My Contacts Website

www.prepress.edu.au/~pp03/

MUD's

Multi-User Dungeons (MUD's) are one of the most unique and entertaining inventions on the Internet. Each MUD is a virtual universe run by a complex server program which manages a local world in response to the words and actions of human and automated visitors.

IRC

What is IRC?

IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is a multi-user, multi-channel chatting system. Imagine sitting in front of your computer and "talking" through typed messages with either one person or many other people from all over the Internet, all in real time! Best of all, once you get set up, chatting on IRC is totally free!

Some Other Help Files

There are many help files designed to introduce you to the exciting and sometimes bewildering world of IRC. This tutorial that you are reading now is intended to walk you through the important commands one by one so that you can learn by doing. If you are brand new to IRC, you may wish to first read the very short IRC Prelude (or its many translations) to get yourself oriented. Then later you may check out one of the standard references, such as the alt.irc newsgroup's frequently asked questions (FAQ) list, or the long but extremely thorough IRC Primer which is organized like a textbook.

Client / Server

IRC is based on a client-server model. You run a client program on your own computer which connects you to a server computer on the Internet. These servers link to many other servers to make up an IRC network, which transport messages from one user (client) to another. In this manner, people from all over the world can talk to each other live and simultaneously.

To join in the fun, all you need is an Internet Service Provider to get you connected to the Internet (if you're able to read this web page, you're already connected), and an IRC client program. The most popular clients are mIRC for the Windows operating system, ircII for UNIX, and Ircle for Macintosh. A good provider should have installed one of these for you already, if not you can download them yourself for free. (Ircle and mIRC are shareware, meaning you get a one month free trial, then if you like it and keep it, you are bound by an honor system to pay the author a modest fee.)

Networks, Servers, and Channels

Once you are set up with a provider and a client, you are in control. Choose a nickname you wish to be known by, then connect to one of the many different IRC networks catering to different geographical locations, interests, or philosophies. The largest networks have tens of thousands of people online at any given moment, drawn from an order of magnitude or more of regular visitors. These people create thousands of channels (sometimes incorrectly called "chat rooms") where people may meet and mingle. You may join these channels and participate in the group discussion, or you may elect to chat privately with individuals.

Conversations on a channel are like those at a party: everybody who is present hears everything that everybody else is saying. If somebody is late to the party or leaves early, however, they will not hear what is said in their absence. All channels on IRC have names starting with #, such as #irchelp where you can get technical IRC help, or #new2irc where new users are welcome to join and chat. Usually, the name of the channel shows what it's for, but not always.

LISTS
The internet uses lists for many reasons, one prime example of this would be the lists found in e-mail accounts.
E-mail accounts use lists to provide the viewer with an index of e-mails, contacts and information. These lists can be found in the inbox, the outbox, the junk e-mail box, the trash and the contacts list.

Usenet Features

Usenet features a ton of music-related newsgroups to accommodate everyone’s musical preferences. There are newsgroups dedicated to music collection (e.g. rec.music.collecting.cd); music performers (e.g. alt.music.nsync, alt.music.aerosmith); music styles (alt.music.eighties, alt.mucis.african, etc.); music instruments (e.g. alt.banjos, alt.guitar.bass, alt.music.clarinet); and so many other music topics. In addition, almost all music newsgroups contain samples of a style or movement that users can download for free. You can get as much music as you want with your Newsfeeds account.

General Security Information

CERT
The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) charter is to work with the Internet community to facilitate its response to computer security events involving Internet hosts, to take proactive steps to raise the community's awareness of computer security issues, and to conduct research targeted at improving the security of existing systems. Site features a wide variety of security statistics, advisories, incident notes, and tech tips.

CIAC
Computer Incident Advisory Capability (CIAC) is the U.S. Department of Energy's Computer Incident Advisory Capability. CIAC provides computer security services to employees and contractors of the Department of Energy. Site features security bulletins, updates, hoax warnings and more for the entire internet community.

Cryptography, PGP, and Your Privacy
Cryptography, PGP, and Privacy (as the title suggests) are all covered thoroughly in this site by Francis Litterio. Part of the WWW Virtual Library.
International Computer Security Association
ICSA's mission is to foster improvement in all aspects of world-wide digital security, reliability and ethics by providing key services to its constituents. Includes security information, code examples, conferences, tutorials, and extensive security-related links.

Netscape Security Center
Netscape corporation's security page. Features browser updates, FAQs on security issues and implementation, security news and more.

SecurityStats.Com
Provides computer security statistics, news, and tools, to the infosec community. Tools include an interactive password strength meter, and several other general auhentication tools.

Xforce/Internet Security Systems
Large site with security alerts, news, whitepaper, quizzes and more. Features a security search engine.