Jump to content

Photo

How does the Internet work?


  • Please log in to reply
14 replies to this topic

#1 Chris

Chris

    The Sun Is in Your Hand!

  • Members
  • Location:Germany

Posted 27 March 2018 - 05:21 PM

Hey there, this might be weird for a first post, but I really hope you can help me understand some things. I am quite the newbie regarding Computers and Technologie and while I tried to figure out how scripting works I came to the conclusion that I should better start about asking some more important things before scripting. It's all about this great community being so friendly and accepting that makes me hope you can teach me what Wikipedia could not. :oops:

 

So to start with some random things, I plan to get myself a new PC, any tips? Like I tend to "name" it simply Chris-PC, is this too risky? What is VPN and do I need it? I also stumbled recently about torrents and while the matter seems interesting I don't get what they are or if they are even legal. :badrazz:

 

Back to scripting, if I get it right it has something to do with coding or so that is not limited to ZC. I didn't look too far into it yet (my brain had to cool down and the big amount of tutorials didn't help with where to start), but in that case I think it's better to get a bit into coding first instead of tackling scripting with zero knowledge. Do you know a good place to get started with it? A slow start for my slow brain? ;)


  • Matthew likes this

#2 TheLegend_njf

TheLegend_njf

    Deified

  • Members
  • Real Name:Grant

Posted 27 March 2018 - 05:25 PM

This youtube channel will teach you everything you need to know about Zelda Classic. 

https://www.youtube....nIC2xkLxsNNpvqA


  • Anthus and Shane like this

#3 Chris

Chris

    The Sun Is in Your Hand!

  • Members
  • Location:Germany

Posted 27 March 2018 - 05:49 PM

Is this a joke or just your way of telling me this is not the right place to ask such questions? I'm not trolling, never had anything to do with computer application or similiar stuff and I simply don't know where to start. Typically people look at me like I am the biggest idiot ever if I ask such things and since people here seem so nice I hoped I could get an answer for once.

 

Maybe I am overlooking something, I don't use youtube so no idea how to navigate that site. And I suppose I am a bit of an idiot :P


  • Matthew likes this

#4 TheLegend_njf

TheLegend_njf

    Deified

  • Members
  • Real Name:Grant

Posted 27 March 2018 - 05:52 PM

Nah, I'm just having a bit of fun. He's just a youtuber that's been popular recently for making videos that kinda poke fun at ZC a bit. 

 

I can't say much other than enjoy the site, and I hope you enjoy many of the great quests here.  


  • Chris likes this

#5 Chris

Chris

    The Sun Is in Your Hand!

  • Members
  • Location:Germany

Posted 27 March 2018 - 05:59 PM

Seems I got myself burned on my new journey. Thank you.

 

I played already some great quests here and  enjoyed them. I think there was also a really fun but a bit difficult level from you in some contest.

 

Still, would be great to evolve to someone smarter. Pokemon really needs a Smart Stone.



#6 Matthew

Matthew

  • Administrators
  • Real Name:See above.
  • Pronouns:He / Him
  • Location:Ohio

Posted 27 March 2018 - 06:06 PM

1. Hi,

 

The internet is a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols.

 

It works by sending information used to get packets to their destinations are contained in routing tables kept by each router connected to the Internet. Routers are packet switches. A router is usually connected between networks to route packets between them.

 

Naming your computer "Chris-PC" likely isn't dangerous and is a fairly common format for naming.

 

VPNs protect your IP from hackers.

 

Torrents are not always illegal, but are when downloading pirated software.

 

 

scriptina.regular.png


  • Shane likes this

#7 Moosh

Moosh

    Tiny Little Questmaker

  • ZC Developers

Posted 27 March 2018 - 07:16 PM

ZScript doesn't require any kind of net coding if that's what you're asking about. The program is 100% offline so if you're looking to write scripts no internet related knowledge is needed.

 

As for the question of how the internet works, that probably comes off as a bit of an odd question to people because it's not something we frequently ask ourselves. It's not all that unusual not to know as long as you can use the thing, I think. :) Matthew's answer is a pretty good overview though.

 

As far as scripting goes, you don't need any programming knowledge to get started although it definitely helps to have a background with C languages so you can understand the structure of things better. I went in with a fairly minimal programming background and managed to figure stuff out. The best way to learn as with most things is to be eager to try things and not too afraid of failure. Making simple five line scripts that you can compile successfully is a good first goal.


  • Anthus and Chris like this

#8 Chris

Chris

    The Sun Is in Your Hand!

  • Members
  • Location:Germany

Posted 27 March 2018 - 07:31 PM

The topic-title-question is rather a joke to hint how overwhelmed I am with all this Technology. I never cared much about it but I more and more feel left behind and that worries me. In regards of scripting I know I don't need other programs or so to use it (first time I hear the term net coding), but yeah, knowing that I can look into "C languages" (another first to me) helps for where to look next.

 

What really worries me is the VPN-thing though. I never used it and Avast keeps telling me I need it. I suppose there are a lot of things I could need but never heard of... The free ones I found mention 500mb per month (isn't that a bit too small) and say I need to change the IP myself which sounds tricky and also illegal to me.



#9 Moosh

Moosh

    Tiny Little Questmaker

  • ZC Developers

Posted 27 March 2018 - 08:21 PM

I wouldn't worry too much about VPNs. Unless you're the type who's really concerned about privacy. You can get by just fine without it, but the people connecting you to the internet can see what sites you're visiting. Most cases they won't care to check but if you're torrenting or pirating stuff, that can be a risk. A quick search indicates Germany is pretty tough on piracy as well. 

 

One thing to be on the lookout for, there's a pop up window that some people have been seeing on this site. We haven't been able to determine the cause yet and it's very rare, but if you get it be aware that it's a scam page. Don't do what it says. You'll know it if you see it, it's big, red, and noisy. 


  • Deedee and Chris like this

#10 Chris

Chris

    The Sun Is in Your Hand!

  • Members
  • Location:Germany

Posted 28 March 2018 - 06:44 AM

Then I suppose I better stay away from torrents altogether. I also do some rather common things like reading manga (FMD) and watching anime. I know many people do so and I was never bothered because of it, but would that be considered a risk that makes VPN worthwhile?


Edited by Chris, 28 March 2018 - 07:31 AM.


#11 TheLegend_njf

TheLegend_njf

    Deified

  • Members
  • Real Name:Grant

Posted 28 March 2018 - 06:55 AM

The topic-title-question is rather a joke to hint how overwhelmed I am with all this Technology. I never cared much about it but I more and more feel left behind and that worries me. 

Don't worry about feeling "left behind" when it comes to technology. Anything you'd ever need to learn you can learn in a few months, and technology evolves so quickly that anything you could have learned in 1990 or the early 2000's are pretty much irrelevant and not important. So it's not like you got 30 years to catch up or anything. 


  • Chris likes this

#12 Russ

Russ

    Caelan, the Encouraging

  • Administrators
  • Location:Washington

Posted 28 March 2018 - 09:14 AM

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about a VPN. Even if streaming anime and manga is technically illegally, I don't think anybody's ever gotten in trouble over it. It's easier for a government to go after the website that has it rather than the people who use the site. A VPN is really best for getting around a country's firewall (like accessing Facebook in China, where the site is banned), trying to remain completely anonymous on the internet (if you're really worried about somebody tracking you), or doing something much more illegal than streaming anime (like, heaven forbid, hiring a hitman or distributing child porn or something).
  • Chris likes this

#13 Chris

Chris

    The Sun Is in Your Hand!

  • Members
  • Location:Germany

Posted 28 March 2018 - 11:29 AM

So I basically have an old laptop with Windows 7, for protection I have Avast Free Antivirus (with the standard configuration it is installed with) and I use Firefox with the McAfee Webadvisor, with my Smartphone I use Lookout. Is this enough? Any suggestions for helpful other tools?

 

And is there maybe a good site (or I suppose a youtube-channel) that helps you with such questions? I mean there is pretty much always a site for such things,but often they have no priority for google/wikipedia and you only find them by word of mouth.



#14 Saffith

Saffith

    IPv7 user

  • ZC Developers

Posted 29 March 2018 - 04:27 PM

There aren't many easy answers to those sorts of questions. Keeping your computer secure is hard, and it keeps getting harder as malware gets more sophisticated. It's debatable whether having antivirus software is even worth it anymore. Some people say Windows Defender is sufficient to catch the simple threats, and antivirus software's overzealous efforts to catch the harder ones cause far more trouble than they're worth.

The most important thing is to keep your software up to date. Besides that, a worthwhile and easy thing to do is install HTTPS Everywhere. Keeping JavaScript disabled as much as possible is also a good idea, though it can be a hassle sometimes. For Firefox, try out NoScript.

It's also a good idea to back up your important files, either in an external hard drive or on a cloud storage service (or better yet, both). That won't protect your computer from malware, but it'll help you recover if something does happen.
  • Rambly and Chris like this

#15 Chris

Chris

    The Sun Is in Your Hand!

  • Members
  • Location:Germany

Posted 29 March 2018 - 06:21 PM

I never did anything with the cloud, I only heard about it so far. Not that I really need it for anything yet, some old documents that I keep just in case but that most likely have no worth (don't even know anymore, what it is). Some other stuff like old scripts from college, my favorite mangas and my ZC-files (I honestly don't have much stuff on it) would be regrettable, but nothing that would be a real problem.

I can say that avast helped me more than once against some minor maleware and a few times also with some bigger issues and the program never made any problems for me so far. I also still use Windows 7.

Thank you for the suggestions with https everywhere and no script, I will look into that later.


0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users