Can the government see what Web sites I visit?

The government is pretty much on your side when it comes to advocating for Internet browsing freedom. But some special circumstances merit Big Brother's watchful eyes.

Could hackers devastate the U.S. economy?

In "Live Free or Die Hard," Detective John McLane fights a group that carries out attacks using the Internet. Is it really possible for hackers to cause economic or physical devastation in the United States?

How Carnivore Worked

If George Orwell's book "1984" creeped you out, you'll want to read the facts about the FBI's Operation Carnivore. It gave agents the permission and technology to access to the online and e-mail activities of suspected criminals.

How Computer Forensics Works

Computer forensics searches, preserves and analyzes information on computer systems for potential evidence in a trial.

How Computer Viruses Work

Computer viruses tend to grab our attention because they remind us how vulnerable our information and technology can be -- a properly-engineered virus can wreak havoc on a global scale.

How do motion sensing lights and burglar alarms work?

How can motion-sensing lights detect your presence, and what prevents them from seeing you when you're standing still? It all comes down to the movement of light.

How does a logic bomb work?

Logic bombs can cripple a company's computer system and either reveal or destroy sensitive information. It's often a tool used by angry employees -- in the IT world, it has a reputation of being associated with "disgruntled employee syndrome."

How Firewalls Work

Firewalls have helped protect computers in large companies for years. Now they're a critical component of home networks as well. What are they protecting you from?

How Hackers Work

Without hackers, we'd have no PCs or iPods. Yet, hackers have gotten a bad reputation as criminals of the computer age. What exactly are hackers, and are they friends or foes?

How Internet Censorship Works

Internet censors range from parents and employers to national governments. They block access to the Web pages they identify as undesirable.

How Internet Cookies Work

Cookies are widely used by Web sites to keep track of their visitors, but they can also provide a better user experience. Are cookies letting Big Brother into your PC?

How Motes Work

Smart dust sounds like something out of a Disney movie, but it's definitely not. Also called a mote or a wireless sensing network, this new technology is intriguing everyone from military personnel to vineyard owners.

How Phishing Works

Most people associate phishing with e-mail messages imitating banks or other businesses in an attempt to scam victims into revealing personal information. But e-mail messages are only one small piece of a phishing scam.

How Spyware Works

According to recent estimates, more than two-thirds of all PCs are infected with some kind of spyware. These programs track your Web habits and more. Learn all about spyware and how you can get rid of it.

How Virtual Private Networks Work

How can your offices in Milan, Paris and San Francisco maintain fast, secure and reliable communications with the main office and each other? Virtual private networks give companies a way to extend their secure networks using regular Internet pathways.