While not technically required for websites to function, the www subdomain became a de facto standard. Many organizations continue to use it for consistency and user familiarity. However, modern DNS and web server configurations often treat www and non-www versions of a domain as equivalent, redirecting users as needed.

This configuration ensures that www.example.com resolves to the same IP address as example.com, simplifying DNS management and allowing for easier IP address changes in the future.

To address this, webmasters should choose a preferred version and implement proper redirects. Additionally, they should use canonical tags in their HTML and submit both versions to search engine webmaster tools, specifying the preferred version. This ensures that search engines index and rank the site correctly, consolidating SEO value on the chosen domain version.

WINS provides a distributed database for registering and querying dynamic computer name-to-IP address mappings in a routed network. It was designed to solve problems associated with NetBIOS name resolution across subnets, which was a limitation of earlier Windows networking technologies.

While WINS has been largely superseded by DNS in modern networks, it's still used in some legacy Windows environments or in networks with specific NetBIOS name resolution requirements.

The protocol works by having clients query for a host named "wpad" using DHCP and/or DNS. Once located, the client downloads the wpad.dat file and uses it to configure its proxy settings. This simplifies network administration by allowing centralized management of proxy settings across large networks.

Unlike LAN (Local Area Network) IP addresses, which are often private and use reserved ranges (like 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x), WAN IP addresses must be globally unique. They are essential for routing traffic across the internet and enabling communication between geographically distant networks.

The choice between static and dynamic WAN IP addresses depends on the specific needs of the network and the services being hosted. Many organizations use a combination, with static IPs for critical services and dynamic IPs for general internet access.

Founded by Tim Berners-Lee in 1994, the W3C creates specifications, guidelines, software, and tools to lead the Web to its full potential. Their standards cover various aspects of web technologies, including HTML, CSS, XML, and web accessibility guidelines, all of which influence how domain names and URLs are structured and presented to users.

The W3C has been involved in developing and promoting standards like Punycode, which allows these internationalized domain names to be represented in a way that's compatible with the existing Domain Name System. This work has been crucial in making the internet more accessible and user-friendly for non-English speakers around the world.

WAFs operate at the application layer (Layer 7) of the OSI model, analyzing HTTP requests and responses to detect and prevent various types of attacks, including SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other common web application vulnerabilities. They can be configured to work with specific domain names and IP ranges, providing targeted protection for web assets.

The choice of WAF implementation depends on factors such as the organization's security requirements, budget, and existing infrastructure. Many organizations use a combination of these approaches for comprehensive protection.

Blaster targeted computers running Windows XP and Windows 2000, exploiting a buffer overflow vulnerability in the DCOM RPC service. It spread by scanning random IP addresses for vulnerable systems, demonstrating the importance of proper network security and timely patching in preventing such outbreaks.

The lessons learned from W32.Blaster and similar worms have shaped modern network security practices and underscored the importance of proactive security measures in IP-based networks.

Introduced as part of the original 802.11 standard in 1997, WEP was designed to provide confidentiality comparable to that of a traditional wired network. It used the RC4 stream cipher for encryption and the CRC-32 checksum for integrity. However, WEP was found to have severe security weaknesses and was officially deprecated in 2004.

The evolution from WEP to modern protocols like WPA3 demonstrates the ongoing importance of security in wireless networking, which is crucial for protecting IP-based communications over Wi-Fi networks.

WHOIS servers listen on TCP port 43 and provide information such as the domain registrar, registration dates, name servers, and contact information for domain administrators. This information is valuable for network troubleshooting, cybersecurity investigations, and verifying domain ownership.

This change has led to the development of tiered access systems, where full WHOIS data is only available to authenticated parties with legitimate interests, such as law enforcement agencies. For general users, WHOIS queries now often return limited information, typically excluding personal details of domain registrants. This shift has impacted various aspects of internet governance and cybersecurity practices that previously relied on unrestricted WHOIS data.

WiMAX was designed to provide wireless broadband access over long distances, potentially up to 50 kilometers. It can be used for a variety of applications, including "last mile" broadband connections, cellular backhaul, and mobile data services. WiMAX networks typically use IP-based protocols for data transmission, integrating seamlessly with traditional IP networks.

This extended range makes WiMAX suitable for providing broadband internet access in rural or less developed areas where traditional wired infrastructure is not feasible. However, the widespread adoption of 4G and 5G cellular technologies has limited WiMAX's growth in many markets.

Developed by Jason A. Donenfeld, WireGuard uses state-of-the-art cryptography and is designed to be easily auditable due to its small codebase. It operates at the IP layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model, allowing it to encapsulate all higher-level protocols. WireGuard assigns virtual IP addresses to peers in the VPN, creating a secure overlay network on top of the public internet.

These features make WireGuard an increasingly popular choice for secure communication over IP networks, especially in scenarios requiring high performance or deployment on embedded devices.

XSD allows for the definition of the structure, content, and semantics of XML documents. This is particularly important in network communications where data needs to be exchanged in a standardized format. Many network protocols and APIs use XML for data exchange, and XSD provides a way to validate this data, ensuring consistency and reliability in network communications.

This use of XSD helps ensure interoperability between different implementations of web services, which is crucial for distributed systems communicating over IP networks.

WebSockets are particularly important in scenarios requiring live content and real-time updates, such as chat applications, live sports scores, or financial trading platforms. Unlike traditional HTTP requests, which are stateless and require the client to initiate all communication, WebSockets allow the server to push data to the client without being prompted, reducing latency and server load.

Once the WebSocket connection is established, both client and server can send messages to each other at any time, enabling real-time updates and interactive features in web applications. This process significantly reduces the overhead associated with traditional polling techniques in web applications.

Typically denoted by an asterisk (*) as the leftmost label in a domain name, wildcard records can match one or more labels at the left of the domain name. For example, a wildcard record for *.example.com would match subdomains like blog.example.com or shop.example.com. This feature is particularly useful for handling subdomains dynamically without having to create individual DNS records for each one.