INTERNET AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY — BASICS, SERVICES AND CYBER SAFETY

PRERNA FOR IAS

         Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari

         Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath

INTERNET AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY — BASICS, SERVICES AND CYBER SAFETY

1. Meaning of the Internet

• The Internet is a worldwide system of interconnected computer networks that communicate using standard protocols, principally TCP/IP.
• It enables computers, smartphones and other digital devices to exchange information across geographical boundaries.
• The Internet supports communication, education, banking, governance, commerce, entertainment and scientific research.
• It should not be confused with the World Wide Web, which is only one of the services available through the Internet.

2. World Wide Web (WWW)

• WWW stands for World Wide Web and consists of interlinked web pages and online resources accessed through browsers.
• The Web was developed by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN around 1989–90.
• Websites are identified by URLs and are commonly accessed using protocols such as HTTP or HTTPS.
• A browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari retrieves and displays web content.

3. Development of the Internet

• The Internet evolved from earlier packet-switching networks, especially ARPANET, rather than being invented by one individual.
• Vint Cerf and Robert Kahn made fundamental contributions to the development of the TCP/IP protocols and are often called pioneers or “fathers of the Internet.”
• TCP/IP became the standard networking protocol for ARPANET in 1983, an important milestone in modern Internet development.

4. Electronic Mail

• Email enables users to exchange electronic messages through computer networks.
• Ray Tomlinson sent a pioneering networked email in 1971 and popularised the use of the @ symbol in email addressing.
• Modern email can carry text, images, documents and other attachments.
• Users should remain cautious about unknown attachments and suspicious links because email is also widely used for cyber fraud.

5. IP Address and Domain Name