical information and resources: Nowadays, we can find lots of

medical information online. Websites and apps detail different health conditions,

treatments, and ways to stay healthy. For example, websites like WebMD and

Mayo Clinic give us information about symptoms and advice on what to do.

 Health and fitness apps and platforms: Some apps and devices help us keep

track of our exercise, heart rate, and what we eat. They can help us set goals and

stay fit by monitoring our activities and calorie intake.

 Online communities and support groups: The internet has created communities

where people facing similar health challenges can connect and support each other.

These communities make us feel like we belong and offer emotional support.

Websites like PatientsLikeMe and Inspire let people with chronic conditions share

their experiences and learn from others.

9. Booking Tickets
Gone are the days of standing in long queues to purchase movie tickets or making tedious

phone calls to book flights and hotels. With the Internet, we can now easily book movie

tickets or plan our travel with just a few clicks. Websites and apps like BookMyShow,

aggregate information from multiple sources.

10. Social Impact

Social Impact and Activism are about how people use the Internet to make a difference

and improve society by using viral content to spread messages and letting regular people

share news and opinions.

  Online activism and awareness campaigns: This means using websites and

social media to discuss important problems and get people involved. For example,

in Feb 2023, the Indian Government launched “Stay Safe Online”, an online

campaign to increase awareness about cybersecurity.

 Social change through viral content: Sometimes, videos, pictures, or funny

things spread quickly online. This can bring attention to important issues and get

people talking about them. For example, the Ice Bucket Challenge video became

very popular and helped raise money and awareness for ALS.

 Online petitions: An online petition is like signing your name to support a cause.

It’s easy for many people to show they care about something. Grassroots

movements are when people come together to protest or fight for something they

believe in. Both of these things can start online and then grow into something

bigger.

11. Converting Files

The Internet also offers various tools and services for converting files from one format to

another. Whether converting a document from PDF to Word, an image from JPEG to

PNG, or a video from one format to another, online file conversion services simplify the

process.

12. Video Editing

In the past, professional video editing required expensive equipment and specialized

software. Now, with the help of the Internet, many platforms offer user-friendly

interfaces and a range of editing features. Users can upload videos, trim clips, add

transitions, apply effects, and even incorporate music and text to create engaging videos

without investing in complex software or hardware.

Requirement for Internet:

The basic requirements for connecting to the Internet are a computer device. In
addition, you need the following things, to connect to the Internet:
(i) Modem
(ii) Telephone wire
(iii) Internet Service Provider (ISP)
(iv) Internet connection
(v) Web-browsing software
Modem (modulator-demodulator)
A modem is a device that enables a computer to transmit data over telephone or cable lines. Computer stored
information digitally; information transmitted over telephone lines in the form of analog waves. A modem
converts between these two forms.
A modem can be either internal or external. The internal modem is attached to a slot on the motherboard. The
external modem can be placed anywhere outside the system unit and connected to the motherboard.. An
internal modem is a device that contained on an expansion board that plugs into the
motherboard.

Telephone wire

Telephone wire provides a medium for the transport of signals. When you need to communicate with other
computers on the Internet, use it. Modem converts the binary or digital signals to analog waves. The
waves are then implemented by the telephone wires. If modems speed is faster than Internet speed will be
faster.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

This is a company that provides internet access. For a monthly fee, the service provider will give you an
account. It includes a software package, username, password, and access phone numbers. Equipped with a
modem, you can log onto the Internet.
Internet connection
You need an Internet connection to dial into the computer of the ISP. Without Internet connection, you
can’t access the Internet.

Web-browsing software

It is software or a program that let you visit pages, media, etc. that are available on the Internet. There are
many browsers like Firefox (also known as Mozilla Firefox), Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Safari
etc.

Internet domain:
The Internet domain name is the basic element of the addressing structure of the
Internet.
The Internet is a huge network of hundreds of millions of connected computers all over
the world. In order for them all to be able to communicate with one another, they need to
know which device is located where on the Internet. Each device on the Internet has its
own IP address, defined in accordance with the Internet protocol, and each such address
is unique at the global level. These addresses are complicated numbers, very difficult to
remember, and so Internet domain names were introduced. These are paired up with IP
addresses and are much simpler for humans to use. These names are also unique at the
global level and comprise the Domain Name System (DNS), which is the Internet’s
addressing system.

An Internet domain name consists of at least two segments separated by a dot

(e.g. domen.rs). There are also names with three segments (e.g. domen.co.rs), where the
dot and last segment are the domain extension, in this case our national .RS domain
designation.

A segment can contain numbers (0-9), letters from various alphabets and hyphens (-), and
the length of a segment cannot be shorter than two or longer than 63 characters. A
segment cannot contain a hyphen at the start or the end, nor two consecutive hyphens as
the third and fourth characters.
When a domain name is registered, it is entered into a special database and is supported
by an Internet infrastructure which enables it to function on the Internet. This database
and infrastructure are managed by an Internet domain registry. The national registry for
the .RS and .СРБ domains is the Serbian National Internet Domain Name Registry
Foundation (RNIDS).

Originally, domain names only supported the letters of the English alphabet (ASCII
code), but with the development of the IDN standard it became possible for domain
names to use the scripts of other languages of the world. These scripts include Cyrillic,
Greek, Chinese, Arabic and Indian, as well as Latin scripts containing letters which do
not exist in the English alphabet (such as đ, š, ž, ä, ß, ů, to name a few).

Your Internet domain name defines both the web address of your website and your email
address, and that is why it is an important part of your Internet identity or that of your
company. Choosing and registering a distinctive Internet domain name are the first steps
in creating an Internet identity and developing an online business.

Internet Services:

Internet Services allows us to access huge amount of information such as text, graphics,
sound and software over the internet. Following diagram shows the four different
categories of Internet Services.

Communication Services

There are various Communication Services available that offer exchange of information
with individuals or groups. The following table gives a brief introduction to these
services:

S.N. Service Description

Electronic Mail
1
Used to send electronic message over the internet.

Telnet
2
Used to log on to a remote computer that is attached to internet.
 Newsgroup
3
Offers a forum for people to discuss topics of common interests.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

4
Allows the people from all over the world to communicate in real time.

Mailing Lists
5 Used to organize group of internet users to share common information
through e-mail.

Internet Telephony (VoIP)

6 Allows the internet users to talk across internet to any PC equipped to
receive the call.

Instant Messaging
7 Offers real time chat between individuals and group of people. Eg. Yahoo
messenger, MSN messenger.

Information Retrieval Services

There exist several Information retrieval services offering easy access to information
present on the internet. The following table gives a brief introduction to these services:

S.N. Service Description

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

1
Enable the users to transfer files.

Archie
2 It’s updated database of public FTP sites and their content. It helps to search
a file by its name.

Gopher
3
Used to search, retrieve, and display documents on remote sites.

Very Easy Rodent Oriented Netwide Index to Computer Achieved

4 (VERONICA)
VERONICA is gopher based resource. It allows access to the information
 resource stored on gopher’s servers.

Web Services

Web services allow exchange of information between applications on the web. Using
web services, applications can easily interact with each other.

The web services are offered using concept of Utility Computing.

1. World Wide Web (WWW)

WWW is also known as W3. It offers a way to access documents spread over the several
servers over the internet. These documents may contain texts, graphics, audio, video,
hyperlinks. The hyperlinks allow the users to navigate between the documents.

2. Video Conferencing

Video conferencing or Video teleconferencing is a method of communicating by two-

way video and audio transmission with help of telecommunication technologies.

Modes of Video Conferencing

 Point-to-Point

This mode of conferencing connects two locations only.

 Multi-point

This mode of conferencing connects more than two locations through Multi-
point Control Unit (MCU).
Internet Connectivity
Internet Service Providers (ISP)

Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company offering access to internet. They offer
various services:

 Internet Access
 Domain name registration
 Dial-up access
 Leased line access

ISP Types

ISPs can broadly be classified into six categories as shown in the following diagram:

Access providers

They provide access to internet through telephone lines, cable wi-fi or fiber optics.

Mailbox Provider

Such providers offer mailbox hosting services.

Hosting ISPs

Hosting ISPs offers e-mail, and other web hosting services such as virtual machines,
clouds etc.

Virtual ISPs

Such ISPs offer internet access via other ISP services.

Free ISPs

Free ISPs do not charge for internet services.

Connection Types

Following are these connection types available:

1. Dial-up Connection
2. ISDN
3. DSL
4. Cable TV Internet connections
5. Satellite Internet connections
6. Wireless Internet Connections

Dial-up Connection

Dial-up connection uses telephone line to connect PC to the internet. It requires a modem
to setup dial-up connection. This modem works as an interface between PC and the
telephone line.

There is also a communication program that instructs the modem to make a call to
specific number provided by an ISP.

Dial-up connection uses either of the following protocols:

1. Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)

2. Point to Point Protocol (PPP)

The following diagram shows the accessing internet using modem:

ISDN

ISDN is acronym of Integrated Services Digital Network. It establishes the connection

using the phone lines which carry digital signals instead of analog signals.

There are two techniques to deliver ISDN services:

1. Basic Rate Interface (BRI)

2. Primary Rate Interface (PRI)

The following diagram shows accessing internet using ISDN connection:

DSL

DSL is acronym of Digital Subscriber Line. It is a form of broadband connection as it

provides connection over ordinary telephone lines.

The following diagram shows that how we can connect to internet using DSL technology:

Cable TV Internet Connection

Cable TV Internet connection is provided through Cable TV lines. It uses coaxial cable
which is capable of transferring data at much higher speed than common telephone line.

 A cable modem is used to access this service, provided by the cable operator.
 The Cable modem comprises of two connections: one for internet service and
other for Cable TV signals.
 Since Cable TV internet connections share a set amount of bandwidth with a
group of customers, therefore, data transfer rate also depends on number of
customers using the internet at the same time.

The following diagram shows that how internet is accessed using Cable TV connection:
Satellite Internet Connection

Satellite Internet connection offers high speed connection to the internet. There are two
types of satellite internet connection: one way connection or two way connection.

In one way connection, we can only download data but if we want to upload, we need a
dialup access through ISP over telephone line.

In two way connection, we can download and upload the data by the satellite. It does not
require any dialup connection.

The following diagram shows how internet is accessed using satellite internet connection:

Wireless Internet Connection

Wireless Internet Connection makes use of radio frequency bands to connect to the
internet and offers a very high speed. The wireless internet connection can be obtained by
either WiFi or Bluetooth.

Constituents of Internet:
There are three basic components of the internet. Firstly, the client – which is the
computer that connects with a remote computer or server to request information.
Secondly , the server – which is the computer that provides service or shares
resources to the client. The third main component of the internet is – protocol.
Protocols are a set of functions that need to be followed in order to fetch the
desired data. These internet components that enable us to surf web pages, consume
multimedia, transfer credit and so on within minutes.
1. Client

The data interaction primarily occurs between the client and the server. The client
requests data from the server. The client and server may be situated very far from
each other but are linked via a network.
2. Server

The main job of a server is to respond to the request of the client. The device or
programme is set up in the way that they provide the appropriate information to the
client. This functionality of client and server works on a model called – call and
response.
The server performs several tasks in order to deliver the right information for each
request. From investigating the client’s permission of data access to formatting
numerous responses in order to fetch the most accurate information, the server
performs so many functions within seconds.
3. Protocols

The protocols are crucial elements of the internet.

In the language of networking, protocols can be defined as a set of rules that guide
data transmission between computing devices. These rules make sure that the data
request is sent and received by the client without any problem. The most important
internet protocols are – Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol
(IP).
Every single commuting device has its own unique IP address. These unique
addresses make it easier for computers to recognize each other. The TCP/IP
protocols make the data request and receiving possible between two computers via
server.
Types of Internet Protocols
Internet Protocols are a set of rules that governs the communication and exchange of data
over the internet. Both the sender and receiver should follow the same protocols in order
to communicate the data. In order to understand it better, let’s take an example of a
language. Any language has its own set of vocabulary and grammar which we need to
know if we want to communicate in that language. Similarly, over the internet whenever
we access a website or exchange some data with another device then these processes are
governed by a set of rules called the internet protocols.
Working of Internet Protocol
The internet and many other data networks work by organizing data into small pieces
called packets. Each large data sent between two network devices is divided into smaller
packets by the underlying hardware and software. Each network protocol defines the
rules for how its data packets must be organized in specific ways according to the
protocols the network supports.
Need of Protocols
It may be that the sender and receiver of data are parts of different networks, located in
different parts of the world having different data transfer rates. So, we need protocols to
manage the flow control of data, and access control of the link being shared in the
communication channel. Suppose there is a sender X who has a data transmission rate of
10 Mbps. And, there is a receiver Y who has a data receiving rate of 5Mbps. Since the
rate of receiving the data is slow so some data will be lost during transmission. In order to
avoid this, receiver Y needs to inform sender X about the speed mismatch so that sender
X can adjust its transmission rate. Similarly, the access control decides the node which
will access the link shared in the communication channel at a particular instant in time. If
not the transmitted data will collide if many computers send data simultaneously through
the same link resulting in the corruption or loss of data.
What is IP Addressing?
An IP address represents an Internet Protocol address. A unique address that identifies the
device over the network. It is almost like a set of rules governing the structure of data
sent over the Internet or through a local network. An IP address helps the Internet to
distinguish between different routers, computers, and websites. It serves as a specific
machine identifier in a specific network and helps to improve visual communication
between source and destination.
Types of Internet Protocol
Internet Protocols are of different types having different uses. These are mentioned
below:
1. TCP/IP(Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol)
2. SMTP(Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
3. FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
4. TELNET(Terminal Network)
5. POP3(Post Office Protocol 3)
6. Gopher
1. TCP/IP(Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol)
These are a set of standard rules that allows different types of computers to communicate
with each other. The IP protocol ensures that each computer that is connected to the
Internet is having a specific serial number called the IP address. TCP specifies how data
is exchanged over the internet and how it should be broken into IP packets. It also makes
sure that the packets have information about the source of the message data, the
destination of the message data, the sequence in which the message data should be re-
assembled, and checks if the message has been sent correctly to the specific destination.
The TCP is also known as a connection-oriented protocol.
For more details, please refer TCP/IP Model article.
2. SMTP(Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
These protocols are important for sending and distributing outgoing emails. This protocol
uses the header of the mail to get the email id of the receiver and enters the mail into the
queue of outgoing mail. And as soon as it delivers the mail to the receiving email id, it
removes the email from the outgoing list. The message or the electronic mail may
consider the text, video, image, etc. It helps in setting up some communication server
rules.
3. FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
This protocol is used for transferring files from one system to the other. This works on
a client-server model. When a machine requests for file transfer from another machine,
the FTO sets up a connection between the two and authenticates each other using their ID
and Password. And, the desired file transfer takes place between the machines.
4. TELNET(Terminal Network)
TELNET is a standard TCP/IP protocol used for virtual terminal service given by ISO.
This enables one local machine to connect with another. The computer which is being
connected is called a remote computer and which is connecting is called the local
computer. TELNET operation lets us display anything being performed on the remote
computer in the local computer. This operates on the client/server principle. The local
computer uses the telnet client program whereas the remote computer uses the telnet
server program.
5. POP3(Post Office Protocol 3)
POP3 stands for Post Office Protocol version 3. It has two Message Access Agents
(MAAs) where one is client MAA (Message Access Agent) and another is server
MAA(Message Access Agent) for accessing the messages from the mailbox. This
protocol helps us to retrieve and manage emails from the mailbox on the receiver mail
server to the receiver’s computer. This is implied between the receiver and the receiver
mail server. It can also be called a one-way client-server protocol. The POP3 WORKS
ON THE 2 PORTS I.E. PORT 110 AND PORT 995.
6. Gopher
Gopher is a type of file retrieval protocol that provides downloadable files with some
description for easy management, retrieving, and searching of files. All the files are
arranged on a remote computer in a stratified manner. It is an old protocol and it is not
much used nowadays.