The document outlines the hardware and software requirements for internet connectivity, describing different connection methods including dial-up, DSL, ISDN, cable, satellite, and wireless. It also discusses the evolution of the internet and the importance of user authentication methods, such as passwords, multi-factor authentication, biometric authentication, and token-based systems. The conclusion emphasizes the need for businesses to adopt advanced authentication technologies to enhance user experience and improve security against data breaches.

1. Hardware and Software requirements for
Internet
Punitha. S
20LIB12
Madurai Kamaraj University

2. Introduction
• The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks that use the Internet protocol
suite to link devices worldwide. The purpose of the internet is to communicate between computers
that are interconnected with each other. Internet is accessible to every user all over the world.
• It is a network of networks that consists of private, public, academic, business, and government
networks of local to global scope, linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless, and optical
networking technologies.
• The Internet carries a vast range of information resources and services, such as the inter-linked
hypertext documents and applications of the World Wide Web (WWW), electronic mail, telephony
and file sharing.
• Browser is a tool used to access the internet using WWW (World Wide Web) and HTTP (Hyper Text
Transfer Protocol). In the browser, if the user types the domain name such as www.tn.gov.in, the
browser calls a protocol name DNS (Domain Name Server). DNS is used to get the IP address of the
domain names.

3. Evolution of Internet
• Internet evolved in 1969 and evolved many changes in several technologies and Infrastructural levels.
• Internet was started by ARPANET (Advanced Research Project Agency Network), developed by United
States. Department of Defence for communication among different government bodies, initially with
four nodes.
• In 1972, the four nodes has been developed and it grown to 23 nodes located in different countries
making it Internet.
• Invented TCP/IP protocols, DNS, WWW, browsers scripting languages.
• Internet is used as a medium to publish and access the information

4. • In 1985, The NSFNET was composed of multiple regional networks and peer networks
• In 1986, the NSFNET created a three-tiered network architecture.
• In 1988, updated the links to make it faster
• In 1990, Merit, IBM, and MCI started a new organization known as Advanced Network and
Services (ANS).
• By 1991, data traffic had increased tremendously, which necessitated upgrading the
NSFNET's backbone network service to T3 (45 Mbps) links.

5. Hardware and Software Requirements for Internet connection
• The following are the methods of connecting a computer to the Internet using software and hardware
peripherals.
• Connecting a computer using Wireless Broadband
• Connecting a computer using an Ethernet Cable
• Connecting a Computer Using Dial-Up Community

6. Hardware Requirement
• To connect the Internet, any one of the following is mandatory.
• Modem is used to connect Internet through Telephone connection.
• NIC- Network Interface Card(wired/ wireless) facility is the most important hardware required to
connect Internet. For example, the Laptop can be connected Internet through the wired/wireless.
• Dongle is used to connect the Internet using cellular network
• Wi-Fi router or Hotspot is used to connect the Internet using wireless network
• Electronic device which supports cellular network
• Internet Connectivity such as Dial-up connection, ISDN, DSL, Cable TV, wired and wireless
(Cellular) Network.

7. Software Requirement
• The operating system should support TCP (Transfer Control Protocol) / IP (Internet Protocol),
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol),
FTP (File Transfer Protocol),
HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) and
HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secured) protocols.
• Browsers and other Internet clients access to the web applications such as Outlook, Gmail, Whatsapp,
Facebook, Twitter and etc.

8. Connection Types
The following methods are able to connect internet.
• Dial-up Connection
• Dial-up access is really just like a phone connection. Connection through modem and a public
telephone network. It uses analogue telephone line. Encoding & Decoding of analogue signals is
done by modem. Using a dial -up line to transmit data is similar to using the telephone to make a
call speed is only 56 kbps. dial-up connection is established when two or more data
communication devices use a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to connect to an
Internet Service Provider (ISP) from computers. Many remote locations depend on Internet dial-up
connections because broadband and cable are rare in remote areas with low population. Internet
Service Providers often provide dial-up connections, a feasible alternative for budget-conscious
subscribers.

9. Advantages
• Low cost
• Availability
• Disadvantages
• Low speed
• Requires phone line
• Route busy

10. ISDN- Integrated Services Digital Network
• ISDN is the acronym of Integrated Services Digital Network. It establishes the connection using the
phone lines (PSTN) which carry digital signals instead of analogue signals. It is a set of communication
standards for simultaneous digital transmission of data, voice, video, and other services over the
traditional circuits of the public switched telephone network. There are two techniques to deliver ISDN
services such as Basic Rate Interface (BRI) and Primary Rate Interface (PRI).

11. The following diagram shows accessing internet using ISDN connection

12. Advantages
• Multiple digital channels
• Speedy
• It can be used for other activities like videoconferencing
• Disadvantages
• It is very costly than the other typical telephone system

13. DSL- Digital Subscriber Line
• Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a high-speed Internet service for homes and businesses that competes
with cable and other forms of broadband Internet. DSL provides high-speed networking over ordinary
Telephone lines using broadband modem technology. The technology behind DSL enables Internet
and telephone service to work over the same phone line without requiring customers to disconnect
either their Voice or Internet connections.
Advantages
• DSL simultaneously keeps your Internet connection and phone lines open.
• Downloads are faster than uploads.
• DSL uses the existing wiring infrastructure of your telephone lines
• Disadvantages
• Large amount of uploading is not possible
• DSL is limited to a certain perimeter
• Compared to dial up,it is expensive

14. Cable TV Internet Connection (setup box)
• The cable TV network can be used for connecting a computer or a local network to the Internet,
competing directly with DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology. This type of network is classified
as HFC (Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial), as it uses both fiber optics and coaxial cables. The connection
between the cable TV company to the distribution points (Optical nodes) is made using fiber optics,
with distances up to 25 miles (40 km). Each optical node is typically serves between 500 and 2,000
clients (customers)

15. The following diagram shows that how internet is accessed using Cable TV connection

16. Satellite Internet Connection
• Satellite Internet access is Internet access provided through satellite communication for domestic and
enterprise usage. Data is being sent from the satellite to a user’s equipment and then translated and
decoded. Delivered through satellite dish. Equipment required-mini dish satellite receiver and satellite
modem. Upload speed 128 kbps. Download speed 400 kbps. The facility of modern consumer grade
satellite Internet service is typically provided to individual users through geostationary satellites . It
provides fairly high data speeds, along with latest satellites using Ka-band to attain downstream data
speeds up to 50 Mbps internet speed.
.

17. Advantages
• High speed internet access
• Does not tie up with local phone service or cable TV subscription
• Connection speed is not affected by phone or cable wiring
• Disadvantages
• More expensive than DSL and cable.
• Large setup fee. Expensive equipment upfront. Has to be set up by rained technician

18. Wireless Internet Connection
• It is a technology for wireless local area networking with devices based on the IEEE
802.11 standards. Devices that can use Wi-Fi technology include personal computers,
video-game consoles, phones and tablets, digital cameras, smart TVs, digital audio players
and modern printers. Wi-Fi compatible devices can connect to the Internet via a WLAN
and a wireless access point. Such an access point (or hotspot) has a range of about 20
meters (66 feet) indoors and a greater range of outdoors. Hotspot coverage can be as small
as a single room with walls that block radio waves, or as large as many square kilometres
achieved by using multiple overlapping access points

19. What is authentication
• Authentication is the process of identifying users that request access to a system, network, or device.
Access control often determines user identity according to credentials like username and password.
Other authentication technologies like biometrics and authentication apps are also used to authenticate
user identity.
Why Is User Authentication Important?
User authentication is a method that keeps unauthorized users from accessing sensitive information.

20. Common Authentication Types
Password-based authentication
• Passwords are the most common methods of authentication. Passwords can be in the form of
a string of letters, numbers, or special characters. To protect yourself you need to create
strong passwords that include a combination of all possible options.
• However, passwords are prone to phishing attacks and bad hygiene that weakens
effectiveness. An average person has about 25 different online accounts, but only 54% of
users use different passwords across their accounts.
• The truth is that there are a lot of passwords to remember. As a result, many people choose
convenience over security. Most people use simple passwords instead of creating reliable
passwords because they are easier to remember.
• The bottom line is that passwords have a lot of weaknesses and are not sufficient in protecting
online information. Hackers can easily guess user credentials by running through all possible
combinations until they find a match.

21. Multi-Factor authentication (MFA)
• It is an authentication method that requires
two or more independent ways to identify a
user. Examples include codes generated from
the user’s smartphone, Captcha tests,
fingerprints, voice biometrics or facial
recognition.
• MFA authentication methods and
technologies increase the confidence of users
by adding multiple layers of security. MFA
may be a good defence against most account
hacks , but it has its own pitfalls. People may
lose their phones or SIM cards and not be
able to generate an authentication code.

22. Certificate-based authentication
• Certificate-based authentication technologies identify users, machines or devices by using
digital certificates. A digital certificate is an electronic document based on the idea of a
driver’s license or a passport.
• The certificate contains the digital identity of a user including a public key, and the digital
signature of a certification authority. Digital certificates prove the ownership of a public key
and issued only by a certification authority.
• Users provide their digital certificates when they sign in to a server. The server verifies the
credibility of the digital signature and the certificate authority. The server then uses
cryptography to confirm that the user has a correct private key associated with the certificate.

23. Biometric Authentication
• Biometrics authentication is a security process that relies on the unique biological
characteristics of an individual. Here are key advantages of using biometric authentication
technologies:
• Biological characteristics can be easily compared to authorized features saved in a
database.
• Biometric authentication can control physical access when installed on gates and doors.
• You can add biometrics into your multi-factor authentication process.
• Biometric authentication technologies are used by consumers, governments and private
corporations including airports, military bases, and national borders. The technology is
increasingly adopted due to the ability to achieve a high level of security without creating
friction for the user.

24. Common biometric authentication methods include:
• Facial recognition
Matches the different face characteristics of an individual trying to gain access to an approved face stored in a
database. Face recognition can be inconsistent when comparing faces at different angles or comparing people who
look similar, like close relatives. Facial liveness technology prevents spoofing.
• Fingerprint scanners
Match the unique patterns on an individual’s fingerprints. Some new versions of fingerprint scanners can even
assess the vascular patterns in people’s fingers. Fingerprint scanners are currently the most popular biometric
technology for everyday consumers, despite their frequent inaccuracies. This popularity can be attributed to
iPhones.
• Speaker Recognition
Also known as voice biometrics, examines a speaker’s speech patterns for the formation of specific
shapes and sound qualities. A voice-protected device usually relies on standardized words to identify
users, just like a password.
• Eye scanners
Include technologies like iris recognition and retina scanners. Iris scanners project a bright light
towards the eye and search for unique patterns in the colored ring around the pupil of the eye. The
patterns are then compared to approved information stored in a database. Eye-based authentication
may suffer inaccuracies if a person wears glasses or contact lenses.

25. Token-based authentication
• Token-based authentication technologies enable users to enter their credentials once and
receive a unique encrypted string of random characters in exchange. You can then use the
token to access protected systems instead of entering your credentials all over again. The
digital token proves that you already have access permission. Use cases of token-based
authentication include RESTful APIs that are used by multiple frameworks and clients.

26. Conclusion
• Authentication technology is always changing. Businesses have to move beyond passwords
and think of authentication as a means of enhancing user experience. Authentication methods
like biometrics eliminate the need to remember long and complex passwords. As a result of
enhanced authentication methods and technologies, attackers will not be able to exploit
passwords, and a data breach will be prevented

27. THANKYOU