History of Internet Essay Example

for email, reading netnews, and engaging in real-time conversations through talk, telnet, or irc, seamlessly assimilated into the existing community. Despite minor changes, the community remained unified with a continued focus on research, education, and even expanding into more playful domains.

Throughout the 1980s, users in the internet community did not compete with researchers for any resources, except for computer time. However, in recent years there has been a surge of new generation users on the Internet. Businesses are now connecting to the internet, especially with the upcoming allowance of commercial traffic on the NSFNET backbone. Community and business-run public access nets are emerging globally, attracting users who have limited computer knowledge but are interested in net entertainment and information. Commercial providers like America Online and Compuserve are creating gateways from their exclusive services to the open Internet, allowing their users to access email, netnews, and soon ftp and telnet services. The proliferation of BBSs and shared Fidonet software has granted non-university account holders access to email and netnews.

Nowadays, accessing basic services on the Internet has become easy for anyone with a computer and a modem. In Maryland, efforts are being made to connect the entire population to the Internet, often using libraries as access points. Similarly, Cambridge, MA allows limited access to the world wide web in its public libraries while progressive coffeehouses in the San Francisco Bay area and soon in Boston also offer public internet access. Over the past twenty years, the Internet has grown steadily and adapted to cater to various interests of its users. However, as more people join online communities, there will inevitably be more intense reactions and debates on

important issues that were not relevant in the early days. The establishment of new norms regarding these matters will shape the future culture of the Internet.

Currently, most internet resources are not equipped to handle the expected increase in usage over the next six months. Specifically, websites that provide access to ftp archives are concerned about an overwhelming influx of new users due to upcoming openings of commercial services. The administrators of America Online (AOL) have acknowledged this issue in an email to ftp sysadmins. They understand the perceived problem and have requested AOL members to restrict their FTP traffic during off-peak hours for websites. Additionally, AOL is willing to collaborate with administrators to address any issues related to excess load by setting up mirror sites for improved access to these resources.

Unfortunately, it is widely agreed that this may not be sufficient enough - it is clear that Internet users will need additional patience in the future while trying to access the information they desire. Recently, many net users have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the increasing number of AOL users on Usenet. These new posters were not received well due to a bug that caused their messages to be reposted eight times. Special newsgroups (such as alt.aol-rejects) were specifically created to insult AOL users and express resentment towards their entry onto Usenet. As the internet becomes more crowded, we can anticipate a rise in hostility and competition for access to resources. Additionally, with the transition of the NSFNET backbone to accommodate business traffic, we can expect an even greater business presence than what currently exists.

Currently, the ethics of business on the internet are uncertain. Many

members of the internet community still consider commercial use to be inappropriate. The actions of Canter;Siegel, who bombarded the net with advertisements, have caused fear of potential misuse. However, the internet also provides helpful services, particularly through fill-out forms on the World Wide Web. As technology progresses, with features like authentication and digital money, commercial activity will expand further.

As the internet population grows unabated, computer crime becomes an immediate issue. The security and privacy requirements of both older and newer generations on the internet differ, as do their interpretations of computer crimes. Meanwhile, the media exaggerates every incident of computer breaches and pornography networks, frequently portraying crimes that indirectly involve the internet as evidence of its chaotic destruction. Consequently, more stringent laws regulating cyberspace are expected to be implemented. Presently, key concerns in internet crime focus on unauthorized access, data theft, privacy infringements, and harassment.

Back in the early days of the internet, its main goal was to foster cooperation and collaboration among researchers. Consequently, resources were freely and consistently shared without any grievances. The user base was small enough that individuals could access the necessary resources without interfering with others' internet usage. Naturally, there was also a scarcity of content for users to vie for during this period.

In the past, most internet users strongly disapproved of commercializing the internet. However, businesses are gradually establishing their presence on the internet and will soon make up a significant portion of overall internet traffic. The older generation is concerned about the potential misuse of the internet's lack of regulations for advertising purposes. Many individuals strongly oppose intrusive advertising methods like junk-mailing lists and Usenet "spamming," where messages are

simultaneously posted to numerous newsgroups, famously done by Canter. For older generations, having the option to choose whether or not to view promotional content is crucial as it avoids intrusiveness and actually provides a sought-after service. Additionally, word of mouth plays a vital role in determining if individuals decide to explore information about a product or service.

In the past, the smaller internet had less crime, less motivation for crime, and less vulnerability to major damage. It was a united community focused on collaboration, and the information stored on it was not as sensitive as the information that would soon be transmitted, such as credit card numbers, driver's records, medical histories, proprietary information, and sensitive financial information. The older generation primarily disapproved of resource misuse but tolerated some exploration by curious hackers. However, in November 1988, the Internet worm caused a rude awakening for the old generation. As the worm spread across the nation, causing numerous computer system failures, the net community realized the importance of internet security for protecting their data and resources.

Although the worm was not initially malicious, it was foreseeable that a similar worm with harmful characteristics could emerge. During its early days, numerous systems welcomed anyone interested in sharing data or accessing documents. Computer experts took pleasure in investigating systems and discovering entry points solely for the purpose of gaining knowledge. User apprehensions about system intrusions were not significant at that time. However, as time went on, individuals started to value the privacy and security of their information, causing hackers to become disreputable.

Originally, the internet was intended for data sharing rather than data theft or limiting information. Back then, there was

very little personal or private data stored on the internet. The internet community comprised of legitimate research users and anonymity wasn't as widespread as it is today, reducing concerns about harassment. Presently, the younger generation is well-informed about the immense resources and numerous online communities accessible on the internet.

The Internet's potential has been widely discussed by the news media in recent years, enticing many individuals to access its resources. This influx of people, not affiliated with research institutions or the government, is significantly altering the direction and culture of the Internet. It marks the start of its commercialization.

The rise of commercial activity on the internet is a new trend that contrasts with the previous disapproval towards such practices. Netizens now demand commercial services and product information, while companies seek access to consumers. However, it remains unclear what the new generation of internet users desires in terms of advertising. Nevertheless, a concerning example of potential internet abuse by advertisers has emerged within the past year with Canter and Siegel's aggressive message posted across numerous newsgroups. Despite being deemed invasive and inappropriate, the duo considered the advertisement successful and intends to repeat it. Do the newer generations truly want this type of advertising? Are we willing to have our inboxes filled with junk email and our online experiences interrupted by ads? With more people going online and increased online commercial and business transactions in the future, cybercrimes will likely increase, demanding better protection for individuals.

At present, the internet functions in a disorderly fashion, with system administrators and government officials overseeing its limits. Nevertheless, there is an increasing need for improved internet security. With the rising storage

of confidential and personal data online, website accessibility will be greatly restricted while unauthorized breaches will be deemed a major offense. While some people are open to the government's implementation of protective measures, there is presently a discussion concerning the degree of government access to our information.

The media has recently sensationalized computer crime, particularly crimes related to sex offenders and pornography distributors. I believe that this type of reporting is harmful to the future of the internet because it could lead to excessively strict laws in cyberspace. As the internet expands globally, its diversity will also increase, eventually reflecting the diversity found in society. We are already witnessing a breakdown in previously uniform economic status and educational backgrounds. For instance, within the San Francisco Bay area, there are coffeehouses offering affordable access to online chat rooms that even homeless individuals can afford. In fact, many homeless people have discovered a sense of community and belonging through these chat areas. Furthermore, public library systems across the nation provide internet access.

The Sailor project in Maryland showcases the increasing accessibility of the internet. Libraries in the state already offer gopher access and toll-free dialup, with plans to provide full access including mail, ftp, and telnet. With the National Information Infrastructure, internet access could become as widespread as telephone access. This transition will change it from a novelty for researchers into an essential part of everyday life. The internet will serve as a gateway to abundant information and a meeting place for diverse communities. However, conflicts are likely to arise within this emerging online community due to different needs and visions for the internet. A particularly problematic issue is

how experienced users perceive newcomers, which hinders harmonious relationships between generations in the digital world. Previously, it was expected that other users would possess some familiarity with computer technology.

Users who asked too many foolish questions were shunned and attacked. Now, the internet is faced with an enormous influx of users who have less computer experience but will ask countless questions as they explore the hidden operations of the internet. People come to the internet with high expectations of the vast resources available to them, and they do utilize these resources. Unfortunately, not all websites are able to handle the increased traffic, particularly with services like Compuserve and America On-line opening their doors to the internet. In a letter to ftp sysadmins, Robert Hirsh of AOL states that AOL will request its members to limit their usage during off-peak hours and will collaborate with administrators to address load issues. This includes providing local mirror sites for AOL and internet users. A user from the University of Massachusetts expressed their concerns in a post on alt.aol-sucks newsgroups, stating that careless actions by AOL users could seriously hinder access and availability on already overloaded and restricted sites. Additionally, they mentioned that those who rely on the internet for legitimate information retrieval, sharing, and communication will find themselves overwhelmed by curious individuals, net.sex enthusiasts, and those who mistakenly believe that 'telnet' is synonymous with 'Information Superhighway'. The older generation perceives the younger generation as placing excessive strain on resources and resents the growing population.The commercialization of the internet will inevitably lead to conflicts.

In summary, the previous philosophy opposed commercial activity on the internet because it was primarily used for

research. However, the new generations view the internet as a hub for various services and operations, leading to a need for extensive commercialization. This commercialization holds the promise of technological advancements and increased investment. The older generation is reluctantly accepting this shift, with minimal resistance to the presence of commercial websites. The main concern for this older generation is the intrusion of advertising, which may become more prevalent as people access the internet through commercial providers and servers. In addition to resource management and commercial use, computer crime remains a significant policy and legal concern.

The older generation were accustomed to a lawless Internet and some would like to maintain this experiment in the spirit of freedom, but new users are demanding similar protections to those we have in the physical world. However, I believe that the need for security is warranted due to the expanding and evolving nature of the Internet. Specifically, unauthorized access for exploratory purposes will be disapproved. As our online activities become more significant and we start to view our digital identities as extensions of ourselves in cyberspace, violations of privacy, theft of data, and other forms of crime will become more severe.

In the future, we will spend more time online, conducting business, making purchases, sharing information, and engaging with others. In doing so, we will establish identities in cyberspace that will hold equal significance to our identities in the real world. To guarantee authenticity, it will be necessary to have convenient methods of authenticating individuals, potentially through the use of digital signatures. The question arises whether it will be imperative for individuals to possess only one identity in cyberspace.

Initially, this may appear reasonable, just like how the government assigns us a single identity for legal and financial purposes in the physical world.

In my opinion, imposing too many restrictions in cyberspace will be unsuccessful as there is a history of finding ways to bypass authority's technical solutions in order to achieve more freedom. It might be effective in the business sector where authenticating one's identity is important for fair transactions. The internet will rely more and more on commercial services, leading to many currently free resources becoming paid due to the need for funding to support the growing population. I anticipate that advertisement will become a usual presence on the internet, but I hope that it will remain non-intrusive by convention.

I am concerned that as our personal information becomes more accessible online, marketers will seize the opportunity to use this knowledge to target us with tailored product advertisements. In the future, there will be regulation in cyberspace. I imagine a global agreement between nations to address illegal activities taking place online, similar to current international laws governing the sea. The level of control will likely be highest in areas where people connect to the internet.

There will be an increase in virtual barriers and restrictions in cyberspace, leading to the concealment of information. Despite these technological obstacles, hackers will continue to operate on the internet, utilizing their skills to bypass these barriers. As sensitive data becomes more prevalent online, the actions of these hackers will pose a greater threat. Crime stories pertaining to cyberspace will be sensationalized due to the persistent fear and misconception surrounding this digital realm. Additionally, the growing significance of online security

fuels this exaggeration. The emergence of distinct cultures within cyberspace will result in segmented communities, where like-minded individuals congregate. Rather than fostering unity among diverse interests, the information available on the internet primarily serves specific interests. Consequently, I apprehend the institutionalization of a divide between older and younger generations as each culture builds their own section of cyberspace, leading to limited cultural exchange between these factions.

In the information age, as everyone gradually embraces the internet like they have with telephones, cyberspace will mirror the physical world in terms of inequalities, segmentation, diversity, and opportunities. Restrictions and barriers will emerge in cyberspace, necessitating the establishment of laws and regional law enforcement agencies to enforce those laws and maintain security in their respective regions.