Introduction
Part 1: Understanding the Internet’s Underlying Architecture
Chapter 1 What Is the Internet?
Chapter 2 How Computer Networks Send Data
Across the Internet
Chapter 3 How TCP/IP Works
Chapter 4 Understanding the Internet’s Software Structure
Chapter 5 How Internet Addresses and Domains Work
Chapter 6 How Routers Work
Part 2: Connecting to the Internet
Chapter 7 How Computers Connect to the Internet
Chapter 8
How Internet/Television Connections Work
Chapter 9
How Wireless Connections and WiFI Work
Chapter 10
How Home Networks Work
Part 3: Communicating on the Internet
Chapter 11 How Email Works
Chapter 12 How Email Spam Works
Chapter 13 How Newsgroups Work
Chapter 14 How Internet Chat and Instant Messaging Work
Chapter 15 How Skype and VoIP Work
Chapter 16 How Blogging and RSS Work
Part 4: How the World Wide Web Works
Chapter 17 How Web Pages Work
Chapter 18 How Web Browsers Work
Chapter 19 How Markup Languages Work
Chapter 20 How Hypertext Works
Chapter 21 How URLs Work
Chapter 22 How Image Maps and Interactive Forms Work
Chapter 23 How Web Host Servers Work
Chapter 24 How Websites Work with Databases
Chapter 25 How .NET and Web Services Work
Chapter 26 How Grid Computing Works
Part 5: Using the World Wide Web
Chapter 27 How Internet Searching Works
Chapter 28 How Google Works
Chapter 29 How Map Sites Work
Chapter 30 How Wikis and Wikipedia Work
Part 6: Using Common Internet Tools
Chapter 31 How Telnet Works
Chapter 32 How FTP Works
Chapter 33 How Agents Work
Chapter 34 How Java, ActiveX, and JavaScript Work
Chapter 35 How CGI Scripting Works
Part 7: Enjoying Entertainment and Multimedia on the Internet
Chapter 36 How Music and Audio Work on the Internet
Chapter 37 How iPods, iTunes, and Podcasting Work
Chapter 38 How Music Sharing and File Sharing Work
Chapter 39 How Multicast IP and the MBone Work
Chapter 40 How Virtual Reality Is Created by VRML
Chapter 41 How Animation on the Web Works
Part 8: Shopping and Doing Business on the Internet
Chapter 42 How Intranets Work
Chapter 43 Shopping on the Internet
Part 9: Protecting Yourself on the Internet
Chapter 44 How Firewalls Wor
Chapter 45 How Hackers Can Cripple the Internet and Attack Your PC
Chapter 46 The Dangers of Wireless Networking
Chapter 47 How Viruses Work
Chapter 48 How Internet Sites Can Invade Your Privacy
Chapter 49 The Dangers of Spyware and Phishing
Chapter 50 Cryptography, Privacy, and Digital Certificates
Chapter 51 How Government and Workplace Surveillance Work
Chapter 52 Parental Controls on the Internet
Glossary
0789736268, TOC, 10/10/06
Simple, clear explanations walk you through every technology
Detailed explanations walk you through the technology.
The Internet has changed the world... and, with everything from blogs to podcasts, Internet phones to video, it’s still changing the world. Now, it’s easy to understand how it all works! This book’s big, brilliant, full-color illustrations and clear explanations make it all incredibly simple!
DISCOVER HOW THE INTERNET REALLY WORKS... IT’S AMAZINGLY EASY!
This new edition has been completely updated for today’s hottest Internet technologies, Web connections, hardware, communications and entertainment services, and much more!
• See how the Internet can deliver any kind of information, anywhere: web pages, email, music, video, phone calls, and more!
• Understand the most exciting new Internet technologies, from blogs and podcasting to wikis and BitTorrent
• Discover how your connection to the Internet works... wireless, cable modem, DSL, even cellphones
• Go behind the scenes with today’s most sophisticated websites, applications, and services
• Protect yourself from the latest Internet dangers, including phishing, web surveillance, and wireless hacking
Preston Gralla is the award-winning author of more than 30 books, including How the Internet Works, Complete Idiot’s Guide to Internet Privacy and Security, Complete Idiot’s Guide to Protecting Your Child Online, and How Wireless Works. He has written
frequently about security issues, computer technology, the Internet, and has been a columnist for many magazines, websites
and newspapers.
Preston Gralla
is the award-winning author of 20 books, including
How Wireless Works
, How To Expand and Upgrade PCs, and TheComplete Idiot’s Guide to Protecting Yourself Online
. He is an executiveeditor and columnist for CNet and ZDNet; is a technology columnist
for the Dallas Morning News; and has written about technology
for many magazines and newspapers, including USA Today, PC
Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Boston Magazine, PC/Computing,
Computerworld
, and FamilyPC among many others. Gralla has wonseveral writing and editing awards, including one from the
Computer Press Association for the best feature article in a computer
magazine.
As a well-known expert on computers and the Internet, he has appeared
frequently on numerous TV and radio shows and networks,
including the CBS Early Show, CNN, National Public Radio’s All
Things Considered, MSNBC, CNBC, TechTV, and CNet Radio.
He was the founding managing editor of the well-known newspaper
PC Week
and a founding editor of PC/Computing. Under his editorship,
PC/Computing
was a finalist for General Excellence from the
National Magazine Awards.
Gralla lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with his wife Lydia, children
Gabriel and Mia, and a rabbit named Polichinelle. He also
writes the free Gralla’s Internet Insider email newsletter. To subscribe
to it for free, send an email to preston@gralla.com with the
words SUBSCRIBE NETINSIDER on the subject line.