Chapter 3

How the Internet Works

This chapter describes the Internet, its components, and how they all interact. It details how the various protocols work and how they relate to investigations of Internet crime.

Key words

World Wide Web; DARPA; FTP; IRC; Internet Protocol address; uniform resource locators; Domain Name System; DNS; IPv4; IPv6; DHCP; DUID

I must confess that I’ve never trusted the Web. I’ve always seen it as a coward’s tool. Where does it live? How do you hold it personally responsible? Can you put a distributed network of fiber-optic cable “on notice”? And is it male or female? In other words, can I challenge it to a fight?

Stephen Colbert, comedian

To many the Internet is fundamentally a confusing and mystical thing. One that touches ...

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