1. Internet Basics

2. What is the Internet?
It’s a world-wide network of computer networks. It grows hourly and involves national governments, communities, and individuals.

3. Where is all the information
Where is all the information? It actually runs from one computer to another on “servers,” which are machines that share information across computers.

4. Brain, Marshall. “How Web Servers Work. HowStuffWorks. http://computer

5. How do individuals and organizations get the Internet
How do individuals and organizations get the Internet? They use an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
An ISP is a company that provides Internet access for its customers
It may also provide service for its customers
It may provide web file storage service and/or a limited web hosting service. 
For example, Time Warner is an ISP in Texas.

6. What kind of access does the ISP provide
What kind of access does the ISP provide? The slowest is called “dial-up service” because it runs via telephone lines with no added support.

7. DSL
Digital subscriber lines. Though still transmitted through the phone lines, DSL operates at higher frequencies, so it’s faster than standard dial-up.

8. Once the ISP has provided access, how does an individual computer allow Internet access? Via web browsers—software programs that run on the user’s computer to support access to information at any public web server in the world
These are the icons for some of the more common browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Opera

9. A web browser for PCs: Microsoft Internet Explorer

10. A web browser for Macs: Mozilla Firefox

11. A free web browser for PC, Mac, & Linux systems: Opera

12. A free web browser for PC, Mac, & Linux systems: Google Chrome

13. Domain names
Information from these browsers often comes from different types of sources.
Domain names (found at the end of a web site address) help identify the kind of agency which owns a particular web site. The most common domain names are:
.com = company such as Amazon.com
.org = organizaton such as cancer.org
.gov = government such as texas.gov
.edu = educational institutions such as utexas.edu

14. Protect Your Privacy with Password
Basics:
Change them frequently
Don’t write them down or share them
Don’t use the same password for everything
Choosing
Mix numbers, symbols, and letters (upper and lower case)
Avoid actual words
Use at least 8 characters
Avoid personally identifiable data such as a birthdate, address, or nickname

15. Internet Security - Cookies
Web site owners use “cookies” to track people who visit their site, even particular sections of their site
Protect your privacy by deleting cookies or blocking their use. The means of doing that vary but are generally easy to find. Ask a librarian for help.
See also Indiana University’s information on “How do I clear my web browser's cache, cookies, and history?” at
Anti-Virus Software
VPN/Firewalls
PKI
Authentication and Access
Technology Intrusion Detection/Prevention
Vulnerability Assessment
Encryption
VPN Services
Security Services Certificate Authorities
Security Management
Patch Mgmt. Tools

16. Protecting Your Privacy
If you visit any sensitive sites, or are using a public computer, consider taking the following steps to preserve your privacy:
Clear cache (the browsing history your Web browser saves) and delete cookies (files some Web sites use to track users) after your Internet session is over.
Delete any documents you may have saved to a public computer.
If a site asks “Remember this password?” or any similar question, select “no.”
Log out of any sites or services you have signed in to.
See also Indiana University’s information on “How do I clear my web browser's cache, cookies, and history?” at