What is Internet?
The word Internet comes originally from "inter-network". This is a network of networks that links together about a third of a billion people worldwide.
Countless companies and organizations operate these networks in hundreds of countries. They utilize many different media --fiber, copper, wireless -- and operate at varying speeds. But they work together because they utilize the same protocols, notably Transport Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP).
As its name suggests, TCP is responsible for transport control: it chops up all data for transportation chunks called packets; it ensures that all packets are received at their destination, and that they are correctly reassembled. IP takes care of addressing: every device connected to the Internet has a unique numerical address. The software that runs the Internet - the routers - reads these IP addresses and distributes packets to their destination accordingly.
What is the Web?
The Web was devised as user friendly, graphical way to view and navigate information stored on Internet. Its introduction in the 1990s sparked the online boom. To be more precise, the Web is a global network of computers running Web server software, which deliver specially formatted "Web pages" and other resources
in accordance to client-based requests made through what is called a "browser".
Embedded in these Web pages is Hypertext links to other web pages and resources, creating a virtual inter-network of content distinct from the Internet physical structure. All Web resources seem like a click away; hypertext can link files stored on servers half a world apart. It is an important means for storing and catching files in multiple locations to speed access times and act as safeguards against network failure.
The Web is a complex medium. It is very different from conventional broadcast such as TV. The latter is one way channel: it delivers a relatively narrow selection of scheduled, branded, high value content. The Web, on the other hand, is a two-ways, interactive, transactional, communication channel. Users must retrieve what they want from an endless, ever-changing mass of content of widely varying value. Hence the importance of search tools, which help users find their way through the clutworks by aggregating the 3 Cs that make the web go round: Content, Commerce and Communication.
Much of Internet value in almost (% of the world pop use internet) who currently use internet owes much to the simplicity and ease to access and use the friendly-user interface, which transforms the complexity of the Web into a structured and simple Web-site.
Can we trust security payment on the Web?
While the possibility doing online shopping makes one's life far simpler, still the idea of giving in the 16-digit credit card number on line seem quite worrisome to many of us. As a matter of fact, we can be all sure that on-line shopping would bear much less risk than it seems to, if you watch out for the following conditions.
1. How to know if a site is dangerous or not?
What is dangerous on the Net is to transmit your card's number to an unscrupulous merchant. A way to check if the current site is dangerous is to check its descriptive fiche on http://www.nic.com (section who is). If you have doubt about this fiche, you must not proceed with your purchase order.
2. How can one ensure a secure online payment?
While not all online transactions are secured, many are crypt (coded/hidden) and can not be decrypted by hackers. Most of the protocols are now very sophisticated and cannot be decrypted. Moreover, your browser will tell you by a message when you access and when you leave a secured transaction. A cadenza will also appear on the left down of your browser.
Other techniques exist but need the setup of software on your machine, which is not always convenient.
3. What are the techniques used most by hackers
They use on the net bankcards' numbers that they kept dishonestly and indicate a false identity (it is simply to use a card number found on a bill payment, therefore be careful!)
4. What could be done in case that happens?
There is no law yet to govern and regulate E-commerce in Egypt (but a bill is currently under study). It is thus not possible to get a reimbursement from the bank if one's card-number was hacked.
5. When will we have a complete secured system?
In some countries, some Individual card lectors are appearing. With that kind of lector, the confidential data of the client will not transit on the net.
Cybertalk: Learn the Internet Language!
You don't have to be a computer expert to book a trip into Cyberspace, but it certainly helps to learn a few words from the language of the cyber-talk. In that way, you could shortly become just like a native speaker of the cyber language.
BOOKMARK - an online function that allows you to access your favorite web sites quickly.
BROWSER - special software that allows you to navigate several areas of the Internet and view a web site.
BULLETIN BOARD/NEWSGROUP - places to leave an electronic message or share news that anyone can read and respond to. Marketers or others can get your e-mail address from bulletin boards and newsgroups.
CHAT ROOM - a place for people to exchange instant online messages. Once you're in a chat room, others can contact you through e-mail. Some online services monitor their chat rooms and encourage children to report about offensive chatters. Some chat-rooms also allow parents to block access to chat rooms altogether.
CHATTING - a way for a group of people to chat online in real-time by exchanging instant messages to each other.
COOKIE - when you visit a site, a notation may be fed to a file known as a "cookie" in your computer for future reference. If you revisit the site, the "cookie" file allows the web site to identify you as a "return" guest - and offer you products tailored to your interests or tastes. You can set your online preferences to limit or let you know about "cookies" that a web site places on your computer.
CYBERSPACE - another name for the Internet.
DOWNLOAD - the transfer of files or software from a remote computer to your computer.
E-MAIL - a facility that allows the transfer of messages and/or mails from one computer to another via Internet.
FILTER -a software that one can buy, which blocks access to web-sites that are not suitable to the context where the Internet is installed.
INTERNET - the universal network that allows computers to talk to other computers in words, text, graphics, and sound, anywhere in the world.
ISP (Internet Service Provider) - a service that allows one to connect to the Internet. When one signs up (given the ISP software and a modem), a prompt appears for one to enter a screen name and a secret password as well as one credit card number. Usually, online charges are billed to your credit card. Most providers Internet users you to review their monthly bills online instead of sending a hard copy of the itemized bill. In case of errors, one can contact the administrators for explanation. If you note unexpected charges from your ISP, call for an explanation. If that explanation was unconvincing, or if one suspects any fraud, one may contact the issuer of one's credit cards and/or the states General Attorney.
JUNK E-MAIL - unsolicited commercial e-mail; also known as "spam". Junk e-mail doesn't usually contain the recipient's address on the "To" line. Instead, the addressee is a made-up name, such as "friend@public.com." Sometimes the address on the "To" line is identical to the one on the "From' line.
KEYWORD - a word you enter into a search engine to begin the search for specific information or web sites.
LINKS - highlighted words on a web site that allow you to connect to other parts of the same web site or to other web sites.
LISTSERV - an online mailing list that allows individuals or organizations to send Email to groups of people at one time.
MODEM - an internal or external device that connects your computer to a phone line and, if you wish, to a company that can link you to the Internet.
ONLINE SERVICE - an ISP with added information, entertainment and shopping features.
PASSWORD - a personal code that you use to access your account with your ISP.
PRIVACY POLICY - a statement on a web site describing what information about you is contained in the site, and how it is used. Ideally, the policy is posted prominently and offers you option to the use your personal information. These options are called opt-in and opt-out. An opt-in choice means that the web site won't use your information unless you specifically say it's okay. An opt-out choice means the web site can use the information unless you specifically direct it not to.
SCREEN NAME - the name you call yourself with when you communicate online. You may want to abbreviate your name or make up a name. Your ISP may allow you to use several screen names.
SEARCH ENGINE - a function that lets you search for information and web sites. Using a search engine is like accessing the main card file in a library, only easier. A few keywords can lead you almost anywhere on the Internet. You can find search engines or a search function on many web sites.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator) - the address that allows one to locate a particular site. For example, http://www.ftc.gov is the URL for the Federal Trade Commission. All government URLs end with .gov. Non-profit organizations and trade associations end with .org. For example, http://www.naag.org is the URL for the National Association of Attorneys General. URLs of commercial companies now end with ".com". More suffixes and domains are also used now. Endings vary from one country to another.
VIRUS - a deleterious file that if downloaded on a computer, may damage parts or the whole of the computer's hardware or software.
WEB SITE- An Internet destination where you can look at and retrieve data.
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