Understanding the Digital World: What You Need to Know About Computers, the Internet, Privacy, and Security

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By Brian W. Kernighan *69

Published Feb. 9, 2017

Most computers are highly visible, but many, like the ones in appliances, transportation systems, and weapons are invisible. We never see many of the computers that collect, share, and sometimes leak vast amounts of our personal data. In Understanding the Digital World (Princeton University Press) Princeton computer science professor Brian Kernighan explains how computer hardware, software, networks, and systems work so anyone can understand how they affect our daily lives.

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PAW's July/August 2025 issue cover, featuring a photo of people dressed in orange and black, marching in the P-rade, and the headline: Reunions, Back in Orange & Black.
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