IC3 - Lesson 13: Looking at the Internet

What is a "breadcrumb" or a "breadcrumb trail"? When can breadcrumbs be used on a web site?

A BREADCRUMB or BREADCRUMB TRAIL is a type of secondary navigation scheme that shows the user's current location in a web site. Breadcrumbs can be used on a web site that has a large amount of content that is organized hierarchically (broadest to narrowest, like in File Explorer). Not all web sites use breadcrumbs.

What does a "DNS server" do?

A DNS SERVER on the internet interprets the text-based names and changes them into their IPv4 equivalent. The text-based names and their IPv4 equivalents are stored in a DNS database. A DNS record is an entry in a DNS database.

What is a "network"? What is the "internet"?

A NETWORK is two or more computers connected together. The INTERNET is made of many smaller networks which are connected together so that they can communicate and share information.

What is a "packet"? What does a packet contain?

A PACKET is a package of information. It contains the address information for both the device that is sending the information and the device that is receiving it. All data that is sent over a network is broken down into packets (the process of PACKETIZATION) before it is transmitted across the network.

What is a "plug-in"? What does it do?

A PLUG-IN is a third-party application that extends the abilities of the browser. Generally, these are full software applications that run in their own windows. Adobe Flash Player and Windows Media Player are examples of plug-ins. Plug-ins usually have particular file type(s) associated with them.

What is a "pop-up"? What does it contain? Why can they be dangerous?

A POP-UP is a small browser window that opens on top of the page you are viewing. Pop-ups contain command buttons or options that must be selected before you can continue with the current task. They can remind the viewer to enter required information, but they can also be used for advertising. Pop-ups can also be used for PHISHING (tricking users into sharing sensitive information) or infecting a computer with malware.

What is a "URL"? What are the two parts of a URL? What separates the two parts?

A URL is a UNIFORM RESOURCE LOCATOR which is a text-based web site address. The two parts of a URL are the PROTOCOL IDENTIFIER and the DOMAIN NAME. They are separated by a colon (:) and two forward slashes (//). For example: http://www.cuny.edu or http://www.cnn.com.

What is a "browser"? What is a browser designed to do?

A WEB BROWSER or BROWSER is a software application that enables users to easily access, view and navigate web pages on the internet. Its primary function is to retrieve pages from a web server and display them on your screen.

What is a "web page"?

A WEB PAGE is a file created with HTML.

What is a "web widget" or a "widget"? What is it used for?

A WIDGET or WEB WIDGET is a small self-contained program that a web designer can add to a web page. It is used to display live, dynamic content and provide additional functionality to a web page. It is used for data such as weather forecasts, news feeds, clocks, flight information, and more.

What is a good thing about a public network? What is a bad thing about a public network?

A good thing about a public network is that any computer can exchange email, data, and programs with any other computer. One bad thing about the internet is that computers can exchange malware and computers are vulnerable to unwanted activity such as theft of personal information or eavesdropping (secretly listening to what other people are saying).

What is a browser scroll bar used for? What are the parts of a scroll bar?

A horizontal or vertical SCROLL BAR is used to see parts of the page when the window is too small to show all the contents of a web page. The parts of a scroll bar are an arrow button at each end of the bar and the scroll area. The action of moving the scroll bar is called SCROLLING. To scroll, you can click on either arrow or drag the dark area in a direction.

What is a private network? What do you need to access a private network?

A private network is one run by an individual, a school, an organization, or a company where you need a user name and password to get on the network and there are protections against unwanted access.

Who provides the content of a widget?

A widget runs inside a container and the content comes from an outside source but is displayed within its container on the web page. The content of a widget is determined by the publisher and you do not have any control over its content.

What are the pages that are usually included on a commercial web site? What information does each include?

ABOUT US - this page gives information about the company or organization that owns the web site. PRIVACY POLICY = Any site that collects personal information should include a description of how they use that information. LOGIN PAGE - A page that allows a user to login to access to secure areas of the web site. ONLINE STORE - Pages that allow you to make purchases over the internet.

What information and which icons appear in the browser address bar?

ADDRESS BAR: Contains the URL of the page currently displayed in the browser window. BROWSER WINDOW TITLE TAB: If the web page has a title, it is shown here. SHOW ADDRESS/HISTORY: Clicking on the ↓ will show a history of previously visited web pages. SECURITY REPORT: Clicking on the lock icon (🔒) will display the digital certificate on an https page. REFRESH: Clicking on the circular arrow refreshes or re-displays the contents of a page.

What is an "add-on"? What does it do?

An ADD-ON is a browser-specific application that modifies the browser interface. A Google search bar or a Firefox theme are examples of add-ons. The terms "ADD-ONS", "PLUG-INS" and "EXTENSIONS" are used loosely and are often interchangeable.

What is an "in-browser app"? How does the Pocket app work?

An IN-BROWSER APP is a web-based type of browser extension that links the browser to a web service. An example of an in-browser app is the Pocket app which manages a reading list of articles from the internet. Once you set up an account with Pocket, you click on a link in your browser to add an article on the current web page to your Pocket list.

What is an "intranet"? What is it used for?

An INTRANET or INTERNAL WEBSITE is a private network for a corporation or organization that only those with permission can access. An intranet allows employees, partners or students to access private LAN resources from outside the LAN. An intranet is similar to a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

What is an "ISP"? How do ISPs get internet access?

An ISP is an INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER, such as a cable or phone company. Local ISPs negotiate with Tier 1 providers for internet access. Individual consumers and businesses buy their internet service from a local ISP.

What is an "IXP"? What does it do?

An IXP is an INTERNET EXCHANGE POINT. It is located on the backbone and is a point at which the Tier 1 provider networks connect with each other. High speed routers keep network traffic moving.

What happens to the packets when they reach their destination?

At the destination, the packets are reassembled into the original data transmission.

What are the navigation buttons that are included on a web page? What do they do?

BACK button: (a left pointing arrow) moves back one page. FORWARD button: (a right pointing arrow) Once you have moved back one page, you can use the forward button to move forward one page. REFRESH: A circular arrow used to reload a page if it doesn't load properly.

What is "tabbed browsing"? How do you use tabbed web sites?

Browsers allowed you to look at different web pages, each on a different tab so you can switch from one to another. This is called TABBED BROWSING. Only one tab is visible at any time. To create a new tab, click on the " + "; or CTRL+T; or right-click on the active tab and click "New Tab"; or right-click on a hyperlink and choosing "Open in new tab".

What is a "pop-up blocker"? How do you use it?

Browsers include POP-UP BLOCKERS, which stop pop-ups and is usually turned on by default. You can change the settings of the pop-up blocker by clicking on Tools/Internet Options/Privacy/(Turn on Pop-up Blocker or Settings). You can add sites to the "Allowed list" or specify a blocking level of High, Medium or Low.

How can you manage, organize and delete your bookmarks?

Browsers include a management tool for working with bookmarks. You can organize your bookmarks into folders, change the order in which they appear in the bookmarks menu, and delete them.

What is "private browsing"?

Browsers provide PRIVATE BROWSING options that allow you to surf (search) the web without saving any information about your browsing. Your actions are not recorded and no cookies or search history are saved during private browsing. You should know how to turn on private browsing sessions in the browser you are using (see p.449)

What is a "cookie"? What does it contain? How can cookies improve your browsing?

COOKIES are small text files placed on your computer when you visit a web site that store information about your preferences. If you allow cookie downloads, then each time you visit a site, your computer sends the cookie to the web server. Cookies can improve browsing by letting sites remember your preferences or by signing in for you each time you visit the site.

What is "CSS"? What is it used for? Which properties of a Web page are defined by CSS?

CSS is CASCADING STYLE SHEETS. CSS is used to design the presentation of the web page. Web page designers can choose font colors, backgrounds, alignment, etc. using CSS. [A cascade (n) means 1) a small, steep waterfall, 2) a large amount of something that flows or hangs down, or 3) a large number of things that happen quickly in a series. To cascade (v) means to flow or hang down in large amounts]

What are the common elements found on most web pages? What is the purpose of each one?

Common elements include: LOGO - of the company or organization responsible for the web site. It is usually located in the upper left-hand corner of every page. Usually the logo is a hyperlink to the home page. BUTTON - an interactive graphic that performs an action when you click on it. NAVIGATION BAR - contains tabs or links that are the primary means of moving around the web site. MENUS - tabs on the Navigation Bar often feature pull-down menus that allow a user to navigate directly to a specific page.

What is a "Tier 1 provider"?

Companies that operate networks on the backbone are called TIER 1 PROVIDERS.

What are documents called that are hosted on web servers?

Documents hosted on web servers are called WEB PAGES.

What is the function of routers on the internet?

Each router along the internet reads the address information and forwards the packet to another router. The packet travel along interconnecting networks until it reaches the network where the receiving device is located. Routers also determine the best path for a transmission to take and pass that transmission on to the next router on the path.

What is a "browsing history"? How can you delete your browsing history?

Every browser has a browsing history function that stores the URLs of web sites you have visited within a defined period of time (or until you delete them). This provides a convenient way to revisit web sites without retyping the URL. You should know how to delete the browsing history in the browser you are using (see p.448-449).

Each computer on a network must have a unique_____?____

Every computer must have a unique IP address.

What are "HTML elements" or "HTML tags"?

HTML ELEMENTS or HTML TAGS are instructions for the structure, formatting and display of content for the web page that are enclosed in angle brackets (< , >). They usually appear in pairs, with an "opening tag" and a "closing tag". This is an example of an HTML tag: <a href="hope.html">Computer Hope</a>

What is "HTML"? What is it used for? Which properties of a Web page are defined by HTML?

HTML is HYPERTEXT MARKUP LANGUAGE. Web page authors used HTML to add text, hyperlinks, applications, video clips, sound and animation to web pages. HTML is used to define the content and structure of a web page.

What language are hyperlinks written in? What are the two parts of a hyperlink?

Hyperlinks are written in HTML and are embedded into web pages. Generally, a hyperlink consists of LINK TEXT (the part you click on) and a TARGET (the page you are transferred to). [Embed (v) = to place or set (something) firmly in something else].

Why do hyperlinks sometimes display in another color?

If you return to a previous page after clicking a hyperlink, the hyperlink may display in a different color, indicating you have already clicked on it.

Why can cookies sometimes be a threat to your privacy?

If you save your user names and passwords when the browser asks you, this information is saved in a cookie. Cookies can also track the web sites you visit and the options you select. This information can be stolen and sold to vendors or other people.

What is a "bookmark" or a "favorite"? What is it used for? How is it saved?

If you use a web site frequently, you can save the URL of that site in a special folder for easy access. A URL in this folder is called a BOOKMARK or FAVORITE. You can also save your favorites in a FAVORITES BAR or BOOKMARKS BAR which can be displayed in the main browser window. Generally, when you are on a page and you want to save it, you open the Bookmarks or Favorites menu and click on "Bookmark this page" (or something similar).

What is a "data payload"?

In addition to the addresses, the packet also contains a DATA PAYLOAD, which is the actual information that is being sent from one device to the other.

Who owns the internet?

It is not owned by anyone. It is a public network and can be used by anyone with a valid IP address and an internet connection.

A search engine is not a browser, but you can search the web from the address bar of a browser. Why?

Many browsers include a default search engine that you can search from the address bar. You can change the search engine.

What are the names of some popular browsers and which company developed each one?

Microsoft Edge (newest), Microsoft Internet Explorer (one of the first GUI browsers), Mozilla Firefox (open source), Google Chrome, Opera (one of the earliest), Apple Safari (also available in a Windows version).

How can you sync (synchronize) your bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, and other preferences across all your devices?

Most browsers have free online accounts that allow you to sync your bookmarks, passwords, browser history, tabs, and more across all your devices.

Working on the web exposes you to more than hackers and malware. What other dangers are there? How can you protect yourself?

Other dangers are identity theft or theft of private or sensitive information. The best protection is to keep yourself educated and aware of potential dangers and to engage in safe computing.

What are the physical parts of the internet?

Physically, the internet is a collection of hardware including cables, routers, switches, microwave links, servers and communication protocols.

What are the second-level domains?

SECOND-LEVEL DOMAINS can be either: a domain name registered by the company that owns it (amazon.com) OR categories of the top-level domain. (For example, net.uk is used by ISPs in the United Kingdom and parliament.uk is used by the British Parliament.)

What is a "subdomain"?

Second-level domains can be divided further into SUBDOMAINS. For example: bcc.cuny.edu.

What choices do you have in controlling cookies?

Some of the choices to control cookies are: to delete cookies and site data when the browser is closed, block third-party cookies, block sites from sending any data, and more.

Why do web pages sometimes look different in different browsers? If you have problems accessing a web site or feature on a web site, what should you do?

Sometimes a web page looks different in one web browser than in another because browsers do not all interpret HTML and CSS coding in the same way. Also, not all browsers are coded to handle the latest HTML tags. If you have problems with a web page, try viewing it in a different browser.

What is the "AutoFill" or "AutoComplete" feature? Why does using this feature put you at risk of identity theft?

The AUTOFILL or AUTOCOMPLETE feature automatically fills out online forms with names, address and credit card information. If you allow your browser to save your web site passwords, this is also part of this feature. This can put you at risk of identity theft if your computer is compromised (infected). You can configure this feature in your browser.

What is the "backbone" of the internet?

The BACKBONE of the internet is a series of redundant, high-speed networks that are owned and operated by some of the largest long-distance voice carriers, such as AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc. (redundant = parts that duplicate each other so that if one part fails, there is always a backup available)

What is the "browser cache" (pronounced "cash")? What is it used for? Is personal information saved in the browser cache?

The BROWSER CACHE is a folder on your hard drive that stores downloaded files such as web pages, images or fonts. The cache improves your browser's performance because it allows you to view previously accessed pages without having to request them from the server again. Personal information entered on the page is also stored in the browser cache. For this reason, if you are on a public computer, you should always delete the browsing history when you are done.

What are the three domain levels?

The DNS is arranged into a hierarchy (Iike a file directory). The ROOT-LEVEL DOMAIN is the top of the hierarchy. The second level are the TOP LEVEL DOMAINS. The third level are the SECOND LEVEL DOMAINS.

What is the "DNS"? What does it do?

The DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM (DNS) is a service that keeps track of the specific IP addresses of web servers around the internet and matches those IP addresses to the text-based names we type in our browsers. (For every text-based name, such as google.com, there is an equivalent dotted quad equivalent which routers and servers can read.)

In IPv4, what does the "dotted quad notation" look like?

The DOTTED QUAD NOTATION in IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) consists of 4 numbers separated by periods or dots. Each number may be from 0 to 255, for example 1.321.14.567 or 512.31.378.3.

What are the "generic top-level domains" and what does each refer to?

The GENERIC TOP LEVEL DOMAINS are: .com representing commercial or company sites, .net representing commercial sites hosted on a network managed by an ISP, .edu for sites hosted by an educational organization or research organization, .gov for sites hosted by a local, regional or national government, .int for sites hosted by international organizations, .mil for sites hosted by military organizations, .org for sites hosted by non-profit organizations, and others....

What is a "home page" or "index page" of a web site? What does it contain?

The HOME PAGE or INDEX PAGE is usually the top-level page you see when you access a web site. It contains links to all the other pages on the web site, allowing you to navigate through the pages. Each lower-level page contains a "Home" link that will take you back to the home page.

What is the "World Wide Web"?

The WORLD WIDE WEB is a system of interlinked documents that are accessible on the network that is called the internet.

What are the three parts of a domain name?

The first part identifies the name of the web server. The second part contains the Registered Domain Name and identifies the organization that owns the domain name. Each domain name is unique and is registered with ICANN (Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers). The third part is the Top-level Domain, which identifies the category of the registered domain name. Examples: www.microsoft.com, www.uscis.gov, www.cuny.edu

What is a home page of a browser? What is the icon for a home page?

The home page used to be the start page for a browser. Now the home page is what appears when you click on the house icon.

What is the other top-level domain?

The other top-level domains are COUNTRY CODE TOP LEVEL DOMAINS. They are two-letter abbreviations identifying the country in which the web site is hosted. An example is: www.gov.uk.

What is the purpose of the "Navigation Bar" on a web page?

The purpose of a Navigation Bar is to provide links to various areas of the web site. It is similar to a table of contents - it shows what is on the site and how to get there.

What are the standard Windows control buttons on a web page?

The standard Windows control buttons are: Minimize, Maximize, Restore, and Close.

What is a start page of a browser? What is the difference between a home page and a start page?

The start page is the page that displays when you open a browser. You can use the default start page or configure both the home page and the start page.

What are the different kinds of cookies?

The three kinds of cookies are: FIRST-PARTY COOKIES which come from the web site you are currently viewing THIRD-PARTY COOKIES which come from another party on the web site, such as an advertiser SESSION COOKIES which are stored in temporary memory and are erased when you close the web browser (which is why you should shut down your browser regularly).

What are the two factors that affect how quickly a web page will be downloaded on your computer?

The two factors that affect how quickly a web page will download are the speed of your internet connection and the file size of the elements on the web page.

What are the two network connection types? What is the difference? What do they allow, or not allow, you to do?

There are PRIVATE and PUBLIC types of connections. If you set up a PRIVATE CONNECTION, then your device will identify other computers, devices and content on the network. Your device also becomes discoverable by other computers on the network. If you set up a PUBLIC CONNECTION, Windows will not allow your PC to be discovered by other computers on the network and sharing will be disabled.

What are the mouse actions that are generally used on web pages? What does each action do?

To use a mouse on a web site, the following actions are used: SINGLE CLICK - To follow a link or to click on a button to perform an action. DOUBLE-CLICK - A single click is all that is necessary, but a double-click can be used to select a word on a page. (When shopping, a double click may result in a duplicate order.) DELAYED CLICK or LONG PRESS - This has no result until the mouse button is released. (On a touch screen, a long press may open a shortcut menu or an option to copy text.) POINTING - when the mouse pointer is held over web elements, it may display a pull-down menu or indicate the existence of a hyperlink. MOUSE OVER - this is a special effect that displays when you pass or point your mouse over a specific object on the screen, such as changing the appearance of a button or link, or displaying a drop-down menu.

What information do the "breadcrumbs" show?

Usually the breadcrumbs display text links (for each page) separated by symbols such as ">" or "/". For example, in http://www.bcc.cuny.edu/academics/student-success-programs/adult-education-training-program/, the user is currently on the "Adult Ed and Training Program" page, which was reached by clicking on the "Student Success Programs" link on the "Academics" page. The "Academics" page was reached by clicking on a link on the BCC home page. You can return to any previous page by clicking on that portion of the breadcrumb trail.

What are the "Protocol Identifiers" that are described and what are they used for?

Various protocols are used on the internet to communicate with specific types of servers. (A PROTOCOL is a standard used to define a method of exchanging data over a computer network.) HTTP (HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL) is used to request web pages from a web server. HTTPS (HTTP SECURE) is used for secure Web transactions. FTP (FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL) is used to transfer large files from a user's computer to a special server called an FTP server.

What is a "hyperlink"? What is it used for?

Web pages contain HYPERLINKS. When you click on these links, you are connected to another page located on the internet or another section of the current web page. These hyperlinks form the connections that make the web possible.

When you move the mouse over a hyperlink, what do you see?

When you hold the mouse over a hyperlink, the mouse pointer changes to an icon of a pointing hand.

What goes on in your computer when you visit a web page?

When you visit a web page, the page and any pictures or audio or video files are downloaded automatically, but separately, from the web server onto your computer. They are stored on your hard drive in a special folder designed to hold temporary internet files.

What are examples of the settings you can configure in a browser?

You can add icons to the toolbar for various actions, you can restore the previous browsing session at startup, you can choose the font, size and color of the text on the pages, you can choose where to save downloaded files, you can set privacy levels, and more.