6 Security and the Internet

6.1 General Authorisation

When you are surfing the World Wide Web occassionally you may stuble across a password protected area or file which can only be accessed by a person who knows this password.

Password protected areas are quite commonplace on the Internet. Some common uses of a passworded area are:

• A company who puts updates for registered users of their software into an area which can only be accessed with a correct password.

• A user who stores personal files/information in a certain area on their site that is accessible by the friends with the correct password.

• A site which is "subscriber only". ie. an online magazine may allow paid access to certain parts, or all, of their site. Access is given to people who pay, who are then given a password (often personalised).

• Sites which contain "adult material". These sites are often password protected and you have to pay to gain entry (and, of course, be an adult).

6.62 Gaining Access to Controlled Web Areas

Voyager allows you to insert any username and/or password needed to gain access to controlled (password protected) areas within a web site.

When you are on a site and you see something like "click here to enter our password protected area" Voyager will present a GUI like this:

Enter the username and password which you have been given for this site. If the password (or username) is incorrect you will be told that you are not authorised to enter this controlled area.

Once you have entered the correct details and have entered the controlled are you should not have to re-enter your password/username once you are within the password protected section.