Each definition of the Internet is a simplified statement and runs the risk of being outdated within a short time. What is usually referred to as the Internet is a network of thousands of computer networks (so called autonomous systems) run by governmental authorities, companies, and universities, etc. Generally speaking, every time a user connects to a computer networks, a new Internet is created. Technically speaking, the Internet is a
What constitutes the Internet is constantly changing. Certainly the state of the future Net will be different to the present one. Some years ago the Internet could still be described as a network of computer networks using a common communication protocol, the so-called
Also, the Internet is not solely constituted by computers connected to other computers, because there are also point-of-sale terminals, cameras, robots, telescopes, cellular phones, TV sets and and an assortment of other hardware components that are connected to the Internet.
At the core of the Internet are so-called
Since these networks are often privately owned, any description of the Internet as a public network is not an accurate. It is easier to say what the Internet is not than to say what it is. On 24 October, 1995 the U.S.
What is generally and in a simplyfiying manner called the Internet, may be better referred to as the Matrix, a term introduced by science fiction writer
Strictly speaking, the Matrix is not a medium; it is a platform for resources: for media and services. The Matrix is mainly a very powerful means for making information easily accessible worldwide, for sending and receiving messages, videos, texts and audio files, for transferring funds and trading securities, for sharing resources, for collecting weather condition data, for
For a comprehensive view of uses of the Matrix, especially the World Wide Web, see "
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What we seem to fear most is to get into a status of insecurity - given that the definitions of the word security vary extremely. Thus methods of securing ideas, people, things or data increase their popularity and necessity tremendously. One of them is cryptography - as well as the prohibition/restriction of cryptography.
Questions whether cryptography is absolutely inevitable or on the contrary supports certain criminals more than the ordinary internet-user, are arising. And as the last developments in international and national law showed, Northern governments are changing opinion about that, due to economic tasks.
Business needs cryptography.
Still, the use of cryptography is no recent invention. Already the first steps in writing or even in human communication itself meant developing codes for keeping secrets at the same time as providing information.
This site gives a timeline for the history of cryptography, provides an introduction into the most important terms of tools and devices connected to that topic, and finally tries to interpret necessities for and ideas against cryptography or in other words leads through the current discussions concerning democracy and governmental fears and doubts regarding the security of data-transmission.
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Copyright law is a branch of
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On behalf of the
Internet Society:
IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) manufactures and develops cumputer hardware equipment, application and sysem software, and related equipment.
IBM produced the first PC (Personal Computer), and its decision to make Microsoft DOS the standard operating system initiated Microsoft's rise to global dominance in PC software.
Business indicators:
1999 Sales: $ 86,548 (+ 7,2 % from 1998)
Market capitalization: $ 181 bn
Employees: approx. 291,000
Corporate website: