Getting Started On The Internet
The best way to provide some information for beginners is to use a well know
Internet tool known as a 'Frequently Asked Questions' or FAQ. Once you learn how
to use some of the Internet search sites you will be able to search for other
FAQ's as well as general topics that interest you. The blue, underlined text is
what is known as a 'hyperlink'. A hyperlink takes you to another place on the
web page or to another web site. Click on any of the questions (hyperlinks!)
below.
1. General Questions
- How does the Internet Work?
- Can you see what I'm doing?
- Can anyone get my address and credit card details?
- I heard there are some very bad things on the Internet.
What can I do to stop these?
2. Web Browsing ('Surfing' the Internet)
- What's a Web Browser?
- What's a URL?
- Now that I'm on the Internet - where should I go?
- How do I go from one place to another?
- Do I have to go back to the home page before I disconnect?
- How do I remember all these cool places?
- What's a 'Cookie'?
1. General Questions
1. How does the Internet
work?
Wow! Big question!. Basically, the Internet is
a collection of computers around the world that are joined together with network
cables and telephone lines. That's a fairly simple explanation and naturally
there are many machines and devices that make the Internet possible but it is
basically the same as an office computer network but on a much larger scale.
When you dial in to the Internet you connect to a device called a terminal
server or router. This terminal server has many modems for dial-in users
and is also connected to the Internet.
2. Can you see what I'm
doing?
No. Our computer systems can keep records of
the time you spend on the Internet so that we can bill you but we can't see your
computer screen - just as you can't see the other person when you make a voice
telephone call.
3. Can anyone get my
address and credit card details?
No. Well, that is to say, not without some
sort of malicious activity. Let me explain. While you are 'surfing' the Internet
you are requesting web pages from around the world. You aren't sending any
information out (other than the type of web browser you are using and the
Internet Provider you are connected from - but this is just for web statistics
purposes and is built in to every web browser.) In order for someone to get your
address or credit card details you would have to fill in an online form and
submit that information to them. The exception to this is computer viruses.
Theoretically, if you had your address and/or credit card details stored on your
computer and you managed to get a virus loaded on your computer, someone might
be able to get those details. The way to prevent this is to (a) scan all floppy
disks and programs you download for viruses and (b) don't store credit card
information on your computer. If you are diligent with virus scanning (which is
common sense really) anything new on your computer then you should be quite
safe.
4. I heard there are some
very bad things on the Internet. What can I do to stop these?
There are two main types of 'bad things'. The first is objectionable or
unsuitable (for children) content on the World Wide Web. Generally you don't see
objectionable material unless you go searching for it, but that is not always
the case. The exception is where a word or words you are using for a search have
two meanings - this can lead to references to Web sites that contain
objectionable content. The best and most effective way of ensuring your children
do not access inappropriate material is adult supervision. But given that it may
not be possible to be right next to your child at all times, you may want to
install software that filters out the 'net nasties'. Better packages like Net
Nanny have built in terms that prevent certain material from being viewed as
well as allowing you to add your own terms to the 'ban list'.
2. Web Browsing ('Surfing' the Internet)
1. What's a Web Browser?
A Web Browser is the computer application you use to access most of the
content on the Internet. It uses your dialup-up or office LAN Internet
connection to download and display text, pictures, animations and sounds. The
most popular Web Browser applications are Microsoft Internet Explorer and
Netscape.
2. What's a URL?
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. A URL is the address of a web page
or other resource that is available on the internet (or intranet). It is a
standard addressing format that is used by Internet applications to find web
sites and pages. For a more detailed description click HERE.
3. Now that I'm on the Internet -
where should I go?
This is probably the most asked question by first-time web surfers. A good
starting point is Yahoo! It
is probably the most comprehensive Internet directory. Unlike most Internet
'search engines', Yahoo! has
pointers and references to Internet locations in categories, much like the index
of a book. If you want to do a search using words and text, try AltaVista
(which has a 'family filter'). The other thing to remember is that most
companies have their name as their Internet address (e.g. www.microsoft.com)
so you can try some of those as well. If your web browser shows you an error
message it just means that the address you tried doesn't exist - so just try
another one. One of the most innovative 'search' sites I've seen recently is Ask
Jeeves. You can ask just about anything (and see what other people are
asking!)
4. How do I go from one place to
another?
There are several ways of moving about on the Internet. The easiest way is to
simply click on the blue, underlined text. Hyperlinks aren't always blue though,
and quite often you can click on a picture. You can tell if text or a picture is
a hyperlink by looking at the mouse pointer. As you move the mouse pointer over
a hyperlink the pointer changes from an arrow to a hand. You can also use the
Back and Forward buttons on your browser. This is the quickest way of navigating
through the pages you've already visited during you current session. Finally,
you can enter the URL address directly into the 'Address' or 'Location'
(depending on your browser) field near the top of your browser.
5. Do I have to go back to the
home page before I disconnect?
No. In fact you also don't have to wait for most things. If a page is taking
a while to load because it has lots of pictures, but you can see the hyperlink
of the next place you want to go, you can click on the hyperlink straight away -
you don't have to wait for the current page to finish loading.
6. How do I remember all these
cool places?
You can save them in your Bookmarks (Netscape) or Favourites (Internet
Explorer). Just click on the Bookmarks or Favourites menu and then click on 'Add
Favourite' or 'Add Bookmark'. The next time you want to go to that Internet
site, you can simply click on it in your list of favourites/bookmarks.
7. What's a 'Cookie'?
A cookie is a small, harmless piece of textual information that some Internet
sites will leave on your computer. It is used to flag certain conditions and
information about a particular Internet site when you visit it. For example, on
your first visit to an Internet site it might ask for your name and then show a
page with 'Welcome to Our Site, Fred'. It can save a cookie to your hard disk
that tells the server that you have seen the 'Welcome' page, so the next time
you visit the site it can show you an appropriate page for 'return visitors'.
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