Browsing the Web



Morcroft, Greg. "web Surfing." Photo. foxbusiness.com 17 Feb. 2012 1 March. 2012



While reading chapter 2 of  "Discovering the Internet," by Shelly Cashman, I've come across some key information. Here is what I've learned:

Web sites

Just like clothes, Web sites come in different shapes, sizes, forms and fashions. Web sites serve different purposes and it is hard to determine how many web sites exist, because new one are constantly being added to the web, every second.


Personal websites are intended for personal use and the main page is usually the homepage, which links to
other web pages.


Web portals offer different types of products and services, on the very first page. Portals are geared to deliver broad ranges of Information. Sometimes, FAQ pages are a part of a web site. This type of page usually houses all of the significant questions and answers that pertain to the specific web site.

Web Pages

What usually draws your attention to a web page? Yes, graphics, colors, shapes, pictures, and audio. Web pages are designed to grab the reader's attention. At any given time, a web page may contain links to other pages, advertisements, copyright and legal information, and contact info.

 

Web Servers, and IP Addresses

Web servers are what allows a web site to be seen. Web sites are stored on servers which are managed by hosts.  When a web page is requested by a user, the web server retrieves and displays the contents. If your web site's server or host is down, your request will be processed but the web pages will not display. Some popular web page hosts are: Go Daddy.com,  iPage, and Just Host.

An IP address identifies your computer on a network, just as an apartment number identifies an apartment in a building.

Web Browsers

One of the most popular web browsers is Internet Explorer. Web browsers contain tools that enhances the experience of a web surfer. Although features may vary from browser to browser, most are customizable and share most of the basic features. To name some:

• Bookmarking - allows a page to marked for later use
• Search Box- used for finding content using keywords or addresses
• Address Bar- URL specific. you have to type in a full address in order to be relocated
• Favorites Bar- allows an address to be saved, in a folder,  for later reference

Web Surfing Risks

Surfing the web can deliver the same scenarios that are faced in the real world, sometimes worse. Whenever personal information is involved, one should always take extra precautions because the net is an unregulated environment.. It is easy to fall a victim to Phishing. Phishing is when a web site pretends to be another... the look, the behavior, but not the authenticity- the same concept as purchasing a "Coach" bag, off of a table, in Chinatown.  A user is fooled because they believe to be logging into their favorite site while those on the other end have malicious intentions.

There are disclaimers that compromise privacy and personal information so "read between the line... the lines are your friends." 

I feel that this is a very important topic so for more insight I've included a video, below. 

 Are you going to practice ways to protect yourself from the net? Why?