The internet and technologies we get to experience today are stunning. With so much information at our fingertips, we have more knowledge than our entire ancestral tree combined. Because of it, IT and the internet are probably the best inventions of humanity. However, while it can be our great ally, getting bombarded by so much information can be too much for our hunter-gatherer’s brain.
The first version of the internet was ARPANET – a military communication network developed during the cold war, which kicked off the computer networking revolution. Once it expanded into other areas of life, the web started growing faster than anything we have seen before. The dynamic nature of IT and the internet keeps creating concepts, improving, and even re-inventing them. Because of it, there are many words that we use in tech that used to have a very different meaning.
Let’s take some time to try and understand how the internet changed our lives. Servers, keyboards, clouds, and many other words now have more important, unique IT definitions. A proxy is not a person nor a document but a digital intermediary that can be used for free (not recommended) or rented from reliable proxy providers like this one. Mice are no longer animals, cookies are not just our favorite snacks, and computers get sick from their own viruses!
Although adapting to changes might be tricky for elders, most casual consumers today know just enough tech terms to get by. However, just like understanding human biology allows us to stay strong and healthy, deeper comprehension of IT helps you keep up with technologies and manipulate them to our advantage. Let’s talk about some fundamental IT terms, what those words used to mean, and why understanding their newfound definition is important to our digital intelligence.
1. Internet Browsers:
In the past browsers were foragers searching for food and resources to store for winter, as well as animals that feed on high-growing plants. A bit over 200 years ago, the term was also used to describe customers that search for products in stores.
Because internet browsers are such an important IT term, the old definition of the word became obsolete. Now a web browser is an application that lets us access the World Wide Web. For an uninformed user, a browser is an internet. Once we type in the address, a browser sends a request and retrieves a web page.
Some internet browsers can have gaps that leave users vulnerable to cyberattacks. Most of them get patched fairly quickly, so keep your browser updated to protect yourself from hackers.
A browser is a necessary tool that is always before the eyes of a consumer. We choose them based on different user interfaces, features, and memory loads. The most popular browsers are Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. Learning more about them will help you understand their functionality, so you can keep up with changes and choose the best one for yourself.
2. Firewall:
A firewall is a popular term in many fields. In construction, it defines a barrier that is built to prevent and control the spread of fire.
Now the most popular definition of a firewall is a device that filters the connection between your private network and the internet. Just like a real firewall limits fire spread, a digital firewall controls the spread of viruses.
3. Server:
A server is still a popular term that defines a person that serves food, otherwise known as a waiter. Many people prefer to use this term cafes and restaurants, but today a server is primarily a computer that sends information to other computers. These computers, referred to as clients, can connect to it through the internet or a local area network.
Servers are the cornerstone of information technologies. They are usually a more powerful piece of hardware than a PC and take up heavier loads.
4. Internet Proxies:
The word “proxy” has a wide definition, which can be simplified as acting or being authorized to act on someone’s behalf. Chosen persons that act as delegates and representatives in voting or business meetings are referred to as proxies.
In tech, proxies are servers that act as intermediaries between your device and the rest of the internet. This service has many benefits that are necessary for companies and some individuals on the internet. Let’s talk about the applications of proxy servers and why you should look for reliable proxy providers.
Connecting to the internet via proxy hides our IP address. Covering your network identity is very useful: it allows safe collection of public data, helps to automate repetitive tasks and helps with safe and anonymous browsing. Connecting through proxy server IPs from a good proxy provider makes our tasks efficient and undetectable. Ethical use of a proxy server is not illegal and protects the main IP address from unexpected bans. With good IPs from a respected proxy provider, you will have a safety net for your online tasks.
Understanding these terms helps us keep up with further development of IT. Be vary that some definitions that we see along the way have multiple meanings in the tech itself. When we comprehend the core concepts of technologies and their networks, other terms we meet along the way start making much more sense.
