Most people in developed countries can perform tasks such as sending an email and browsing data in the cloud. This means everyone (in developed countries) is connected. To be connected now is a thing in itself. What are we connecting to?
What is the internet? “It is ports and tunnels!” *-favorite quote – points to anyone that can assist!
What is a tunnel? “A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for ingress and egress, commonly at each end.” -Wiki
Data travels in a meaningful format through a tunnel. For example, email applications listen for email down a tunnel that email traffic travels on. It is a virtual path that information can enter and travel down, and it carries a signature or information to exit through a particular port.
What is a port? “A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land.” – Wiki
A port is an entry and an exit point for a tunnel, in which the tunnel represents a distinct pathway for which data becomes meaningful through direction of infrastructure in a network.
Picture a telephone network. We have phones with phone numbers (or phone addresses), and extension numbers (which are similar from company to company – usually single or double digit). Externally, we usually have one address for the terminating line. This is the phone number. From there software can direct the voice data.
Picture a computer network. We have computers with internet addressess, and extension numbers (which are similar from company to company – usually 192,168.x.x). Externally, we usually have one address for the terminating line. This is the Wide Area Network (WAN) address. From there software can direct the data. Companies can have a static IP address meaning they can always find their location. (Not touching dynamic addresses today).
If you want to understand the internet, we have to understand gateways. A gateway is simply a modem. This holds the connection. We like to think that our homes are private, the internet is so big who knows. The reality is that the internet is the best tracking mechanism since confessions at Church. Privacy can be controlled to an extent, but make no mistake Big Brother is watching. What happens on the internet…
