Overview

In this section, we hope to acquaint you with what the internet is and how it works. We will discuss some basic concepts in order to provide you with a better understanding of what’s going on and why.

Simply put, the Internet is a collection of interconnected computers and computer networks, each one able to communicate and exchange data with any other computer connected to the internet.  The data can be in the form of text, graphics, audio, and video.

Think of the internet as an expressway.  You drive on it in your car (browser) and get off at different stores or buildings with addresses (web sites) to see or buy things (files) which are put in your car (browser) and taken home (your PC’s hard disk). You get on and off the expressway via a ramp connected directly to the internet (your ISP or internet service provider). You can also drive in the fast lane (broadband) where your speed can be 10-100 times faster than the slow lane (dialup).
 

Connecting to the Internet

There are basically 4 ways of connecting your PC to the internet: 3 are fast, one is slow. The fast connections are referred to as broadband and include cable, DSL, and satellite.  The slow connection is known as dialup. These connections connect to your computer on one end and to your internet service provider (ISP) at the other. Your ISP’s computers are directly connectd to special high speed internet lines.
 

Browsing

A browser is a program you use to access and display the contents internet web sites. The two most popular browsers are Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, built into Windows, and Netscape Navigator, now known as Mozilla. Browsing the internet involves typing in a web site address (such as www.webfindevelopment.com) in the top line of your bowser or clicking on a link (usually underlined text or a graphic) that has a preprogrammed web address associated with it will . This will cause your browser to retrieve then display that web page.
 

Web Sites

Web sites are special computer files located on computers continuously connected to the internet that can be downloaded and viewed by any computer with a browser that is also connected to the internet. Web sites vary in types, purposes, features, and content. Most web sites can be accessed by typing their domain name  or IP address in your browser.
 

^{Search Engines}

Certain web sites offer you the ability to type in words, names, places, products, etc you seek information about and will display the web addresses of sites that contain that information, ranked in order of importance. These sites are called search engines. The most popular are www.google.com and www.yahoo.com . It is search engines that make the web such a valuable information resource.
 

Downloading

Downloading occurs when a file from a remote computer is copied to your computer’s hard disk via the internet. Files containing text (html, pdf), graphics,animations (Flash), images (jpg. gif), audio (wav, mpc), video(mpg, wmv, real, Quicktime) and programs can all be downloaded. Precautions must be taken when downloasding and opening files since that is often how viruses and spyware enter your system. They are often disguised as free programs, screen savers, or file viewers. It is best to make sure the source of your downloaded is known to be legitimate and trustworthy.
 

EMail

Email allows you to send an electronic message to a friend or associate. To do this, each of you must have a PC and an email account with an ISP or web provider.  A sent message is temporarily stored on a web server until the recipient retrieves his email. When he does, the email is sent from the mail server to his PC, where he can read it using a program such as Outlook Express which is included with Windows. You can also attach pictures, documents, programs, or even video to an email message.
 

SPAM

SPAM is defined as unsolicited, unwanted email. It is sent to your email address by unsavory advertisers willing to impose upon 1000 people, taking up their time and disk space without permission, to get the attention of one person dumb enough to send them money. Spammers get your email address from lists compiled by duplicitous web sites or surveys. Many innocent people multiply their problems when they click on a link offering to remove them from the mailing list of that Spammer. Spammers ignore this request and use the click to confirm the validity of that email address. Spam blockers, email program filters, and even legislation are some of the defenses being mustered to combat this scourge.
 

ECommerce

Another popular convenience offered by the internet is stay at home shopping, also referred to as ecommerce. Browsing at popular shopping web sites allows you to view a huge variety of products, purchase those you want by entering a credit card number, and arrange delivery to your door step via UPS, Fed-Ex, or Airborne. Search engines allow you to easily find the product you seek without all the driving. Transactions are usualy safe provided you take a few precautions before entering any personal information such as your credit card number. These include:

1. Make sure you are buying from a reputable merchant. Check on their credentials with the Better Business Bureau or one of the online vendor rating services.
2. Make sure the transaction is secure. A lock icon will appear on the bottom right of your screen if it is. Your data is encrypted before being sent to the merchant, who has been verified by either Verisign or Thawte, the main two online certification companies.
3. Only provide the information needed. Account nymbers, birthdates, mother’s maiden name. social security numbers are all personal information you should never divulge.
4. Beware of excessive shipping and handling fees, which often aren’t revealed until after an order is entered. Unethical online retailers will advertise low prices to get you to buy, then pad the bill with unwarranted shipping and handling fees.
5. Make sure their return policy is clear and the products they ship are in unopened packages.