What is the internet?
The internet is a large network of connected computers around the world. It contains the information and technological tools that anyone with an internet connection can access. When we say that something is online, we usually mean that it is on the internet.
How does the internet work?
To connect to the internet, you need an electronic device, such as a computer or smartphone, and choose your internet service provider or ISP. An ISP is a company that has special computers, called servers, with which you have access to the internet.Internet protocols
A communication protocol is a set of guidelines or regulations that all users of a computer network must obey. In other words, they are the rules for data transmission between two or more points or computers.
TCP, or Transmission Control Protocol, is a system of standardized instructions that details how computers communicate with each other. It was invented by Bob Kahn and Vint Cerf between 1973 and 1974.
One of the most important protocols is the Internet or IP protocol, responsible for routing and delivering data and information packets.
IP address
Every computer or phone connected to the internet has an address, just like a house or apartment. This address is also known as the Internet Protocol or IP address. There are two kinds of IP:IP version 4 (IPv4) are four numbers, each between 0 and 255, separated by dots: 155.34.4.0
IP version 6 (IPv6) are six hexadecimal base numbers (16), separated by a colon: 2001: 0: 9d38: 6abd: 287e: 1e9c: 4e72
Data transmission
Files or documents travel between computers in pieces called packages. Each packet is transformed into a binary system of 1 and 0 in order to be sent to its destination.
These data packets have the IP address of the recipient and the sender associated. Special computers called routers send this information to the destination address. The destination computer receives the packets and rearranges them to the original document.
It is like taking apart a puzzle and sending each piece by a different postman to another place where it is put together.
Basic concepts on the internet:
To connect to the internet we can use a smartphone or a computer.
Page and website
An individual document is a web page, for example, this article is a web page. The web page is written in a programming language called HTML (for hypertext markup language).World Wide Web
The world wide web (or www) is a huge collection of documents or web pages with links to each other. Also known as the web or the network. Surfing the net is a common way of expressing that we are traveling or reviewing the different websites on the net.
Browser or browser
The browser is the program or application that is used to surf the net. For example, Internet Explorer is the Windows browser, Safari is that of Mac computers. There are also free browsers on the network such as Firefox and Google Chrome.
Cloud
The cloud is a secret password-protected area of the network that is not available to the general public. Here, registered customers or users can save and search files, run applications, and search for information securely. Examples of the cloud are the Microsoft OneDrive service and Apple's iCloud.Intranet
The intranet is a system for storing and retrieving information from a private company, based on the technological principles of the internet. It works as a mini internet of an organization. For example, universities have an intranet to which only members of that university can have access.Internet features
It is open to everyone: it is a public system that anyone can have access to.All connections are shared.
The information is presented in the form of text, images, and videos.
It has exponential growth.
It is not centralized: there is no one point that controls everyone else.
Types of internet connection
The wireless or wi-fi network transmits the data like a radio.
Internet connections have different bandwidths (or speeds) that partially depend on the capacity of the device connecting to the internet and the ISP. Broadband services mean higher speeds. Next, we mention the most used types of internet connection.
Digital subscription line
Digital Subscriber Line Service (DSL) is a form of broadband communication that can use telephone lines and fiber optic cables for transmission.
Cable
Another way to access the internet is through the cable television service company. For this, a computer called a splitter is required that separates television signals and internet data.Satellite
Satellite internet providers are an option in rural areas. This requires the installation of a satellite disk.Wireless network:
The wireless network does not require physical connections like cables since the information is transmitted by radio waves. It is what is known as wi-fi.
Cell phone network
On smartphones, you can access the internet through the telephone company's 3G, 4G or 5G network.
Communication by power line
The PLC technology (for the acronym in English, power line communications) takes advantage of the electrical wiring to establish the Internet connection through the plugs. For this, adapters that take the internet signal are plugged in.
Telephone modem
Initially, the internet connection was made through a modem, a computer that allowed phone calls and network connection, but not at the same time. It is practically deprecated due to the slow connection (56 kilobits per second).Internet uses:
The internet is part of many aspects of modern civilization. It is not uncommon to meet people who express that life, as we know it now, would be impossible without the internet. The current uses that we give to the internet are:
Information search: the amount of information that is available online is abysmal, the vast majority for free.
Education: we can learn about various subjects and areas, learn different languages and techniques, free or for a fee, all in the comfort of home. For example: on websites like edX.org and coursera.org, you can take courses from universities in Spain, Colombia, and the USA. without having to travel to those countries.
Online communication: we can talk and write messages to our family and friends anywhere in the world, whether, through email, text messaging or videoconference.
Fun and Games - Most people use their computers and smartphones to have fun, listen to music, watch videos, play video games.
Social networks: be it through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat, the internet has transformed the way of making friends and socializing.
Threats on the internet:
Malware:
Devices connected to the internet are at risk of being attacked by malware or malicious code. These are programs that do things without the user's permission or knowledge. This is considered a crime.
People who write these kinds of programs are known as hackers. Among the malware we can mention:
Viruses: Like viruses that infect humans, these programs are copied over and over again. They are executable codes that are attached to a program file so that when the program is run, the virus runs at the same time. These can destroy files, steal data, display annoying and inconvenient screens or messages.
Worm: It is an executable code that spreads through web pages, email and network connections. It can affect all contacts in the electronic directory and install malware.
Spyware: is a type of malware that spies on the use of the computer where it is installed and returns that information to the creator of the spyware.
Trojan: is a type of malware that appears to be running a harmless program, when in fact it is causing damage to the system.
Ransomware: it is a type of malware that shows a message on the screen requesting money to eliminate a problem. It may be a message that the computer has a virus and you have to pay for antivirus software to remove it.
Online privacy
Personal information is big business online. Identity plagiarism can be a serious problem.
Internet timeline
1876: Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone.
1896: Marconi establishes the first wireless sound transmission system.
1969: ARPA found the development of the first international ARPANET computer network.
1973: Motorola makes the first phone call with cellular mobile technology.
1981: IBM introduces the first personal computer using the MS-DOS operating system.
1982: GSM cell phone technology is developed.
1983: ARPANET uses TCP / IP protocols.
1985: The WELL computer program allows file sharing between computers.
1989: the world wide web (www) is invented in Switzerland by Tim Berners-Lee.
1998: Google begins operations.
2000: Google becomes the most popular search tool on the internet.
2005: YouTube appears.
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