The Internet: A User's Guide

The Internet has quietly revolutionized the business and information environment all over the world. Its use for social interaction and expression in today's society is awe-inspiring too. In an attempt to understand the technology that has made this possible, this book takes a broad perspective and answers questions such as 'What is the Internet?', 'What benefits does it offer?', and 'How to unleash its tremendous potential?'. It is an easy-to-read guide to understanding and navigating the Internet. Beginning with an overview of the Internet-its origin and growth, its capabilities, the services it offers, and its future prospects-the book explains the general and technical working of the Internet, the Internet architecture, the hardware and software requirements, and the connecting protocols. Later chapters explore the WWW, e-mail techniques, cyber crimes and security measures, file transfer methods and several other Internet services, with all the details illustrated through live screenshots. Picturesque descriptions of special computing tools, a large list of prominent Web sites and a glossary of Internet-related terms-these features make reading of the book a complete experience. Simple, yet engaging in style, the book will be useful for any course introducing students to the Internet or where the Internet is a part of the curriculum. It will also immensely benefit all those who are interested in developing the necessary skills to use the Internet through self-instructions in the cosy environment of their homes. The Internet has quietly revolutionized the business and information environment all over the world. Its use for social interaction and expression in today's society is awe-inspiring too. In an attempt to understand the technology that has made this possible, this book takes a broad perspective and answers questions such as 'What is the Internet?', 'What benefits does it offer?', and 'How to unleash its tremendous potential?'. It is an easy-to-read guide to understanding and navigating the Internet. Beginning with an overview of the Internet-its origin and growth, its capabilities, the services it offers, and its future prospects-the book explains the general and technical working of the Internet, the Internet architecture, the hardware and software requirements, and the connecting protocols. Later chapters explore the WWW, e-mail techniques, cyber crimes and security measures, file transfer methods and several other Internet services, with all the details illustrated through live screenshots. Picturesque descriptions of special computing tools, a large list of prominent Web sites and a glossary of Internet-related terms-these features make reading of the book a complete experience. Simple, yet engaging in style, the book will be useful for any course introducing students to the Internet or where the Internet is a part of the curriculum. It will also immensely benefit all those who are interested in developing the necessary skills to use the Internet through self-instructions in the cosy environment of their homes.