The Internet

1. The Internet can be described as a network of networks.

2. You can access the Internet through Internet Service Providers.

3. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides a permanent connection to the Internet.

4. When you log on and your password has been validated you are allowed access to the ISP’s file server.

5. The ISPs have a set monthly fee or a charge based on the usage.

6. The World Wide Web (WWW) is a part of the Internet.

7. It includes text, graphics, sound, video and animation called 'hypertext'.

8. To take full advantage of the WWW you need special software called browser.

9. The most popular browsers are Mozilla, Internet Explorer and Opera.

10. A website allows communication between its owner and the outside world.

11. Websites can be written using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).

12. Websites are stored on the space allocated by ISPs.

Computer Security

1. Computer security is concerned with taking care of hardware, software and data.

2. Data are more expensive to recreate than the stolen computer system.

3. That is why data should be backed up regularly and stored securely away from the computer.

4. Computer equipment and its data need to be protected from physical harm.

5. Hazards could include natural ones such as fire, lightning, water damage, etc., and can also include deliberate damage or theft.

6. To protect a computer system from deliberate damage or theft security around it should be improved.

7. Serial numbers of computers and peripherals are often the only way to identify stolen equipment.

8. Fires are the result of faulty wiring or overloaded sockets.

9. Smoke detectors should be used to detect fires at an early stage.

10. Gas flooding systems are preferred to water ones because the damage done by water is often greater than that by the fire.

11. Air conditioning is important for larger mainframe systems where the temperature and the humidity must be controlled.

Software Security

1. The most common ways of providing software security are 1) antivirus software, 2) backing up data, 3) limiting access to the system or certain files and 4) encrypting files.

2. Viruses disrupt the sensible use of computers.

3. Some of them can erase the entire contents of your hard disk.

4. Antivirus software is used to detect and remove viruses.

5. Backing up data means taking a copy of the data and keeping it away from the computer in a secure place.

6. Backup copies of the programs and data on a hard disk should be taken at regular intervals.

7. One way to limit access to a computer is to use a password.

8. It is never shown on the screen and should be changed regularly.

9. Many large systems use software to limit each user’s access to certain files.

10. It is also important to restrict access to a computer’s operating system for inexperienced users.

11. Encryption is often used when data is transmitted from one place to another.

12. The data is coded before being sent and then decoded at the other end.