So - how does the Internet really work (emf2026)

Learn about the fascinating and fun world of computer networks and the Internet - with no previous knowledge required. Have you ever wondered how the Internet works? Or computer networks in general? Have you tried learning this in the past, but found it too confusing or intimidating? Then this talk might be for you. We will start with a walkthrough of how data crosses your home network. Building on this, we will talk about how data reaches your internet provider continues its travels through the Internet. We will briefly touch on different technologies that are used (cabled vs wifi networking), and give a high-level explanation of how pathfinding works in the Internet. Afterwards you will have an idea of how Ethernet, and common Internet Protocols (DHCP, DNS, BGP). While we cannot cover everything, we will show you how to learn more about this fascinating world. The talk will mention how you can use network simulators or participate in large distributed networks to try different Internet technologies yourself. Licensed to the public under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ about this event: https://www.emfcamp.org/schedule/2026/98-so-how-does-the-internet-really-work