INFORMATION ABOUT THE INTERNET part 1 ///////////////////////////////////// A brief primer for searching the Internet How do you search for things on the Internet without aimlessly surfing? Wandering the Internet highway is part of the fun - but sometimes you need specific information and can't afford to cruise all day trying to find it. Here are a few ways to accomplish a 'net search. Using Archie to search for files. A SLIP/PPP connected Mac user has GUI Archie client software that is easy to use and so we'll address the Unix dial up account holders. At the Unix prompt enter "archie -s . This will search for what you entered without regard for case (capitals or small letters). You can also type archie prog to progress a search. Prompts for the search will be put up onscreen. If Archie isn't on your local server then try Tenetting to a public Archie site. Telnet to "archie.internic net" or try Telnetting to "archie.ans.net". Log in as Archie and follow the onscreen prompts for directions on using Archie. Using Veronica to search the Internet for resources is a farly easy process. Point your Gopher client to the University of Minnesota (gopher2.tc.umn.edu) and select "Other Gopher and Information Servers" and then select "Search titles in gopherspace using Veronica". There are many other Veronica servers out there. Try browsing any gopher until you see an online menu that has the "Search titles... using veronica" in it. Using Gopher to browse through "subject trees" can be just what you need to do sometimes. Gopher to "gopher.sunet.se" and select "Subject Trees" to find a long list of Internet Sites on every subject you could possibly imagine. Choose one that seems right and go from there. Using "whois" is another way to find individuals on the Internet. Telnet to --> rs.internic.net and type in "whois" followed by a name. Using Netfind can also be done via any Internet connection. Simply Telnet to --> mudhoney.micro.umn.edu logon as netfind and you'll be shown a fairly simple menu of choices. Choose "Search" and you'll then be prompted to enter the person and "keys". What is wanted here is the person's name or email handle and keywords to help locate them. A report is then issued when Netfind "fingers" the person you're seeking or will let you know if the search has turned up nothing. Using Hytelnet to help you search is another good idea yet it is not used by many Internet travellers. Hytelnet lets you surf through computers that are accessible via Telnet. Start your search by entering "hytelnet" at the Unix prompt. If you have no success then Telnet to "access.usask.ca" and log-in as "hytelnet" Users who have access to the Web (use Lynx if connected via dial-up shell) can use many web search engines. These search engines are found further in this document. Happy search surfing! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A list of many active ARCHIE servers: archie.au 139.130.4.6 Australia archie.edvz.uni-linz.ac.at 140.78.3.8 Austria archie.univie.ac.at 131.130.1.23 Austria archie.bunyip.com 132.206.44.2 Canada archie.cs.mcgill.ca 132.206.51.250 Canada archie.uqam.ca 132.208.250.10 Canada archie.funet.fi 128.214.6.102 Finland archie.univ-rennes1.fr 129.20.128.38 France archie.th-darmstadt.de 130.83.128.118 Germany archie.ac.il 132.65.16.18 Israel archie.unipi.it 131.114.21.10 Italy archie.wide.ad.jp 133.4.3.6 Japan archie.hana.nm.kr 128.134.1.1 Korea archie.sogang.ac.kr 163.239.1.11 Korea archie.uninett.no 128.39.2.20 Norway archie.rediris.es 130.206.1.2 Spain archie.luth.se 130.240.12.30 Sweden archie.switch.ch 130.59.1.40 Switzerland archie.ncu.edu.tw 192.83.166.12 Taiwan archie.doc.ic.ac.uk 146.169.11.3 United Kingdom archie.hensa.ac.uk 129.12.21.25 United Kingdom archie.unl.edu 129.93.1.14 USA (NE) archie.internic.net 198.49.45.10 USA (NJ) archie.rutgers.edu 128.6.18.15 USA (NJ) archie.ans.net 147.225.1.10 USA (NY) archie.sura.net 128.167.254.179 USA (MD) You can also use "Jughead" to perform Internet searches. Jughead is fast and performs searches on high-level menu topics (it quickly searches for gopher menu titles with the same keyword as you entered and does not try to search inside documents or deep inside directories - that's why it's fast). After Jughead is done the search you requested it returns a custom Gopher menu of all the sites that fit your description based upon the search keyword or criteria you gave it. Pick the gopher sites you want off the list - and away you go - burrowing through Gopher space to find more about the topic you picked... Here's one way to access Jughead Gopher to: liberty.uc.wlu.edu in the --> Finding Resources menu find "Jughead" and start using this search engine to help you find what you're looking for. It's really easy to use. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archie by Email Send e-mail to archie@archie.rutgers.edu with a blank subject line and nothing but "help" in the body. You'll get a complete description of how to do it, including directions on finding other archie e-mail sites. --------------- Send mail to: archie@archie.rutgers.edu In the body of the message write: find wincode quit An hour or so later, you will receive mail with a list of sites and directories where the windcode program can be found. If you write: find win quit you will be mailed a list with every program containing the string "win" in its name. If you write: help in the body of the message, you will be mailed detailed instructions on how to use archie, and and a list of archie servers worldwide. I hope this will be of help. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is a list of available ftpmail-servers. Use these servers to FTP via email. You must have the correct ftp address and pathway (directory path) to the file(s) you wish to obtain. ftpmail@cs.uow.edu.au ftpmail@grasp.insa-lyon.fr ftpmail@ftp.uni-stuttgart.de ftpmail@doc.ic.ac.uk ftpmail@ieunet.ie ftpmail@lth.se ftpmail@sunsite.unc.edu ftpmail@ftp.uu.net ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Understanding The Internet - WWW Site & Video For Beginners http://www.screen.com/start "Understanding the Internet" is a new WWW site which provides over 200 references for beginners, including links to the latest Internet software, background guides, and several lists of online resources. It was developed as an online companion to a television documentary about the history and growth of the Internet, produced by Andrew Cochran Associates in association with The Discovery Channel (Canada). The documentary features interviews with pioneers of the Internet and WWW sites of significance. A full list of the people interviewed, together with corresponding links, is included in the site. Copies of the video are available for sale. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CERN http://www.cern.ch If you want to *really* find out about the web - go here. This is the birthplace of the WWW and it remains the site to visit to obtain almost every available bit of information on the web that's out there. Too much to list here - but your travels here will be info-abundant. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- WebChat http://www.irsociety.com http://www.irsociety.com/webchat/webchat.html The Internet Roundtable Society has created WebChat server software for free Web distribution. The software resides on a web server and includes such features as multiple chat rooms and different levels of discussion moderation from no moderation to heavily moderated. Since the software exists entirely on the web server it requires no download to the users and no software learning curve for users. Once the software is installed on a WWW server it works with any web browser that can support forms. Most new versions of web browsers (Netscape, Mosaic, etc.) can support forms. A great idea whose time has come. It gives an easy to use interface much like AOL chat rooms and does away with often cryptic IRC sessions. No special client software is needed by users. WebChat software is available for download (free) in versions for Macintosh and Unix. WebChat can easily be setup on a Mac web server using MacHTTP and the total cost is... free. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net-happenings (info from around the Internet World) note: this is great K-12 resource AND a great general resource! email (listserv) send email to: majordomo@is.internic.net Subject: Message body: subscribe net-happenings Message body: subscribe net-happenings-digest (The "digest" list is a condensed and abbreviated version of the full mail list. Subscribe to this if you wish to receive fewer messages.) gopher to: guru.med.cornell.edu look in the /Academic Computing/E-Mail Lists/Net-Happenings gopher to: samizdat.unh.edu look in the /The Internet/InterNIC resource announcements WWW URL (2 sites) http://www.internic.net/htbin/search-net-happenings http://www-iub.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/nethaps To search the net-happenings archives - Telnet to: gopher.cni.org log in as "brsuser" and follow the on-screen directions --------------------------------------------------------------------------- NewbieNEWZ Roadmap http://www.brandonu.edu/~ennsnr/Resources/Roadmap/Welcome.html RoadMap URL - a very good way to find out where to go on the Internet. This URL list is constantly updated and maintained. A good general selection of various sites should have something for everyone. Also contains helpful information for all those "newbies" out there. Not a devoted Mac online publication - but VERY good and very well done. Worth a look-see. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Usenet FAQs (Primary Site) ftp to: rtfm.mit.edu gopher to: rtfm.mit.edu This is the primary site for Usenet FAQ docs (Frequently Asked Questions) Every frequenter of Usenet should get here a few times a year to read the FAQs - even seasoned "Net Pros" come here to browse the offerings. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Web info via email WWW by email is possible... kind of send email to: listserv@mail.w3.org include the complete URL in the message body and you'll receive the complete text of the page sans graphics and pictures. All the links on the page you request are numbered so it's easy to follow one. As you want to go on through the links send email again for the URL to the new links and repeat as necessary. For further info on this service contact the following web site (or get a friend that has web access to get the info for you). It's at... http://www.w3.org/hypertext/WWW/MailRobot/send.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Mediated Communications (CMC) http://www.rpi.edu/~decemj/cmc/mag/current/toc.html CMC reports on people, events, technology, public policies, practices, research, techno-culture, and anything else that has to do with computer mediated discussions or publicly accessable online forums. Whew! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commercial Internet Services http://www.directory.net/ A large listing of computer vendors' Web sites and home pages. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Listserv of Top-Ten URLs To get the listserv documents follow this format: Subject line: Subscribe top-ten Message body: subscribe top-ten mail the message off to: listserv@clark.net You'll get constant updates and new URLs that the keepers of the listserv deem as worthy of top-ten status. Always something new and interesting. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Best of Web 1994 Awards http://wings.buffalo.edu/contest The best of the Web as voted by more than 5000 net peers. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- PC Week's Best of the Web http://www.ziff.com/~pcweek/pcwbests.html This is a great place to start your web surfing adventures. Launch a Net surf from here and you may never come back. Surf's up! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ZDnet (Ziff-Davis Interactive) http://www.ziff.com This is a great resource for computer and technology information that includes all of Ziff-Davis publications online, downloadable software, computer industry news and analysis, story updates, special articles that are not to be found in printed editions and more! The included publications are: MacUser, MacWEEK, PCWeek, PCMagazine, ComputerLife, PC Computing, InterActive Week, Computer Gaming World, Windows Sources, ZD Europe and other informative links. A growing service that needs to be seen! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aether Madness: An Offbeat Guide to the Online World http://www.aether.com/Aether/ This book by Gary Wolf and Michael Stein is published by Peachpit Press and the company has decided to put the complete book online. It is essentially the same as the hard-copy published version except this hypertext version contains scads of links to referenced services and selections discussed throughout the book. Way cool! Take a surf here and enjoy the reading! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- O'Reilly's Global Network Navigator http://nearnet.gnn.com Index of Net resources. Travel info, financial, weather and a host of other links and info make this a good place to surf to. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Internet Access Using SLIP or PPP file://ftp.digex.net/pub/access/hecker/internet/slip-ppp.txt Frank Hecker's well written and easy to follow online document that covers SLIP/PPP protocols and how to get connected to the Internet. The focus in this document is non-Unix platforms (Mac, DOS/Windows, etc). Also contains many "tips and tricks" for those already connected but would like to tweak their connections or software for better performance. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- PCLT Exit Ramp WWW site http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/pclt/ Hypertext tour of how to properly set up Internet access. Mostly devoted Windows and OS/2 users there are still many good points about this page. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CharmNet's Learning Page http://www.charm.net/learning.html Contains a plethora of links to many resources devoted to help teach and inform how to become better connected to the Internet. A great resource! One of the best "help centers" for understanding Internet access and 'net protocols. This is a fine place to start learning more about the Internet. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Websurfer's Handbook http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/~ta/handbook.html This is exactly how your mother didn't teach you to surf. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Global Network Navigator Help Desk http://nearnet.gnn.com/gnn/helpdesk/index.html This is one of the premier and best surfing start points for finding out and understanding all about how the Internet works. Easy and breezy, this page is clear and concise and contains many links to other great help sites. In fact, this page is so good I've listed it as a start point in the other section of this BIGSurf Net-List. Every 'netter should get here at least once to check up on how the 'net works. It's a good idea to have an understanding of the waters you'll be surfing in - get here soon! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Glossary of Internet Terms http://www.matisse.net/files/glossary.html So you're connected to the 'net but don't quite understand all the jargon? No problem! Surf on over to this site to learn all about the various terms and meanings of all those acronyms and geeky words. Hey - pretty soon YOU will be using these terms and names like a pro wondering why everyone else doesn't know them! This is great resource! An "Internet Dictionary" online! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dictionary of Computing http://wombat.doc.ic.ac.uk/ Another good computing jargon dictionary that has glossaries of Computing and technology related terms and their meanings. Get computer literate! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- How to select an Internet Provider http://web.cnam.fr/Network/Internet-access/how_to_select.html A good descriptive page designed to inform folks of how to best choose an Internet service provider. Even if you're connected - see how your service "measures up". A good document to download and send to folks who are trying to decide which service will best suit their needs. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- NetGain Newsletter email to: netgain@netweek.com include your name, company name (if applicable) and street address Send a message to the above address to inquire about this unique newletter service which provides info on domain names registry. Check out domain names on the Internet or see if one you've been thinking about is already taken. Info on domain registry is also available. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Internet Society Home Page http://www.isoc.org Internet Society's Domain Survey http://www.nw.com The Internet Society has always been known for its ability to glean info from the Internet concerning facts and figures about its existence and other things such as a continual listing of registered hosts using the Domain name survey. Here is where you will find info that is not readily available elsewhere. Many net-gods are members of the society so the info here is correct, up to date, relevant and useful. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ISDN Connections Information sites ftp://info.bellcore.com/pub/ISDN/ Bellcore's FTP server site. Has lots of ISDN related information. telnet://isdn@bbs.combinet.com/ The Combinet ISDN BBS via telnet. Discussions, forums and all sorts of information available on how best to connect using ISDN. http://alumni.caltech.edu/~dank/isdn/ Dan Kegel's web page devoted to ISDN connections and how best to pick a service provider along with many other ISDN issues and links to other related ISDN information - well done! http://www.crimson.com/isdn/isdnFAQ.txt This is the web address of the FAQ archive of the Usenet newsgroup comp.dcom.isdn which is a newsgroup devoted to the discussion of ISDN. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- For MIS/IT professionals Center for Information Systems Management http://cism.bus.utexas.edu/issues/iindex.html Discussion based forum for MIS/IT professionals InfoSys Junction http://www.rpi.edu/~okeefe/infosys/IJ.html The preferred "hangout" of MIS folks ISWorld Net http://www.cox.smu.edu/mis/iswnet/home.html Focuses on MIS training and new-technology topics and issues MISQ Central http://amex.cox.smu.edu:80/mis/,isq/central.html Online version of MIS Quarterly --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITY RESOURCES - Leaks, Holes and Cracks in Internet Exchanges Mailing Lists Bugtraq Send e-mail to: bugtraq-request@crimelab.com Subject line: Message body: subscribe bugtraq CERT Advisory Send e-mail to: cert-advisory-request@cert.org Subject line: Message body: subscribe cert-advisory CERT Tools Send email to: cert-tools-request@cert.org Subject line: Message body: subscribe cert-tools ------- FTP sites CERT Advisories FTP to: ftp.cert.org: in the --> /pub/cert_advisories see the "01_README" in /cert_advisories for a list summary of advisories (also ftp.cert.org in the /pub ) COAST security FTP archive FTP to: coast.cs.purdue.edu: in the --> /pub Security Arcive (University of Tokyo) FTP to: theta.iis.utokyo.ac.jp in the --> /pub1/security A mammoth archive of security info, documents and tools Security FAQ FTP to: ftp.santafe.edu: /pub/SIG/Security/FAQ.Z/rtfm.mit.edu.pub/usenet-bygroup/comp.answers /computer-secutity Look at the documents: "anonymous-ftp-faq", "compromise-faq", "security- patches", and "vendor-contacts" Geez - now *that's* a killer address! Good solid info though makes it well worth typing in the address. This is a collection of Usenet FAQs. ------- SPY BBS (via ftp) FTP to: ftp.spy.org James Bond would like this one. ------- GOPHER Security Sites SPY BBS (via Gopher) Gopher to: gopher.spy.org ------- WWW Internet Security Sites bsy's Security-Related Net Pointers http://www.cs.cmu.edu:8001/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/bsy/www/sec.html Complete Bugtraq archives including Bugtraq mailing list archive, also deals with a complete Unix discussion and pointers to mounds of other security related information. --- Security HOLES http://crimelab.com/bugtraq/bugtraq.html Tons of info and plenty of pointers will keep you on track. Pilot's Home Page http://pilot.net SAIC Waterridge Home page http://mls.saic.com/mls.text.html Security Reference Index http://www.tansu.com.au/Info/security.html Unix Security Information http://www.alw.nih.gov/~jbk/security.html SPY BBS http://www.spy.org ------- PGP (Pretty Good Privacy data encryption by Phillip Zimmermann) Freeware Mac versions of this excellent encryption software are available. The PGP FAQ FTP to: ftp.netcom.com in the --> /pub/gbe the file name is pgpfaq-.asc Complete PGP site list FTP to: ftp.csn.net in the --> /mpjftp.csn.net/mpj FTP to: ftp.csn.net in the --> /mpj both addresses (and dirs) have the file "getpgp.asc" Excellent site and information list on how to obtain PGP. Includes info on pointers on PGP web sites, BBSs and FTP sites. PGP Web pages http://www.mantis.co.uk/pgp/pgp.html http://www.ifi.uio.no/~staalesc/PGP/ PGP Telnet site Telnet to: net-dist.mit.edu log-in as: "getpgp" You will be asked four questions and then be told where to get the latest version of PGP via anonymous FTP. If you are not an American citizen an Archie search is the recommended way to find PGP. Do an Archie search for pgp262 ("archie -s pgp262") Or try an Archie search for pgp2.3 or 2.3a. If that still doesn't retrieve anything as a last resort try a search on "pgp" Public Key Directories http://www.four11.com email to: info@four11.com ---------- SATAN (System Administrator Tool for Analyzing Networks) ftp://gatekeeper.dec.com/pub/net/SATAN/ ftp://ftp.cs.ruu.nl/pub/SECURITY/ ftp://ftp.demon.co.uk/pub/mirrors/satan/ ftp://ftp/lerc.nasa.gov/security/ Written by Dan Farmer formerly of Silicon Graphics Inc., and CERT. SATAN (a freeware Unix based utility) scans networks looking for vulnerabilities and misconfigured ftp setups, mail gateways and servers. A "must have" for all who administer networks of any kind. Especially networks hooked into the Internet. SATAN can uncover and detect security flaws on WWW servers, anon FTP servers and POP mail sites. Hosts with security holes were flagged and then a linked list of on-line docs was provided by SATAN with recommendations and solutions for fixes. SATAN uses a WWW browser for it's interface and requires Perl Version 5. ---------- Gabriel FTP to: ftp.lat.com A free SATAN detector from Los Altos Technologies Inc. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- BABEL: A Glossary of Computer Oriented Abbreviations and Acronyms Use any of these methods to obtain the latest issue of Babel: WWW: http://www.access.digex.net/~ikind/babel95b.html FTP: ftp.temple.edu At Login : anonymous At Password: your email address cd /pub/info/help-net get babel95b.txt GOPHER: gopher.temple.edu From Main Menu select: Temple University Computer Resources and Information, Internet & Bitnet Information (Help-Net), Glossary of......(BABEL95B.TXT) LISTSERV: Send e-mail to: listserv@vm.temple.edu (for Internet users) listserv@templevm (for Bitnet users) Subject line should be left blank. In body of message put this command: GET BABEL95B TXT HELP-NET --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help-Net email to: listserv@vm.temple.edu in the message body text: subscribe help-net Your name (no don't type "your name" in there type in your name... like... Jonathan Doe This is a great listserv offering that is both a good help resource for info concerning the Internet but it always contains neat and out of the way places to visit. FTP, Telnet, Gopher and Web sites and tips are more than abundant. If you have doubts about listservs - don't - this one is very good and the email it generates is not overwhelming. You'll actually be looking forward to receiving the mailings and there's always good stuff to be read and enjoyed here. I recommend this listserv without reservation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- American Journalism Review Web Resource Center (AJR) http://www.inforM.umd.edu/News/AJR/ajr.html The Journalism Web Resource Center, set up by American Journalism Review, has been expanded and updated. Here's what the site contains: * An extensive guide to journalism-related sites on the World Wide Web, with commentary to help you decide if you should make the jump. Topics include publications on the Web, free speech, organizations, hot stuff, j-schools, the important boring stuff, and articles about online journalism. * A resource guide for AJR readers. This includes our submission guidelines, the current Table of Contents and sample articles. * A list of more than 40 awards, grants and scholarships available for journalists, with contact information and deadlines. * A Journalist's Guide to the Internet by E-mail, a story that appeared in AJR's January/February 1995 issue that has been updated with hyperlinks. It describes discussion lists that deal with journalism and related topics. American Journalism Review is a monthly magazine that covers the inner workings of the media and analyzes coverage of important issues. It's based at the University of Maryland. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The WWW Virtual Library http://www.stars.com/Vlib/ http://www.w3.org/hypertext/DataSources/bySubject/Overview.html A fantastic resource on the WWW designed for info retrieval via a great database filled with sites and info. Includes a wide array of subjects and info. You'll use this one again and again... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Virtual Computer Library http://www.utexas.edu.computer/vcl Fantastic library site with all sorts of computer and computer/technology related information. Lots of links to other sites with like interests. Sections in the library include computing journals, computing magazines, computing organizations, techno vendors, upcoming conferences and lots more. A bounty of computer info - right from your easy chair via the WWW. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- UnixWorld Online Magazine http://www.wcmh.com/uworld/ UnixWorld Online (UWOL) is the free Web-based reincarnation of the technical "Hands-On" section dropped from the McGraw-Hill publication "Open Computing" which was known as "UnixWorld" Magazine before its name was changed as of the January 1994 issue. UWOL includes technical feature articles, practical how-to tutorial articles, Rebecca Thomas' "Wizard's Grabbag" column, hardware, software, and other product reviews, Ray Swartz' "Answers to Unix" column, and a media (largely book) review column written by Walter Alan Zintz. A Unix users paradise. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Internet Smiley Dictionary http://www.eff.org/papers/eegtti/eeg_286.html#SEC287 Ever wonder what all those "smiley" ascii characters or all those other little ascii characters mean that folks use in plain text chats or plain text communication? You'll find all sorts of "smileys" here along with lots of other commonly used ascii expressions with their meanings. =) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Internet Service Providers List (ISP List) http://www.primus.com/staff/peggy/provider.html ftp://ftp.primus.com/pub/providers/isp-list A complete listing of all the ISPs in the US. Peggy Cheng has made up a fantastic ISP list that is updated regularly and well maintained. This is the place you need to go if you want to know of all the offerings of 'net service providers in your area or state or an area which you will be moving to. This is a great resource and the 'net community thanks Peggy Cheng. Other ISP info and lists can be found at: POCIA Directory http://www.teleport.com/~cci/directories/pocia/ Yahoo ISP List http://www.yahoo.com/Regional_Information/States/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------