WELCOME to Internet 102

Overview of Internet 102 Review of basic internet navigation Review of basic internet navigation Searching for and finding information on the internet Searching for and finding information on the internet Security and Privacy Security and Privacy Questions?? Questions??

Basic Navigation A Web Browser is a program on your computer that allows you to view web pages when you are connected to the internet – Internet Explorer A Web Browser is a program on your computer that allows you to view web pages when you are connected to the internet – Internet Explorer Information on the internet comes in the form of websites, which are made of web pages. Each website has a unique web address. Information on the internet comes in the form of websites, which are made of web pages. Each website has a unique web address. To navigate from web page to web page, follow links To navigate from web page to web page, follow links Use a Search Engine to look up websites and information on the internet Use a Search Engine to look up websites and information on the internet

Search Engines There are millions and millions of web pages that make up the Internet There are millions and millions of web pages that make up the Internet Search engines are special websites that help you to find information on other websites Search engines are special websites that help you to find information on other websites They work by indexing lists of important words on websites and the addresses to those sites. When you type in a word to search for, the search engine searches through its index of words and pulls up the websites that contain that word They work by indexing lists of important words on websites and the addresses to those sites. When you type in a word to search for, the search engine searches through its index of words and pulls up the websites that contain that word Results are usually ranked by relevancy: Complex formulas, but related to how many times a word appears, what order it appears, and where it is on a page Results are usually ranked by relevancy: Complex formulas, but related to how many times a word appears, what order it appears, and where it is on a page

Search Engines to try Many different ones Many different ones Commonly used ones are Google, Yahoo, and Bing Commonly used ones are Google, Yahoo, and Bing Some differences between different search engines: Indexing process, layout, advertisements, ranking of results Some differences between different search engines: Indexing process, layout, advertisements, ranking of results But results will be similar regardless of which one you use But results will be similar regardless of which one you use

Basic Searches Search by typing in a keyword or words related to what you are looking for Search by typing in a keyword or words related to what you are looking for Use words that you think will appear on the type of site you are looking for Use words that you think will appear on the type of site you are looking for Use descriptive words Use descriptive words Use as few terms as possible Use as few terms as possible Usually searches are not case sensitive and don’t include punctuation Usually searches are not case sensitive and don’t include punctuation Provide context- even though search engines are powerful tools, they can’t compare to the power of the human mind Provide context- even though search engines are powerful tools, they can’t compare to the power of the human mind

Advanced Searches Allows you to limit or narrow your search by choosing specific limitations, such as multiple search terms, word order, excluded words, and dates Allows you to limit or narrow your search by choosing specific limitations, such as multiple search terms, word order, excluded words, and dates Look for an advanced search option link Look for an advanced search option link Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT

Evaluating Information Information found on the web is not always reliable or accurate Information found on the web is not always reliable or accurate Be critical! Be critical! Look at the web address or URL for clues Look at the web address or URL for clues Look for an “about us” type link or other credentials for the person or organization responsible for the content Look for an “about us” type link or other credentials for the person or organization responsible for the content Look to other sites for confirmation, find out what others say. Look to other sites for confirmation, find out what others say. Be aware of ads and scams Be aware of ads and scams

Interesting Sites Google images- Google images- Wikipedia- Wikipedia- Internet Public Library – Internet Public Library – Bookmark your favorites for easy access! Bookmark your favorites for easy access!

The Deep Web Websites that you must have a password of some sort to log into, or that have information that isn’t accessible to everyone Websites that you must have a password of some sort to log into, or that have information that isn’t accessible to everyone Search engines don’t index the contents of the deep web Search engines don’t index the contents of the deep web Databases- Databases-

Databases Reliable Content – subscribers like libraries pay for databases, and their content must be reliable Reliable Content – subscribers like libraries pay for databases, and their content must be reliable For MCPL databases, you must enter your library card number for access For MCPL databases, you must enter your library card number for access Searching process is similar to search engines- usually an advanced search option Searching process is similar to search engines- usually an advanced search option Searching is just done within the content of that database Searching is just done within the content of that database

Searching the Library Catalog Similar to process for search engine search Similar to process for search engine search But…library catalog doesn’t index the entire content of library materials, you can only search certain indexes such as author or title. But…library catalog doesn’t index the entire content of library materials, you can only search certain indexes such as author or title. Look for power search option Look for power search option

Safety and Security There are some threats associated with being connected to the internet There are some threats associated with being connected to the internet Viruses Viruses Trojans Trojans Spyware Spyware

How to Protect your Computer Firewall Firewall Be wary of what you download- Be wary of what you download- Anti-virus/anti-trojan software Anti-virus/anti-trojan software urity/SecurityHi.html urity/SecurityHi.html urity/SecurityHi.html urity/SecurityHi.html

Questions?