Questions New Internet Users May Have


Table of Contents

  1. How do I Search the Internet ?
  2. Which is the Best Browser to Use ?
  3. How do I Navigate a Web Site ?
  4. Who owns the Internet ?
  5. What are Cookies and other Security Messages that "Pop-Up" ?
  6. Where can I get some help with Computer Terms ?

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How do I Search the Internet ?

Click on your browser's "Search" or "Find" Button. If you do not see a button (usually above the URL field), then try
clicking on the menu options "Go" and "Search the Web" if you have Internet Explorer, or click on the menu options "Directory" and "Internet Search" in Netscape Navigator. This will bring you to a search page where you type in a topic or keyword in the "search" field and click on a button to search for web sites that are relative to your search. Once you have reached a site, you will want to search that particular site for your topic of interest. Most All Web Sites have a "Search" link, button or mapped part of an image that will be hyperlinked to a "Search" Page that will give you various search options.

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Which is the Best Browser to Use?

Oh Yes, the ongoing battle over which is better Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. We test both the Netscape and Microsoft Products and currently find that Microsoft's browsers provide the best performance and best compatibility with the many types of web sites that you may visit and use. If you are NOT using a PC running Windows, then one of Netscape's browsers will be one of the only ways you can browse the web.

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How do I Navigate a Web Site?

Most of your navigational skills require only a mouse. Simply click on the scroll bar to scroll up and down a page. Hyperlinks are presented as either a test link like IDP Home Page which as you can see is underlined and is usually blue. If you click on a Hyperlink, you go to that web page. Hyperlinks are also presented as graphics or a "mapped" part of a graphic. You can tell that a graphic or part of a graphic represents a hyperlink because your mouse pointer will turn into a hand. Try pointing your mouse to this graphic: When you point to a graphic that has a hyperlink your mouse pointer will change to a hand. Other good advice.. use your browser's "Back" and "Forward" buttons to jump back or forward to pages you have ALREADY been to. Sometimes you will land on a page that does not have a link to get back to where you were previously, or you may reach a site that you really don't wish to be at. Using the "Back" button on your browser screen will get you back to the page you started from.

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Who owns the Internet?

The Internet was originally owned, operated and developed by the Universities. Currently several large organizations own the main circuits and many many companies own access to these large companies circuits as well as own and operate their own sub-networks. Some aspects of the Internet are sponsored in part by Government.

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What are Cookies and other Security Messages that "Pop-Up" ?

During your browsing (surfing) the Internet, you may get messages popping up in your browser regarding these things called "cookies" and other security messages. Cookies are very small files that are sent to your machine. These files are generally used to enhance your visit to a web site and are used by Web based software to keep in touch with your browser. If you are visiting unknown or untrusted sites you should activate this security, otherwise you may check the box when the message comes up to not bother you with this notification in the future. Other security checking can become a hassle and can be disabled in a similar manner. If you need to turn the security back on, you may do so in the setup options in your browser. Security messages let you know when you are either allowing access to your computer or are sending information to a web site. Keep in mind that most well known sites can be trusted. You must be careful, though when you are surfing the unknown. Both Microsoft and Netscape maintain web pages with up-to-date security information. For the latest information and updates for Microsoft Internet Explorer go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/security/default.asp

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Where Can I Get Some Help with Computer Terms ?

One of our demonstrations of running standard windows applications via the web should help you out. You may have a delay the first time you load the page as your browser loads an ActiveX Control. GLOSSARY OF TERMS

If you do not have Internet Explorer or if you are running Netscape you may wish to start with the Citrix Client Download

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Copyright © 1999 Computer World, Inc.
Last modified: November, 1999