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The phrase Internet Basics can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. And there is no way we could cover all the Internet basics here. The purpose of this lesson is to cover some of the Internet Basics that are 1) popular right now (e.g. blogs), 2) things you should definitely know to stay safe while surfing, and 3) things that will make your online experience better. If you're hungry for even more information about the Internet, head on over to About.com or Wikipedia.org - two great sites that will keep you busy for hours. Search Engines
They call it the World Wide Web for a reason. You have almost unlimited access to information on the Internet when you use a search engine. Researching vacation plans, stock options, the weather, etc. has never been easier. There are lots of user-friendly search engines out there (we've listed some popular ones below). You can also check out how search engines work by visiting How Stuff Works.
Some popular search engine choices: History of the World Wide Web
So who invented this glorious and vast universe of information? Find out here: Blogs/Blogging
Like we mentioned in the previous section, blogs have become immensly popular. Interested in creating your own? It's easy and free! Check out www.blogger.com or www.blogspot.com. You'll have your very own blog up and running in no time. If you want to learn more about blogs and how they work, visit weblogs.about.com. Phishing
Ever received an e-mail from a well-known financial institution or reputable company requesting your credit card or Social Security number? Phishing happens when fraudulent e-mails are designed to fool recipients into divulging personal information and financial data. A spoofed Web site is typically made to look like a well known, branded site (like ebay.com or citibank.com) with a slightly different or confusing URL. The attacker then tries to trick people into going to the spoofed site by sending out fake e-mail messages or posting links in public places - hoping that some percentage of users won't notice the incorrect URL and give away important information. This practice is often known as phishing. You can learn more about phishing at www.antiphishing.org and About.com has a feature article titled The Anatomy of a Phishing Scam. Also, be sure to check out www.spoofstick.com to find out how to tell if the e-mail you’ve received is a phishing e-mail. Bookmarks
With such a wealth of information, placing a bookmark on a Web page is an easy way to find it again quickly. Most browsers (such as IE and Firefox) have a built-in bookmark function - typically reffered to as Bookmarks or Favorites. If you change computers often or use public PCs in a library or Internet Cafe, having your bookmarks stored online can ensure you always have them handy. Check out www.google.com/bookmarks for more information on how to store bookmarks in your Google homepage.
Instant Messenger
Another shortcut that the Internet offers is Instant Messenger. It’s a way to communicate with friends and family almost instantly via short messages that pop up on your computer screen. Yahoo!, MSN, AOL and Google all offer free IM clients. You can also download Trillian, a popular (and free) third-party IM client that supports most major IM services. If you are new to IM or confused about all the three letter acronyms you see (LOL, TTYL, etc.), visit www.noslang.com or www.netlingo.com to stay current on IM lingo shortcuts and definitions.
Move on to Lesson #3: Internet Security
* This certification does not permit you to characterize yourself as a spokesperson, agent, or representative of Qwest Communications.
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