Network Types and Connectivity

Page 2: Types of Networks

• Local Area Network (LAN)

  • Confined to a small area, such as a building or group of buildings (Beal, 2018a).

• Wide Area Network (WAN)

  • Encompasses a large geographical area, potentially connecting multiple LANs (Beal, 2018b).

• Campus Area Network (CAN)

  • Covers a defined geographic area, such as a college campus (Webopedia, 2018).

• Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

  • Encompasses a city or town (Beal, 2018c).

Page 3: Network Types

• Intranet

  • A private network within an organization for sharing information.

  • Accessible to specific outsiders with valid credentials.

• Extranet

  • An extension of an intranet with added security features.

  • Uses encrypted tunnels for file transmission.

  • Allows remote access for authorized users, such as healthcare professionals.

• Virtual Private Network (VPN)

  • Facilitates confidential communication within an organization.

  • Caution against using free VPNs due to potential security risks (Sewell, 2019).

Page 4: Network Connections

• Connectivity Materials

  • Physical connections using twisted-wire cables, phone lines, fiber-optic lines, or radio waves.

  • Hardwired connections indicate permanence.

• Wireless Transmission

  • Limited distance and susceptible to interference from other radio traffic.

  • Nodes strategically placed for optimal signal coverage.

  • Wireless communication is less secure than hardwired due to signal accessibility.

• Home & Rural Networks

  • Home networks often utilize DSL or TV cable connections.

  • Rural areas may rely on dial-up modems or satellite connections (Sewell, 2019).

Page 6: IP Addresses

• Definition

  • Every device on the Internet has a unique IP address for electronic location.

• Structure

  • Composed of four sets of numbers (0-255) separated by periods.

• Static vs. Dynamic IP Addresses

  • Static: Remains the same each time the device connects.

  • Dynamic: Changes with each connection.

• Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

  • Assign a limited number of IP addresses in static or dynamic formats (Sewell, 2019).

Page 7: World Wide Web

• Definition

  • A network within the Internet for accessing hypertext documents via web browsers.

• Governance

  • Maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to enforce compatibility and standards.

• Web Browsers

  • Tools for retrieving and displaying files from the Internet using the client-server model.

  • Users are encouraged to have multiple browsers for better compatibility (Sewell, 2019).

Page 9: URL Basics

• Definition

  • A URL (Universal Resource Locator) identifies web documents.

• Structure

  • Begins with "http" or "https" (the latter indicating a secure site).

  • Includes descriptors, domain names, and may contain folder and file names.

• Example Breakdown

  • URL components include domain name, descriptors, folder names, and file names (Sewell, 2019).

Page 11: Troubleshooting Basics

• Access Issues

  • Modify the URL by removing file names and folders until reaching the domain.

  • If access errors occur, delete between forward slashes to simplify the URL.

  • If unsuccessful, use a search engine to check if the page exists (Sewell, 2019).

Page 15: Online Security

• Computer Malware

  • Software designed to damage or disrupt systems for profit.

• Social Engineering

  • Deceptive tactics to trick users into downloading malware.

• Drive-by Downloads

  • Malware embedded in web pages that automatically downloads upon opening.

• Preventative Measures

  • Awareness of vulnerabilities and understanding malware tactics is crucial (Sewell, 2019).

Page 16: Additional Security Concerns

• Ransomware

  • Locks screens or encrypts files, demanding payment for access.

• Botnets

  • Networks of compromised computers used for malicious activities.

• Phishing and Pharming

  • Scams to obtain personal information through deceptive emails or fake websites (Sewell, 2019).

Page 17: Protective Measures Against Fraud

• Website Verification

  • Check URLs and hover over hyperlinks to reveal true destinations.

• Caution with Links

  • Only open links or attachments from trusted sources (Sewell