Cat Theory
Cat Theory
1
Sunday, May 7, 2023 6:59 PM
• The internet
o Worldwide computer network consisting of computers devices and
networks linked using some forms of communication media
• WAN
o A network spread over a wide geographical area such as a city, country or
even continents
• ISP
o Company that has a permanent fast connection to the internet and that
sells internet access and services for a monthly fee
Most people prefer a broadband - a high speed, high bandwidth connection to the
internet
• ADSL = permanent digital connection to the internet using a normal telephone line
o Split into two channels one for phone calls + and one for internet
• Fiber
o Data is transmitted along thin glass fiber tubes.
o Much faster than electrical transmission over copper cables used in
ADSL
Wired
Wireless
Wi-Fi
• Way of connectivity to an existing ADSL or fiber connection wirelessly
o Fairly small area of coverage
o WIFI at a public hotspot can provide cheaper or free access
o Can use ADSL router to create own WIFI network
o Password needed the first time you connect a device to WIFI
o Your device will also detect other WIFI networks
✓ Always on
○ Laptop has to boot up or wake up from sleep mode before you can use it
○ Delays are difference between using mobile devices and traditional computing
devices
✓ Always connected
○ To tell you when you are being communicated with via phone, instant messaging
or VoIP services
✓ 3G/4G
○ Connect to the internet using cellular technology whenever a cellphone signal is
available
✓ Wi-Fi vs cellular
○ Usually only an issue for tablets models with Wi-Fi re less expensive
○ Makes more sense to het a model with cellular data so you can access the
internet wherever you are
Social engineering
○ Any attempt to manipulate or con someone I to giving out confidential
information which can be used to impersonate them to install malware
Malware
○ Any software that is written with negative intentions
Phishing
○ It refers to attempts from people to con the user into giving out confidential
details such as pin numbers + passwords by posing as legitimate organization
usually via email
Pharming
○ Scamming practice where user is redirected to another fake website even when
the user types in a valid URL in their browser. A criminal can use any data
inputted by the user
Click - Jacking
○ An attack where a site appears to one thing but your clicks are redirected to do
something else
Spoofing
○ E-mail spoofing is the forgery of an email header so that the email appears to be
from a different origin or person
Spyware
○ Technique or software that tries to monitor and track the way you use your
computer and then reports this information to a third party
Keylogger
○ Kind of spy that records your keystrokes + movements of your mouse +
screenshots of what is displayed in your screen as you type in an attempt to
discover your usernames and passwords
Computer Virus
○ Malware written to disrupt the normal functioning of a person's computer
without their knowledge or consent.
○ Used to turn your computer into a bot to spread malware or to create security
loopholes for other programs to exploit
Computer worm
○ A computer worm is malware that is able to distribute itself over a network
normally via email =, without a person having an infected program
Trojan
Type of malware which is a destructive program disguised as a useful application.
Ransomware
○ Malware that encrypts data until you pay a ransom fee
Adware
○ Software that downloads onto your computer and bombards your computer with
adverts that pop-up whenever you are connected to the internet
Bots
○ A computer that has been compromised and can be controlled remotely when it
is on and connected to the internet. Also called a zombie
Harassment
○ Cyberstalking
○ Spam = unwanted and sometimes embarrassing adverts through email
○ Uploading unauthorized pictures on the web
○ Cyberbullying
Internet Attacks
○ Attacks on businesses
○ Attacks on websites
○ Cyberterrorism
○ Denial of service
Computers + theft
○ Bandwidth
○ Identity theft
○ Processing time and power
○ Data/intellectual property
○ Money
○ Copyrighted material
Access vs privacy
○ If your workplace has computer usage policy you have accepted other people
might have access to your files
○ If you work on someone else's computer they can claim access to your data files
○ Free online services can use your data as adverts
○ Online services such as Facebook own everything you post to the site
PARANOID ABC
○ A - assume nothing
○ B - believe no one
○ C - check everything
• Weaknesses + Disadvantages
○ Depends on internet coverage and internet speed
○ Require other people to be connected digitally
○ Relatively expensive equipment and high data costs in SA
• Good Practices
○ Keep time zones in mind
○ Keep differences in bandwidth in mind
○ Digital communications are largely impersonal and faceless
○ You are not able to undo something you have said
• E - mail
○ Composing + sending of mess gases electronically over a network
including the internet
○ Gmail + Outlook have a calendar , contact list, task list and
archive features to help you to be organized
• E - mail Calendar
○ Reminders about events + appointments
○ Sync the dates with you mobile device
○ You can access your schedule wherever you are
• E - mail Tasks
○ Add tasks to a to-do list
○ Assign a due date
• E - mail Archiving
○ Tidy up inbox by moving messages from inbox to an archive
folder without deleting them
• Blogs + vlogs
○ Web blogs are websites that are updated often with news and
events in chronological or sequential order
○ Form of blog which uses video as the medium
Publishing a blog
○ Website that allow you to create an account, set up your blog
and host your blog
▪ Word press + Blogger + Type pad + Weebly
○ Create an account on the website of a blog provider
▪ Decide a name
▪ Choose your theme and first post ideas
▪ Save draft of the post until you have completed the post
• Podcasts
○ Audio File
○ Can be downloaded individually
○ Can be produced by professionals or amateurs
○ Video podcast includes video clips or photos
▪ Can be used to download radio shows
▪ For educational purposes
▪ For tourists and visitors
• Wikis
○ Allows for the collaborative and creating of the content of web
pages
○ Take the form of a web page and access to them is usually free
○ How can be they
▪ Creating company intranets
▪ Creating community websites
▪ Creating reference sites
• GPS technology
○ Smartphones + cameras and other devices have GPS facilities
○ Some Businesses send out unique advertising to their customers
as they enter the vicinity
• Web browser
○ An application that allows you to navigate view and interact with
content on the web
▪ Fire Fox + Google chrome + Microsoft Edge
• Pop-up blocker
○ Is a small web browser window that appears on top of the
website you are viewing . Usually created by advertisers and
• Blocking of websites
○ Reasons for blocking websites
▪ Avoid phishing
▪ Prevent further targeting by spammers
▪ Parental access
• Caching
○ Web browsers temporarily store web documents such as HTML
pages + images on disk + caching
○ To reduce bandwidth usage and to allow previously visited web
pages to load quicker
• Browser add-ons
○ Are useful hard party apps that can be downloaded to extend
the functionally of a browser beyond browsing
⚫ Twitter
○ Microblogging service
○ Twitter allows people to send messages to their followers
⚫ Facebook
○ Free service that allows people to connect and to keep up to date wish
friends and family
○ Users can also set up or join user groups
⚫ Virtual communities
○ When a website is focused on serving the needs of people with a specific
shared interest it helps to create a virtual community
⚫ Kickstarter + IndieGoGo
○ You can produce an idea for a product
○ You create a presentation
○ You can work out a business plan
⚫ Education
○ ICT improves Access to information + resources
○ Higher education requirements + digital divide
⚫ Culture + Languages
○ People are better able to record and communicate things that reflect
their own culture so culture can be preserved or shared with the world
⚫ Individual connectedness
○ People are able to connect with others around the world
○ Connectedness is virtual + not real
• Bandwidth VS Broadband
○ Band is the amount of data that can be transmitted through a network
connection in a given time measured in bps
○ Broad is the hight speed internet connection that can transmit large
amounts of data simultaneously
○ Band is used to transmit data
○ Broad refers to a specific type of band that uses a wide range of
frequencies to transmit data
○ Band is any type of connection
○ Broad is a wired connection
○ Band is available everywhere
○ Broad is only available in urban and suburban areas only
• ADSL VS CELLULAR
○ Is a type of wired broadband internet connection that use traditional
copper telephone lines
○ Cellular usese wireless technology
○ ADSL is typically faster depending on plan and location
○ Cellular speed depends on the coverage area and siganl strenght
○ ADSL is more reliable than cellular internet since it is a wired connection
and is not affected by weather or enviromental factors
○ Cellular can be affected by signal interference + network congestion +
weather conditions
○ ADSL is typically only available with access to traditional copper telephone
lines whuich may limit availability in certain rural or remote areas
○ Cellular is widely available
○ ADSL is more affordable and cellular is more expensive