| Internet | | | | and the IP for the said computer is available. The |
| The Internet was started in 1969. It started from local | | | | question is how they get a computer's number, i.e. IP |
| area network. Let me explain what is a local area | | | | address. Here are different possible ways of stealing |
| network. Computers connected with each other in a | | | | or gaining access to IP address of a machine. |
| house or company makes a local area network. On | | | | Generally talking if someone has access to a |
| the other hand wide area network is the combination | | | | computer then they can easily get it by punching a |
| of countless LANs, wide area networks and individual | | | | few simple commands. The IP address can be found |
| machine around the world. All computers in the world | | | | during a chatting session. That's why Internet security is |
| when connected together make a network, which is | | | | the greatest challenge for IT professionals. Spamming |
| known as Internet. These computers are connected | | | | is another way of hacking a computer. In the Spam |
| through different ways via ISPs. Let me explain what | | | | emails users are instructed to click on fake links and as |
| is an ISP. Those companies who provide Internet | | | | soon as they click, scripts and spyware are download |
| service to computer users are called Internet service | | | | into their computer resulting in hacking. |
| providers. These ISPs offer two types of connections. | | | | Hackers use different programs to scan other people |
| One is called slow speed or dialup and the other is | | | | computers to get the computer number. In that case |
| known as high speed. Dialup gives a maximum speed | | | | they never know whose computer number they are |
| of 56 kbps. High speed connections starts from 56kps | | | | getting. In such cases the target computers are used |
| and go behind 13mps (mega bit per second). ISPs | | | | for advertisements or identity theft. Let me explain |
| provide different monthly packages for this service. | | | | how identity theft happens. A computer is a powerful |
| Every package is priced according to the speed. | | | | tool in our life. We use it for checking emails, buy or sell |
| Suppose you have Internet service setup on your | | | | items online; do our banking, schoolwork and many |
| computer and you turn on it on, you are already on | | | | other daily life activities. All these activities are done |
| Internet. Just like in real world everybody has a name, | | | | through user id and password and that is what |
| on Internet every computer has a unique number, | | | | hackers usually search for. After they get the unique |
| which is called IP (Internet Protocol) address. This | | | | IP number, they download programs in other people |
| number can be used to identify a computer. So if a | | | | computers. One bad fact about hacking is, location, |
| computer in one part of the world wants to talk to | | | | they can be local or they may be sitting in other part |
| another computer in the other part of the world, that | | | | of the world. Hackers can be blocked through different |
| machine will be using this number to talk to the other | | | | types of technologies i.e. hardware and software. In |
| computer. That is how these computers and computer | | | | both cases there is one main idea behind it and that |
| users can communicate with each other. If someone | | | | idea is called firewall. A firewall is like a security guard |
| knows a computer number i.e. the IP address then he | | | | on the entrance of a building. It stops all unauthorized |
| or she can connect to any computer (using the right | | | | access to computer. Rules are setup on fire walled |
| tools) specially if that computer has a week security. | | | | computers to allow or deny access through local and |
| Hackers | | | | wide area network. |
| Those computer users who gain unauthorized access | | | | Internet is a great tool. Let's hope everybody use it for |
| to other people computers are called hackers. This is | | | | a better life. To me Internet is power. Long live Internet. |
| possible if the target computer is weak on security | | | | |