ECDL Module 7 Notes
ECDL Module 7 Notes
Michael Foundation
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Online sources
http://www.stmichaelfoundation.org > syllabus > Computer Studies and ICT> ECDL http://www.ghalliem.net Google search engine > type in +ECDL +Module +7 +Practice +Papers (or any other similar combination)
What is ICT?
ICT is the fusion of computers and telecommunications. Computers enable people to work creatively. But they are limit by what they can access. Adding a communications channel, such as the Internet or other information services, significantly extends the capability of the computer. It allows it to be not only an inexpensive communications device. It can also become a means of obtaining education, information, and working creatively with others irrespective of geographical barriers.
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St. Michael Foundation ISP hyperlink Digital certificate cookie cache Internet Service Provider
A link in a document to information within that document or another document An electronic "identification card" which contains such information as the certificate holder's name and a serial number A small text file of information that certain Web sites attach to a user's hard drive while the user is browsing the Web site The location where visited web pages are stored, enabling them to be displayed more rapidly at the next visit. Each browser has its own cache on the hard drive.
encryption
A way of coding the information in a file or e-mail message so that if it is intercepted by a third party as it travels over a network it cannot be read.
URL Structure
A typical URL would look something like this: http://www.stmichaelfoundation.org
Method that website will be transmitted Website is located on the World Wide Web Domain: i.e. unique owner identifier Type extension. See following list
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Commercial company with UK web address (Note that the country code is two letters long)
.com.mt
Commercial company with Maltese web address (Note that the country code is two letters long)
Web Browsers
What is a Web Browser? A web browser is a program used to access the Internet services and resources available through the World Wide Web. Examples of Web Browsers are: o Internet Explorer o Netscape Navigator o Opera o Mozilla
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Search Engine
What is a Search Engine? Software that enables users to search the Internet using keywords1. Popular Search engines are: o Google o Altavista o Lycos
Keywords are words that the user knows that they would appear on the website they are looking for.
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Protected Websites
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Protected websites are sites that require the user to have a user name and a password to gain access to the protected area.
Digital Certificate
A digital certificate is an electronic "credit card" that establishes your credentials when doing business or other transactions on the Web. It is issued by a certification authority (CA). It contains your name, a serial number, expiration dates, a copy of the certificate holder's public key (used for encrypting and decrypting messages and digital signatures), and the digital signature of the certificate-issuing authority so that a recipient can verify that the certificate is real.
Viruses
A computer virus is a term applied to any program designed to damage data stored on a computer system or network. The affected data may include documents, photographs, applications or worst of all system files that are vital to the proper operation of the computer system. The virus is written by an ill-
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intentioned computer programmer and spread to other systems by means of email, floppy disks or downloaded software The easiest way that you can get a virus is through an email attachment, therefore great care must be exercised before opening them.
Fraud
Nowadays there are lots of websites that offer services and goods for sale. Basically the way that these website operate are to have images and descriptions of their goods and services, if the viewer would like to purchase the item they would fill in an online form and generally pay with plastic money i.e. credit card.
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This process has brought about a new danger from the possibility of hackers getting hold of peoples credit card details and going on shopping sprees at their expense. The safest way to purchase is to limit your purchases to bona fide and legitimate websites; these are usually recognized as they will have a digital certificate which is indicated by a closed padlock icon .
Communications
Generally internet communications are defined as being sent through emails (Short for 'electronic mail'). Electronic mail, sometimes written as E-mail, e-mail or email. This is the way in which messages are passed from one computer user to another using a local network or by using modems over telephone lines. The message is eventually delivered to the recipients mailbox which is a file on his/her computer and it can then be read using a mail program such as Outlook or Microsoft Outlook Express.
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