1. Problems when using the Internet?
© EIT, Author Gay Robertson, 2016

2. Problems may include … Identifying authority of sources
Currency of information
Accuracy of information
Security
Staff time involved in using the internet

3. Problem 1 … identifying the authority of web documents to be used by finding out who is the author or organisation responsible for the web site

4. Content of a website ….. The Internet links millions of computers
Anyone can publish anything on the Web
an amateur or an expert
From anywhere in the world
They can leave it there as long as they like or change / remove it without warning
Can be educational or entertainment
Can be directed at adults or children

5. Who wrote the page … What do you look for? No author .. look for …
Name of the author
No author .. look for …
Name of the organisation
Name of an agency
Copyright statement

6. Who wrote the page …
Key the author’s name into a search engine – what do you find?
Does the publisher or author have any qualifications to make them an expert?
Does the author have ‘standing’ in the field?
Are sources of information stated?
Can you verify the information?
Can you contact the author to get information clarified?

7. Who created the page … Is the web page part of a larger web site
What about the webmaster or person who did the actual website development?
Is the webmaster different from the author or publisher?
Can you send a message to the webmaster

8. Privacy policy …
Does it have a link to the organisation Privacy Policy?
Does the site collect information about the users?
Does the privacy policy say what the site will do with any information you enter into the site?
Does it mention ‘third parties’?

9. Look at the URL for clues…
Look at the country suffix .uk .nz etc
where does the website come from?
Look at the domain .govt .com .ac etc
what type of organisation published the website?
You can delete part of the URL by putting your cursor at the end of the URL and pressing the "back" or "delete" key until you reach the slash (/) then press the “Enter" key until you get back to the Publisher of the website
Go to the Home page you may find more information here

10. Unsure about a site? Go to http://www.Alexa.com
Key in a URL and you will get information about the site

11. You could be compromised if you do not identify and verify the author of a website you use information from Limit the websites you use to those you can verify As a digital citizen you must be aware of ICT challenges and manage them effectively

12. Finally…DO YOU TRUST the information
Finally…DO YOU TRUST the information? If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

13. Problem 2 … identifying the accuracy of web documents used by you
Let the reader beware …..

14. Evaluating the facts, opinions, links …..
Does the site contain factual information, opinions, original information or just links?
Can you verify (prove) the factual information is correct?
Is the text well written?
Quality of writing means message is communicated clearly.
Are there political biases?
What motivation does the author have for placing this on the net? eg is it advertising? Does it push a certain point of view?
Web sites rarely have people who check facts on a website.
Currently, there are no Web standards to make sure the information in a website is correct, real and true

15. Why do I need to know if information on a website is real?
Can YOU tell good information from bad?
All is not as it seems on websites! Excellent resources sit alongside really dubious ones!
Can you tell a real site from a fake(hoax)?
Some websites have funny fake (hoax) information
Some websites use the hoax site to steal from you (your money or your identity)
Some hoax sites can be dangerous eg viruses

16. Always remember that the best counterfeit looks the most like the real thing.

17. Trusting what you find on the Internet
The Internet can be a great tool for finding information but finding well written text and correct information can be much more of a challenge!

19. You could be compromised if you do not verify the accuracy of information used from a website Limit the websites you use to those where you can verify the accuracy
As a digital citizen you must be aware of ICT challenges and manage them effectively

20. Problem 3 – currency of information to be used by you – is it up to date?

21. Date of information Can you find a date on the web page?
Dates on web pages can mean:
The date the author first wrote or developed the website
The date the site was first available on the Internet
The date when some information on the website has been changed
The date the website copyright started and has been updated to

22. Is it timely …. Timeliness depends on your needs
Sometimes, you MUST HAVE current information
eg interest rates today

23. Or … Sometimes, you want information at the time it became known
eg last month’s interest rates – how much have they increased?
Sometimes, you look to see if the resource is updated or if author has just abandoned the website
eg no updates – information is not useful
What about links?
Are they up to date
Are they dead (do they work?)

24. You could be compromised if you do not verify the currency of a website you use information from Limit the websites you use to those where you can verify the currency of the information
As a digital citizen you must be aware of ICT challenges and manage them effectively

25. Back to the workbook now to evaluate some websites and send some emails!!