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WINTRODUCTION TO THE USE OF INTERNET

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a global network of billions of computers and other

electronic devices. With the Internet, it's possible to access almost any
information, communicate with anyone else in the world, and do
much more.k

You can do all of this by connecting a computer to the Internet, which

is also called going online. When someone says a computer is online,
it's just another way of saying it's connected to the Internet.

What is the Web?

The World Wide Web—usually called the Web for short—is a

collection of different websites you can access through the Internet.
A website is made up of related text, images, and other resources.
Websites can resemble other forms of media—like newspaper articles
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or television programs—or they can be interactive in a way that's

unique to computers.

The purpose of a website can be almost anything: a news platform, an

advertisement, an online library, a forum for sharing images, or an
educational site like us!

Once you are connected to the Internet, you can access and view
websites using a type of application called a web browser. Just keep
in mind that the web browser itself is not the Internet; it only displays
websites that are stored on the Internet.

How does the Internet work?

At this point you may be wondering, how does the Internet

work? The exact answer is pretty complicated and would take a while
to explain. Instead, let's look at some of the most important things you
should know.
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It's important to realize that the Internet is a global network

of physical cables, which can include copper telephone wires, TV
cables, and fiber optic cables. Even wireless connections like Wi-Fi
and 3G/4G rely on these physical cables to access the Internet.

When you visit a website, your computer sends a request over these
wires to a server. A server is where websites are stored, and it works
a lot like your computer's hard drive. Once the request arrives, the
server retrieves the website and sends the correct data back to your
computer. What's amazing is that this all happens in just a few
seconds!

Other things you can do on the Internet

One of the best features of the Internet is the ability to communicate
almost instantly with anyone in the world. Email is one of the oldest
and most universal ways to communicate and share information on
the Internet, and billions of people use it. Social media allows people
to connect in a variety of ways and build communities online.
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There are many other things you can do on the Internet. There are
thousands of ways to keep up with news or shop for anything online.
You can pay your bills, manage your bank accounts, meet new
people, watch TV, or learn new skills. You can learn or do almost
anything online.

Introduction

There's almost no limit to what you can do online. The Internet makes
it possible to quickly find information, communicate with people
around the world, manage your finances, shop from home, listen to
music, watch videos, and much, much more. Let's take a look at some
of the ways the Internet is most commonly used today.

Finding information online

With billions of websites online today, there is a lot of information on

the Internet. Search engines make this information easier to find. All
you have to do is type one or more keywords, and the search engine
will look for relevant websites.

For example, let's say you're looking for a new pair of shoes. You
could use a search engine to learn about different types of shoes, get
directions to a nearby shoe store, or even find out where to buy them
online!
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There are many different search engines you can use, but some of the
most popular include Google, Yahoo!, and Bing.

Email

Short for electronic mail, email is a way to send and receive

messages across the Internet. Almost everyone who uses the Internet
has their own email account, usually called an email address. This is
because you'll need an email address to do just about anything online,
from online banking to creating a Facebook account.
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Social networking
Social networking websites are another way to connect and
share with your family and friends online. Rather than sharing with
just a few people over email, social networks make it easier
to connect and share with many people at the same
time. Facebook is the world's largest social networking site,
with more than 1 billion users worldwide.
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Chat and instant messaging

Chat and instant messaging (IM) are short messages sent and
read in real time, allowing you to converse more quickly and easily
than email. These are generally used when both (or all) people are
online, so your message can be read immediately. By
comparison, emails won't be seen until recipients check their inboxes.

Examples of instant messaging applications include Yahoo

Messenger and Google Hangouts. Some sites,
like Gmail and Facebook, even allow you to chat within your web
browser.
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Online media
There are many sites that allow you to watch videos and listen to
music. For example, you can watch millions of videos
on YouTube or listen to Internet radio on Pandora. Other services,
like Netflix and Hulu, allow you to watch movies and TV shows.
And if have a set-top streaming box, you can even watch them
directly on your television instead of a computer screen.

Everyday tasks

You can also use the Internet to complete many everyday

tasks and errands. For example, you can manage your bank account,
pay your bills, and shop for just about anything. The main advantage
here is convenience. Rather than going from place to place, you can
do all of these tasks at home!
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And a whole lot more!

Remember, these are just a few of the things you'll be able to do

online. Keep working through this tutorial to learn more about
connecting to the Internet and using the Web!

How do I connect to the Internet?

Once you've set up your computer, you may want to

purchase home Internet access so you can send and receive email,
browse the Web, stream videos, and more. You may even want to set
up a home wireless network, commonly known as Wi-Fi, so you can
connect multiple devices to the Internet at the same time.

Watch the video below to learn about connecting to the Internet.

Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view it here.
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Types of Internet service

The type of Internet service you choose will largely depend on

which Internet service providers (ISPs) serve your area, along with
the types of service they offer. Here are some common types of
Internet service.

 Dial-up: This is generally the slowest type of

Internet connection, and you should probably avoid
it unless it is the only service available in your area.
Dial-up Internet uses your phone line, so unless you
have multiple phone lines you will not be able to use
your landline and the Internet at the same time.
 DSL: DSL service uses a broadband connection,
which makes it much faster than dial-up. DSL
connects to the Internet via a phone line but does
not require you to have a landline at home. And
unlike dial-up, you'll be able to use the Internet and
your phone line at the same time.
 Cable: Cable service connects to the Internet via
cable TV, although you do not necessarily need to
have cable TV in order to get it. It uses a broadband
connection and can be faster than both dial-up and
DSL service; however, it is only available where
cable TV is available.
 Satellite: A satellite connection uses broadband but
does not require cable or phone lines; it connects to
the Internet through satellites orbiting the Earth.
As a result, it can be used almost anywhere in the
world, but the connection may be affected by
weather patterns. Satellite connections are also
usually slower than DSL or cable.
 3G and 4G: 3G and 4G service is most commonly
used with mobile phones, and it
connects wirelessly through your ISP's network.
However, these types of connections aren't always as
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fast as DSL or cable. They will also limit the

amount of data you can use each month, which isn't
the case with most broadband plans.

Choosing an Internet service provider

Now that you know about the different types of Internet service, you
can do some research to find out what ISPs are available in your area.
If you're having trouble getting started, we recommend talking to
friends, family members, and neighbors about the ISPs they use. This
will usually give you a good idea of the types of Internet service
available in your area.

Most ISPs offer several tiers of service with different Internet speeds,
usually measured in Mbps (short for megabits per second). If you
mainly want to use the Internet for email and social networking, a
slower connection (around 2 to 5 Mbps) might be all you need.
However, if you want to download music or stream videos, you'll
want a faster connection (at least 5 Mbps or higher).

You'll also want to consider the cost of the service, including

installation charges and monthly fees. Generally speaking, the faster
the connection, the more expensive it will be per month.

Although dial-up has traditionally been the least expensive option,

many ISPs have raised dial-up prices to be the same as broadband.
This is intended to encourage people to switch to broadband. We do
not recommend dial-up Internet unless it's your only option.

Hardware needed

Modem
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Once you have your computer, you really don't need much additional
hardware to connect to the Internet. The primary piece of hardware
you need is a modem.

The type of Internet access you choose will determine the type of
modem you need. Dial-up access uses a telephone
modem, DSL service uses a DSL modem, cable access uses a cable
modem, and satellite service uses a satellite adapter. Your ISP may
give you a modem—often for a fee—when you sign a contract, which
helps ensure that you have the right type of modem. However, if you
would prefer to shop for a better or less expensive modem, you can
choose to buy one separately.

Router
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A router is a hardware device that allows you to connect several

computers and other devices to a single Internet connection, which
is known as a home network. Many routers are wireless, which
allows you to create a home wireless network, commonly known as
a Wi-Fi network.

You don't necessarily need to buy a router to connect to the

Internet. It's possible to connect your computer directly to your
modem using an Ethernet cable. Also, many modems include a built-
in router, so you have the option of creating a Wi-Fi network without
buying extra hardware.
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Setting up your Internet connection

Once you've chosen an ISP, most providers will send a technician to

your house to turn on the connection. If not, you should be able to
use the instructions provided by your ISP—or included with the
modem—to set up your Internet connection.

After you have everything set up, you can open your web
browser and begin using the Internet. If you have any problems with
your Internet connection, you can call your ISP's technical
support number.
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Home networking

If you have multiple computers at home and want to use all of them to
access the Internet, you may want to create a home network, also
known as a Wi-Fi network. In a home network, all of your devices
connect to your router, which is connected to the modem. This
means everyone in your family can use the Internet at the same time.

Your ISP technician may be able to set up a home Wi-Fi network

when installing your Internet service. If not, you can review our
lesson on How to Set Up a Wi-Fi Network to learn more.

If you want to connect a computer that does not have built-in Wi-Fi
connectivity, you can purchase a Wi-Fi adapter that plugs into your
computer's USB port.

What is the cloud?

You may have heard people using terms like the cloud, cloud
computing, or cloud storage. But what exactly is the cloud?

Simply put, the cloud is the Internet—more specifically, it's all of the
things you can access remotely over the Internet. When something
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is in the cloud, it means it's stored on Internet servers instead of

your computer's hard drive.

Watch the video below to learn more about the cloud.

Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view it here.

Why use the cloud?

Some of the main reasons to use the cloud

are convenience and reliability. For example, if you've ever used
a web-based email service, such as Gmail or Yahoo! Mail, you've
already used the cloud. All of the emails in a web-based service are
stored on servers rather than on your computer's hard drive. This
means you can access your email from any computer with an Internet
connection. It also means you'll be able to recover your emails if
something happens to your computer.

Let's look at some of the most common reasons to use the cloud.

 File storage: You can store all types of information

in the cloud, including files and email. This means
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you can access these things from any

computer or mobile device with an Internet
connection, not just your home
computer. Dropbox and Google Drive are some of
the most popular cloud-based storage services.

 File sharing: The cloud makes it easy

to share files with several people at the same time.
For example, you could upload several photos to a
cloud-based photo service like Flickr or iCloud
Photos, then quickly share them with friends and
family.
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 Backing up data: You can also use the cloud to

protect your files. There are apps such
as Carbonite that automatically back up your
data to the cloud. This way, if your computer ever is
lost, stolen, or damaged, you'll still be able to
recover these files from the cloud.
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What is a web app?

Previously, we talked about how desktop applications allow you to

perform tasks on your computer. But there are also web
applications—or web apps—that run in the cloud and do not need to
be installed on your computer. Many of the most popular sites on the
Internet are actually web apps. You may have even used a web app
without realizing it! Let's take a look at some popular web apps.

 Facebook: Facebook lets you create an

online profile and interact with your friends.
Profiles and conversations can be updated at any
time, so Facebook uses web app technologies
to keep the information up to date.

 Pixlr: Pixlr is an image editing application that

runs in your web browser. Much like Adobe
Photoshop, it includes many advanced features, like
color correction and sharpening tools.
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 Google Docs: Google Docs is an office suite that

runs in your browser. Much like Microsoft Office,
you can use it to
create documents, spreadsheets, presentations,
and more. And because the files are stored in the
cloud, it's easy to share them with others.
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Using a web browser

A web browser is a type of software that allows you to find and view
websites on the Internet. Even if you didn't know it, you're using a
web browser right now to read this page! There are many different
web browsers, but some of the most common ones include Google
Chrome, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox.

No matter which web browser you use, you'll want to learn the basics
of browsing the Web. In this lesson, we'll talk about navigating to
different websites, using tabbed browsing, creating bookmarks, and
more.

Watch the video below to learn the basics of using a web browser.

We'll be using the Google Chrome web browser throughout this

lesson, but you can use any browser you want. Keep in mind that your
browser may look and act a bit differently, but all web browsers work
in basically the same way.

URLs and the address bar

Each website has a unique address, called a URL (short for Uniform
Resource Locator). It's like a street address that tells your browser
where to go on the Internet. When you type a URL into the
browser's address bar and press Enter on your keyboard, the
browser will load the page associated with that URL.

In the example below, we've typed www.bbc.com/travel into the

address bar.

Links

Whenever you see a word or phrase on a website

that's blue or underlined in blue, it's probably a hyperlink,
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or link for short. You might already know how links work, even if
you've never thought about them much before. For example, try
clicking the link below.

Hey, I'm a link! Click me!

Links are used to navigate the Web. When you click a link, it will
usually take you to a different webpage. You may also notice that
your cursor changes into a hand icon whenever you hover over a link.

If you see this icon, it means you've found a link. You'll find other
types of links this way too. For example, many websites actually
use images as links, so you can just click the image to navigate to
another page.

Review our lesson on Understanding Hyperlinks to learn more.

Navigation buttons

The Back and Forward buttons allow you to move through websites
you've recently viewed. You can also click and hold either button to
see your recent history.
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The Refresh button will reload the current page. If a website stops
working, try using the Refresh button.

Tabbed browsing

Many browsers allow you to open links in a new tab. You can open
as many links as you want, and they'll stay in the same browser
window instead of cluttering your screen with multiple windows.

To open a link in a new tab, right-click the link and select Open link
in new tab (the exact wording may vary from browser to browser).

To close a tab, click the X.

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To create a new blank tab, click the button to the right of any open
tabs.

Bookmarks and history

If you find a website you want to view later, it can be hard to

memorize the exact web address. Bookmarks, also known
as favorites, are a great way to save and organize specific websites so
you can revisit them again and again. Simply locate and select
the Star icon to bookmark the current website.

Your browser will also keep a history of every site you visit. This is
another good way to find a site you visited previously. To view your
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history, open your browser settings—usually by clicking the icon in

the upper-right corner—and select History.

Downloading files

Links don't always go to another website. In some cases, they point to

a file that can be downloaded, or saved, to your computer.

If you click a link to a file, it may download automatically, but

sometimes it just opens within your browser instead of
downloading. To prevent it from opening in the browser, you
can right-click the link and select Save link as (different browsers
may use slightly different wording, like Save target as).
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Review our lesson on Downloading and Uploading to learn more.

Saving images

Sometimes you may want to save an image from a website to your

computer. To do this, right-click the image and select Save image
as (or Save picture as).

Plug-ins
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Plug-ins are small applications that allow you to view certain types of
content within your web browser. For example, Adobe
Flash and Microsoft Silverlight are sometimes used to play videos,
while Adobe Reader is used to view PDF files.

If you don't have the correct plug-in for a website, your browser will
usually provide a link to download it. There may also be times when
you need to update your plug-ins. Review our lesson on Installing
and Updating Plug-ins to learn more.

Understanding hyperlinks

Have you ever noticed that certain words on the Web look a little bit
different? Whenever you see a word or phrase that's underlined in
blue, it's probably a hyperlink, or link for short. You might already
know how links work, even if you've never thought about them much
before. For example, try clicking the link below.

Hey, I'm a link! Click me!

Links are used to navigate the Web. When you click a link, it will
take you to a different webpage. In the example below, we're clicking
a link to learn more about the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
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When you hover over a Wikipedia link, a preview of the linked site
appears to give you more information. It is important to note that most
web browsers show the link's URL in the bottom-left
corner of the window.
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You may also notice that your cursor changes into a hand
icon whenever you hover over a link.

If you see this icon, it means you've found a link. You'll find other
types of links this way too. For example, many websites actually
use images as links, so you can just click the image to navigate to
another page. In the example below, we're clicking the picture of a
coffee mug to open a page with more information about it.
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Links don't always go to another website. In some cases, they allow

you to download a file. When you click a link like this, the file will
be downloaded to your computer. In the example below, we're
downloading an installation file for a new application.
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As you can see, links are an important part of using the Web. They
allow you to navigate between different webpages, download files,
and do a whole lot more.

Downloading and uploading

While exploring the Internet, you’ve probably encountered the

terms downloading and uploading. Downloading means receiving
data or a file from the Internet on your computer. Uploading means
sending data or a file from your computer to somewhere on the
Internet.

These terms describe activities you may have already learned how to
do. If you've ever opened an example document in one of our
tutorials, you've downloaded that file. If you’ve ever shared a photo
you took on Facebook or another social media site, you've uploaded
that photo.

Downloading
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Usually, when you download a file you will start the download by
clicking a link to that file. Many of our tutorials contain links to files,
like this:

Download our practice document.

If you click the link, your browser should prompt you to select one of
two methods for downloading the file.

 Open with will download the file and load it

immediately in the specified program.
 Save File will download it and save it to your hard
drive.

Either way, once you click OK, the download begins. Your browser
will indicate the progress and time remaining on the download.

Once the download is complete, either the file will be saved to your
computer or it will open in the program you selected. If you have
trouble finding the file after you’ve downloaded it, check out
our Finding Your Downloads lesson.
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Some browsers don’t always start this download process when you
click the link to a file. In these cases, you can right-click the link, then
click Save Link As, then select a location to download the file.

Uploading

If a site allows uploads, it will have an upload utility to help perform

the file transfer. Each site handles this process differently, but we’ll
give some common examples. Usually, the site will have help pages
to walk you through the upload process.

Many sites have an upload button that opens a dialog box. For
example, Facebook has a camera icon that begins the upload process.

A dialog box will appear, prompting you to select a file. Browse to

the location where your file is stored, select it, then click the Open
button. Afterward, a progress bar tracking the upload process will
appear on the page.
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Some sites support a drag-and-drop interface. For example, when

logged in to Dropbox you can drag the files from a folder on your
computer and drop them into the browser window.
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Many other upload utilities have similar features. A more detailed

example of uploading a file is available in our Google Drive tutorial.

Using search engines

With billions of websites online today, there is a lot of information on

the Internet. Search engines make this information easier to find.
Let's look at the basics of using a search engine, as well as some
techniques you can use to get better search results.

Watch the video below to learn more about searching the Web.

How to search the Web

There are many different search engines you can use, but some of the
most popular include Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. To perform a
search, you'll need to navigate to a search engine in your web
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browser, type one or more keywords—also known as search

terms—then press Enter on your keyboard. In this example, we'll
search for recipes.

After you run a search, you'll see a list of relevant websites that
match your search terms. These are commonly known as search
results. If you see a site that looks interesting, you can click a link to
open it. If the site doesn't have what you need, you can simply return
to the results page to look for more options.
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Most browsers also allow you to perform a web search directly from
your address bar, although some have a separate search bar next to
the address bar. Simply type your search terms and press Enter to run
the search.

Search suggestions

If you don't find what you're looking for on the first try, don't worry!
Search engines are good at finding things online, but they're not
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perfect. You'll often need to try different search terms to find what
you're looking for.

If you're having trouble thinking of new search terms, you can

use search suggestions instead. These will usually appear as you're
typing, and they're a great way to find new keywords you might not
have tried otherwise. To use a search suggestion, you can click it with
your mouse, or select it with the arrow keys on your keyboard.

Refining your search

If you're still having trouble finding exactly what you need, you can
use some special characters to help refine your search. For example, if
you want to exclude a word from a search, you can type a hyphen (-)
at the beginning of a word. So if you wanted to find cookie recipes
that don't include chocolate, you could search for recipes cookies -
chocolate.
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You can also search for exact words or phrases to narrow down your
results even more. All you need to do is place quotation marks (" ")
around the desired search terms. For example, if you search
for recipes "sugar cookies", your search results will only include
recipes for sugar cookies, instead of any cookies that happen to use
sugar as an ingredient.
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These techniques may come in handy in certain cases, but you

probably won't need to use them with most searches. Search engines
can usually figure out what you're looking for without these extra
characters. We recommend trying a few different search
suggestions before using this method.

Content-specific searches

There may be times when you're looking for something more specific,
like a news article, picture, or video. Most search engines
have links at the top of the page that allow you to perform these
unique searches.
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In the example below, we've used the same search terms to look
for images instead of websites. If you see an image you like, you can
click to visit the website it originally came from.

You can use the extra search tools to narrow down your results even
more. These tools will change based on the type of content you're
looking for, but in this example we can filter our images
by size, color, image type, and more. So if you wanted to find
cookies with pink frosting, you could search for images that are
mostly pink.
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Advertisements

One final thing to note: Most search engines

include advertisements with search results. For example, you can see
advertisements at the top of the search results below.
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These ads are based on your search terms, and they often look similar
to other search results. While they may be useful in some cases, it's
usually more helpful to focus on the actual search results.

Understanding URLs

Every time you click a link on a website or type a web address into
your browser, it’s a URL. URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator.
Think of it like a street address, with each portion of the URL as
different parts of the address, and each giving you different
information. Let’s examine each component of a URL and what we
can learn from it.

Watch the video below to learn the different parts of a URL.

Scheme

Every URL begins with the scheme. This tells your browser what
type of address it is so the browser connects to it correctly. There are
many types of schemes, but for typical web browsing you will mostly
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see http and https. Your browser usually won’t show the scheme in
the address bar, and usually you don’t need to type the scheme when
typing a web address; instead, you can just begin with the domain
name. The scheme is still always part of the URL; it just isn’t being
displayed.

Domain name

The domain name is the most prominent part of a web address.

Typically, different pages on the same site will continue to use the
same domain name. For example, all pages on this site share the
GCFLearnFree.org domain name.

Each segment of the domain name separated by a period is called

a domain. The domain on the right is called a top-level domain, with
the domain to the left of it called the second-level domain,
then third-level domain, and so on.
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You can often learn something about the site from the domains. One
of the domains usually identifies the organization, while the top-level
domain may give you more general information on what kind of site it
is. For example, in the domain name nc.gov, the .gov domain means it
is a government website in the United States, the nc domain identifies
it as the website of North Carolina.
In most URLs, the www domain can be
omitted. Google.com and www.google.com lead to the same page.
However, other subdomains cannot be omitted. For example, all
pages under news.google.com require the news subdomain in the
URL.

File path

The file path—often just called the path—tells your browser to load
a specific page. If you don’t specify a path and only enter a domain
name, your browser is still loading a specific page; it’s just loading a
default page, which usually will help you navigate to other pages.
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URLs that end with the domain name without a file path usually will
load a homepage or an index page that's designed to help you navigate
to specific pages on the site. Often, if you can’t remember the file
path for a specific page, you can go to the homepage and search for it.

Parameters

Some URLs include a string of characters after the path—beginning

with a question mark—called the parameter string. You have
probably noticed this part of a URL appear in your address bar after
performing a search on Google or YouTube. The parameter string can
be clear or confusing to a human user, but it is critical information for
the server.

Anchor

Also appearing after the path, the anchor tells your browser to scroll
to or load a specific part of the page. Usually the anchor begins with
a hashtag and is used to direct your browser to a specific part of a
very long page, much like a bookmark. Different anchors don’t load
different pages; they simply tell the browser to display different parts
of the page.
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A whole URL

When combined, these elements make up a URL, although not all

URLs will have all five parts.

Using what we learned in this tutorial, we can tell from the domain
name of this URL that it’s on Wikipedia, from the parameters that the
page is probably about burritos, and from the anchor that we’ll be
looking at the section on burritos for breakfast.

Keep in mind that these are the most common components of a URL.
There are many other parts, but these are the five you will see most
often and that can usually give you the most information.

How to set up a Wi-Fi network

The Internet is a really powerful tool. It gives us access to all kinds of

information at a moment's notice—think email, Google search, and
Wikipedia. So there's something a little counterintuitive about only
being able to use the Internet when you sit down at a desktop
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computer. What if you could use the Internet from anywhere in your
home or office?

If you already have high-speed (broadband) Internet service at your

house, it's pretty easy to create your own home wireless network.
Commonly known as Wi-Fi, a wireless network allows you to
connect laptops, smartphones, and other mobile devices to your home
Internet service without an Ethernet cable.

Purchase a wireless router

To create your own Wi-Fi network, you'll need a wireless router.

This is the device that will broadcast the Wi-Fi signal from your
Internet modem throughout your house. Your Internet service
provider (ISP) may offer you a wireless router for a small monthly
fee. If you've never set up a Wi-Fi network before, this may be the
easiest option.
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If you want to buy your own router, we'd recommend spending a little
more time researching different options. CNET offers a
comprehensive guide on How to Buy a Router.

Some Internet modems may already have a built-in wireless router,

which means you won't need to purchase a separate one.

Connect the cables

1. Once you've acquired a wireless router, you'll need

to connect it to your existing Internet modem.

2. Connect an Ethernet cable from your modem to the

wireless router (there is usually a short Ethernet
cable included with your wireless router for this
purpose).

3. Plug in the power cable for the wireless router.

4. Wait at least 30 to 60 seconds, and make sure the

lights on your router are working correctly.
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Configure your router

Next, you'll need to use your computer to configure your router's

default settings. This includes setting a unique
name and password for your wireless network.

1. Using your web browser, enter the router's default

IP address into the address bar, then press Enter.
Your router's instructions should include this
information, but some of the most common
addresses include 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1,
and 192.168.2.1.

2. The router's sign-in page will appear. Again, the

exact sign-in details should be included with your
router's instructions, but most routers use a standard
user name and password combination, such
as admin and password.
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3. Your router's settings page will appear. Locate and

select the Network Name setting, then enter a
unique network name.

4. Locate and select the Network Password setting,

and choose an Encryption option. There are several
types of encryption you can use, but we
recommend WPA2, which is generally considered to
be the most secure.

5. Enter your desired password. Make sure to use

a strong password to help ensure no one else can
access your network.

6. Locate and select the Save button to save your

settings.

Connect!

That's it! Now you're ready to connect to your Wi-Fi network and
make sure it's working. The process for connecting to a Wi-Fi
network will vary slightly depending on what type of computer or
device you're using, but any system will require these basic steps.

1. Locate your computer's network settings, and search

for nearby Wi-Fi networks.

2. Select your network, and enter your password.

3. If the connection is successful, open your web

browser and try navigating to a webpage
like www.google.com. If the page loads, it means
your Wi-Fi connection is working correctly.

Congratulations!

You've just set up your own home wireless network. Way to go!
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Choosing a web browser

A web browser is a type of software that allows you to find and view
websites on the Internet. Even if you didn't know it, you're using a
web browser right now to read this page!

For many years, especially in the early 2000s, there was one browser
that almost everyone used: Microsoft's Internet Explorer. If you
used the Internet at that time, you probably clicked an icon like this to
access the Web:
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In the past, Internet Explorer was pre-installed on any PC you buy.

Starting in the mid-2000s, other software companies introduced new
browsers, including Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. At the
time, these browsers allowed for more experimental features. Because
of this, web developers began creating websites with browsers like
Chrome and Firefox in mind, which meant they didn't always work as
well in Internet Explorer. If you have a PC with Windows 10, you'll
have Microsoft Edge as your web browser instead. Watch this video
to learn more about browsing in Edge.

It's always a good idea to keep at least two web browsers on your
computer or mobile device. This way, if a website isn't working
correctly you can try opening the page in a different web browser.
More often than not, this trick can solve a lot of problems you might
encounter online.

Choosing a Web Browser

Infogram

Using a PC or Android? Try Google Chrome.

Google Chrome is probably the best web browser right now for PCs.
It's free to download, it's very fast, and it's secure. Chrome is also the
default web browser for many Android devices. Watch this video to
learn about browsing in Chrome.
If you have a Google account, you can even sync your saved
passwords and browsing history across multiple devices. And because
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it downloads updates automatically, you'll always be protected from

current security threats and viruses online. If you want to learn more,
review our Chrome tutorial.

Using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac? Try Safari.

Safari is the default web browser for Mac computers and iOS
devices, including the iPhone and iPad. Aside from being fast and
secure, Safari has a lot of unique features. For example, Reader view
allows you to see a simplified version of a webpage that's optimized
for reading. It's also easy to add articles you find to your Reading List
so you can save them for later. Watch this video to learn more about
browsing in Safari.

Again, we recommend keeping at least two web browsers on your

device. Chrome is a good secondary browser to use on a Mac, iPhone,
or iPad. It's also important to note that you cannot use Internet
Explorer on a Mac or iOS device.

Other recommended web browsers

Firefox: This free web browser from Mozilla works on Windows,
Mac, and Android. It's built by an open-source community of
developers, so it will usually support even the most experimental web
features. Like Chrome, it will be updated automatically, so you'll be
protected from viruses and other threats online. Next, watch this video
about browsing in Firefox.

If you want to learn more, review our Firefox tutorial.

Opera: Originally released in 1994, the Opera web browser has been
around much longer than Firefox and Chrome. You may find that
some websites don't load perfectly on Opera, but it's still regarded as a
fast and secure alternative to your default browser. It's also available
for all major operating systems (Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS).