How the Internet Really Works: An Illustrated Guide to Protocols, Privacy, Censorship, and Governance
Price: $19.99
(as of Apr 11, 2026 18:03:37 UTC – Details)
An accessible, comic book-like, illustrated introduction to how the internet works under the hood, designed to give people a basic understanding of the technical aspects of the Internet that they need in order to advocate for digital rights.
The internet has profoundly changed interpersonal communication, but most of us don’t really understand how it works. What enables information to travel across the internet? Can we really be anonymous and private online? Who controls the internet, and why is that important? And… what’s with all the cats?
How the Internet Really Works answers these questions and more. Using clear language and whimsical illustrations, the authors translate highly technical topics into accessible, engaging prose that demystifies the world’s most intricately linked computer network. Alongside a feline guide named Catnip, you’ll learn about:
The “How-What-Why” of nodes, packets, and internet protocolsCryptographic techniques to ensure the secrecy and integrity of your dataCensorship, ways to monitor it, and means for circumventing itCybernetics, algorithms, and how computers make decisionsCentralization of internet power, its impact on democracy, and how it hurts human rightsInternet governance, and ways to get involved
This book is also a call to action, laying out a roadmap for using your newfound knowledge to influence the evolution of digitally inclusive, rights-respecting internet laws and policies.
Whether you’re a citizen concerned about staying safe online, a civil servant seeking to address censorship, an advocate addressing worldwide freedom of expression issues, or simply someone with a cat-like curiosity about network infrastructure, you will be delighted — and enlightened — by Catnip’s felicitously fun guide to understanding how the internet really works!
From the Publisher
‘Very Helpful’
“Comprehensive – and presents the subject well. It will be very helpful to all people doing IME, digital literacy training, and other educational activities.”
—Stephane Bortzmeyer
‘Highly Approachable’
“This is a highly approachable thin but dense book on the protocols, software, security, and privacy of the Internet, illustrated with informative yet comic-like illustrations that make it suitable for all ages. It will leave the reader (usually with some degree of computer knowledge) a much fuller understanding of the protocols and transmission media which make the Internet possible, and with a much fuller look at the issues of privacy, security and policy which direct its governance.”
—Ira Laefsky, Vine Voice Amazon Reviewer
‘Informative and Accessible’
“Probably the best book out there providing an informative and accessible overview of the Internet and its aspects such as structure, operation, technologies, security, and governance.”
—Venkatesh Prasad Ranganath, Amazon Reviewer
About the Authors
Ulrike Uhlig, originally a professional front-end web developer, is a Debian Developer and works on software related to privacy and anonymity online. Ulrike works with projects of the internet freedom community and nonprofit organizations at the intersection of technology, arts, and human rights. Born in East Berlin, she spent 15 years in France, where she obtained an MA in visual and contemporary arts. In addition to coauthoring How the Internet Really Works, Ulrike created the illustrations featured in the book.
Mallory Knodel is the chief technology officer for the Center for Democracy and Technology, the co-chair of the Human Rights and Protocol Considerations research group of the Internet Research Task Force, and a chairing advisor to the Freedom Online Coalition. Originally from the United States but living in Nairobi, she has worked as a technical expert with grassroots and nonprofit organizations around the world since 2008. She holds a BS in physics and mathematics and an MA in science education.
Niels Ten Oever is a PhD candidate with the DATACTIVE Research Group at the Media Studies and Political Science Department at the University of Amsterdam, and postdoctoral scholar (abd) with the Communications Department at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on how norms – such as human rights – get inscribed, resisted, and subverted in the internet infrastructure through transnational governance. Previously, Niels worked as Head of Digital for ARTICLE19, where he designed, raised funds for, and set up the digital program. He holds a MA in philosophy from the University of Amsterdam.
Corinne Cath is a doctoral student at the Oxford Internet Institute. As a cultural anthropologist, she applies the tools of anthropology to the study of internet governance, in particular, the culture of the often opaque organizations that enable the technical functioning of the internet. Within that context, she focuses on the participation of human rights and civil liberties NGOs that are aiming to change computer code instead of legal code to effect social change. She is funded by the Ford Foundation and the Alan Turing Institute.
About the Publisher
No Starch Press has published the finest in geek entertainment since 1994, creating both timely and timeless titles like Python Crash Course, Python for Kids, How Linux Works, and Hacking: The Art of Exploitation. An independent, San Francisco-based publishing company, No Starch Press focuses on a curated list of well-crafted books that make a difference. They publish on many topics, including computer programming, cybersecurity, operating systems, and LEGO. The titles have personality, the authors are passionate experts, and all the content goes through extensive editorial and technical reviews. Long known for its fun, fearless approach to technology, No Starch Press has earned wide support from STEM enthusiasts worldwide.
Publisher : No Starch Press
Publication date : December 11, 2020
Edition : Illustrated
Language : English
Print length : 120 pages
ISBN-10 : 1718500297
ISBN-13 : 978-1718500297
Item Weight : 1.22 pounds
Dimensions : 8.31 x 0.55 x 10.31 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #508,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #290 in Internet & Telecommunications #593 in Educational & Nonfiction Graphic Novels #646 in Internet & Social Media
Customer Reviews: 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (104) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });