INTRODUCTION TO

CYBERCRIME AND
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
CHAPTER 2
 5 MAIN COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

1. Input Devices
2. Processors
3. Output Devices
4. Primary Storage Devices
5. Secondary Storage Devices
 5 MAIN COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

Input Devices
• In computing, an input device is a piece of computer hardware equipment used to
provide data and control signals to an information processing system.
• It is any hardware device that sends data to a computer, allowing you to interact
with and control it.
• Ex. Keyboard, Mouse, Microphone, Camera/Webcam
 5 MAIN COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

Processor
• Central Processing Unit
• CPU is considered as the brain of the computer. It performs all types of data processing
operations. It stores data, intermediate results, and instructions (program). It controls the
operation of all parts of the computer.

• Graphics Processing Unit

• The primary purpose of a GPU is to render 3D graphics, which are comprised of polygons.
This can improve the overall performance of a computer or other electronic device.
• It is a specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to
accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display device.
 5 MAIN COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

Output Devices
• It is any device used to send data from a computer to another device or user. Most
computer data output that is meant for humans is in the form of audio, image or
video.
• Output can be meaningful information or gibberish, and it can appear in a variety
of forms -- as binary numbers, as characters, as pictures, and as printed pages.
• Ex. Monitor/Screen, Printers, Projectors, Speaker/Headphones/Earphones
5 MAIN COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER
 5 MAIN COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

Primary Storage Devices

• It holds only those data and instructions on which the computer is currently
working. It has a limited capacity and data is lost when power is switched off. It is
generally made up of semiconductor device. These memories are not as fast as
registers. The data and instruction required to be processed resides in the main
memory.
• Ex. RAM and ROM
 5 MAIN COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

RAM (Random Access Memory)

• RAM is required to allow the images to be displayed on your monitor, hold the
data from the key presses on your keyboard, retrieve data from your hard disk to
play music, hold information for 3d gaming, web browsing etc.
• It is known as a “Volatile” storage medium because it does not continue to hold
the information in it once it loses power, should your pc crash or have a power cut
all information stored in the RAM is lost.
 5 MAIN COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

ROM (Read-only Memory)

• It is a memory on which data has been prerecorded. Unlike main memory (RAM),
ROM retains its contents even when the computer is turned off. ROM is referred
to as being nonvolatile, whereas RAM is volatile.
 5 MAIN COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER

Secondary Storage Devices

• It is also known as external memory or non-volatile. It is slower than the main
memory. These are used for storing data/information permanently. CPU directly
does not access these memories, instead they are accessed via input-output
routines.
• Ex. USB Flash Drive (memory stick), Solid State Drive (SD card), Hard Disk
Drive, Floppy Disk Drive, Optical Disk Drive (CD, DVD)
 COMPUTER SYSTEM

Computer System
• refers to any device or group of interconnected or related devices, one or more of
which, pursuant to a program, performs automated processing of data.
• It covers any type of device with data processing capabilities including, but not
limited to, computers and mobile phones.
• The device consisting of hardware and software may include input, output and
storage components which may stand alone or be connected in a network or other
similar devices. It also includes computer data storage devices or media.
 COMPUTER SYSTEM

Hardware
• These are all the physical aspects of a computer system. They are tangible,
meaning you can see and touch them. Hardware components are the electronic or
mechanical instruments, like keyboard, monitor, printer etc. They help the users
interface with the software, and also display the result of the tasks being
performed.
 COMPUTER SYSTEM

Software
• Software is a set of programs (computer instructions), which helps the user to do a
set of specific tasks. It helps the user interact with the computer system with the
help of hardware. Software is the intangible aspect of the computer system.
 RELEVANT CHARACTERISTICS OF DIGITAL
INFORMATION
Digital information is very different from its physical counterpart. Physical
information has a fixed position in place and time. This is not the case with digital
information, which can be:
• Rapidly duplicated and easily distributed
• Stored in multiple locations
• Created and communicated automatically
• Stored with varying levels of 'discoverability’
• Hard to permanently deleted
• Can be accessed remotely
 RELEVANT CHARACTERISTICS OF DIGITAL
INFORMATION
RAPIDLY DUPLICATED AND EASILY DISTRIBUTED
• A message posted via social media is reposted elsewhere by friends or an email
sent to a list of recipients within a very short time frame.
STORED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
• A photo can be stored simultaneously on a laptop, a smartphone and in the cloud.
Created and communicated automatically
• A smartphone can synchronize emails with another device or an online service.
 RELEVANT CHARACTERISTICS OF DIGITAL
INFORMATION
STORED WITH VARYING LEVELS OF 'DISCOVERABILITY'
• Image files that can only be accessed using a password or other method of
authentication.
HARD TO PERMANENTLY DELETED
• Once digital information or items are created it can be difficult, if not impossible,
to permanently delete all copies. For example, digital information can be:
 RELEVANT CHARACTERISTICS OF DIGITAL
INFORMATION
• stored on a range of digital devices such as smartphones, laptops and internet
servers as it is communicated. For example, a smartphone automatically
synchronizing stored information with a laptop computer or to the 'Cloud'.
• retrieved or restored from the archive or trash after deletion using easily accessible
tools.
• temporarily stored on a device. For example, a device will download information
to display a website and then can delete it when the web browser is closed.
 BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGIES (RA 10175)

1. Access refers to the instruction, communication with, storing data in, retrieving
data from, or otherwise making use of any resources of a computer system or
communication network.
2. Alteration refers to the modification or change, in form or substance, of an
existing computer data or program.
3. Communication refers to the transmission of information through ICT media,
including voice, video and other forms of data.
 BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGIES (RA 10175)

4. Computer refers to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electrochemical, or other

data processing or communications device, or grouping of such devices, capable of
performing logical, arithmetic, routing, or storage functions and which includes any
storage facility or equipment or communications facility or equipment directly
related to or operating in conjunction with such device. It covers any type of
computer device including devices with data processing capabilities like mobile
phones, smart phones, computer networks and other devices connected to the
internet.
 BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGIES (RA 10175)

5. Computer data refers to any representation of facts, information, or concepts in

a form suitable for processing in a computer system including a program suitable to
cause a computer system to perform a function and includes electronic documents
and/or electronic data messages whether stored in local computer systems or online.
6. Computer program refers to a set of instructions executed by the computer to
achieve intended results.
 BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGIES (RA 10175)

7. Computer system refers to any device or group of interconnected or related

devices, one or more of which, pursuant to a program, performs automated
processing of data. It covers any type of device with data processing capabilities
including, but not limited to, computers and mobile phones. The device consisting
of hardware and software may include input, output and storage components which
may stand alone or be connected in a network or other similar devices. It also
includes computer data storage devices or media.
 BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGIES (RA 10175)

8. Without right refers to either: (i) conduct undertaken without or in excess of

authority; or (ii) conduct not covered by established legal defenses, excuses, court
orders, justifications, or relevant principles under the law.
9. Cyber refers to a computer or a computer network, the electronic medium in
which online communication takes place.
 BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGIES (RA 10175)

10.Critical infrastructure refers to the computer systems, and/or networks,

whether physical or virtual, and/or the computer programs, computer data and/or
traffic data so vital to this country that the incapacity or destruction of or
interference with such system and assets would have a debilitating impact on
security, national or economic security, national public health and safety, or any
combination of those matters.
 BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGIES (RA 10175)

11.Cybersecurity refers to the collection of tools, policies, risk management

approaches, actions, training, best practices, assurance and technologies that can be
used to protect the cyber environment and organization and user’s assets.
12.Database refers to a representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts,
or instructions which are being prepared, processed or stored or have been prepared,
processed or stored in a formalized manner and which are intended for use in a
computer system.
 BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGIES (RA 10175)

13.Interception refers to listening to, recording, monitoring or surveillance of the

content of communications, including procuring of the content of data, either directly,
through access and use of a computer system or indirectly, through the use of electronic
eavesdropping or tapping devices, at the same time that the communication is
occurring.
14.Service provider refers to:
a. Any public or private entity that provides to users of its service the ability to
communicate by means of a computer system; and
b. Any other entity that processes or stores computer data on behalf of such
communication service or users of such service.
 BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGIES (RA 10175)

15.Subscriber’s information refers to any information contained in the form of

computer data or any other form that is held by a service provider, relating to subscribers
of its services other than traffic or content data and by which identity can be established:
a. The type of communication service used, the technical provisions taken thereto and
the period of service;
b. The subscriber’s identity, postal or geographic address, telephone and other access
numbers, any assigned network address, billing and payment information, available on
the basis of the service agreement or arrangement; and
c. Any other available information on the site of the installation of communication
equipment, available on the basis of the service agreement or arrangement.
 BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGIES (RA 10175)

16.Traffic data or non-content data refers to any computer data other than the
content of the communication including, but not limited to, the communication’s
origin, destination, route, time, date, size, duration, or type of underlying service.
 BASIC COMPUTER TERMINOLOGIES

Bits, Bytes
At a basic level, all computer data is just a series of 0s and 1s. Each of these is referred to as a “binary digit”,
for which “bit” is just an abbreviation. A byte is (generally) a collection of eight bits, so called because of the
pun with bit and bite. Similarly, a collection of four bits – half a byte – is sometimes called a “nibble”.
In order to refer to large numbers of bits and bytes, various prefixes are used, as in:
1 kilobyte (KB) = 1024 (or 1000) bytes
1 megabyte (MB) = 1024 (or 1000) kilobytes
1 gigabyte (GB) = 1024 (or 1000) megabytes
1 terabyte (TB) = 1024 (or 1000) gigabytes
1 petabyte (PB) = 1024 (or 1000) terabytes

Bandwidth is an indication of how quickly data travels along a connection. The greater the bandwidth, the
faster data will be sent and received.