IGCSE Computer Science (0478) · Paper 1 — Computer Systems
The Internet and Its Uses
URLs, HTTP/HTTPS, and cyber-security threats (phishing, pharming, malware) each have a specific mechanism the mark scheme expects described, not just named.
5.1 The internet and the world wide web
- Understand the difference between the internet (the infrastructure) and the world wide web (the collection of websites and web pages).
- Understand what is meant by a uniform resource locator (URL), containing the protocol, domain name and web page/file name.
- Describe the purpose and operation of hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS).
- Explain the purpose and functions of a web browser: rendering HTML, storing bookmarks/favourites, recording user history, multiple tabs, storing cookies, navigation tools and an address bar.
- Describe how web pages are located, retrieved and displayed on a device when a user enters a URL, including the role of the web browser, IP addresses, the DNS, the web server and HTML.
- Explain what is meant by cookies and how they are used, including session cookies and persistent cookies, for saving personal details, tracking preferences, shopping carts and login details.
5.2 Digital currency
- Understand the concept of a digital currency (existing only electronically) and how digital currencies are used.
- Understand the process of blockchain, a time-stamped digital ledger that cannot be altered, and how it is used to track digital currency transactions.
5.3 Cyber security
- Describe the processes involved in, and the aim of carrying out, a range of cyber security threats: brute-force attack, data interception, DDoS attack, hacking, malware (virus, worm, Trojan horse, spyware, adware, ransomware), pharming, phishing, social engineering.
- Explain how a range of solutions are used to help keep data safe from security threats: access levels, anti-malware, authentication (password, biometrics, two-step verification), automating updates, checking spelling/tone/URLs, firewalls, privacy settings, proxy-servers, SSL.
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