CHAPTER 5 : THE INTERNET AND ITS USES

The Internet and Its Uses

The Internet and the World Wide Web

Internet World Wide Web (WWW)

Uses transmission protocols such as TCP and IP Collection of webpages and other information on
(Internet Protocols) websites

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

Worldwide Collection of Interconnected Networks URLs (Uniform Resource Locator) are used for the
and Devices 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.

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

Doesn’t collect any information on the user Stored on the hard disk on the computer until 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

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• 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:

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• 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

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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:

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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

Biometric Benefits Drawbacks

Methods

Fingerprint Most development methods are very Intrusive as used to identify criminals, Can’t be
Scans easy to use and require very low used if the finger gets dirty or damaged (e.g. cuts)
storage space to store the biometric
data.

Retina Scan With very high accuracy, it It is very intrusive, Takes longer to verify, Expensive
Impossible to replicate a person’s to install and set up
retina

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Biometric Benefits Drawbacks

Methods

Face Non-intrusive method, Relatively Can’t identify if there are any changes in the
Recognition cheaper lighting, change in age or person’s age.

Voice Non-Intrusive method, verification is Voices can be recorded and used for verification,
Recognition done quickly and relatively cheaper but low accuracy and illnesses such as colds or
coughs can affect a person’s voice, making
identification impossible.

• 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

• 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

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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.

CHAPTER 5 : THE INTERNET AND ITS USES IGCSE