Anthea McGibbon, Staff Reporter

USING THE Internet to access information and/or entertainment is an all-important part of many people's daily routine - whether they are occasional users or tech junkies. However, there are thousands who are still unable to surf or browse.

Derek Aarons, a Gleaner techie, gives all the advice necessary for for Internet virgins to get on the scoresheet.

Simple tools necessary for browsing are a computer, and browsing software such as Internet Explorer (for Windows), and Firefox or Google Chrome (for Windows and MacIntosh).

You will need a pop-up blocker and anti-spyware. Anti-spyware is usually included in the security solution, for example, the popular Norton brand.

Browsers take you on to a default page. Enter the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the desired website in the address bar and the website will pop up. URLs usually begin with 'http://'.

URL incorrect

In the event the URL is incorrect, typically you are presented with a list of possibilities perhaps remotely similar to your entered URL. That failing, perform a manual search.

Key words relating to the subject being researched should be entered in the blank space on the default page of the search engine of choice. For example, to search for the Jamaica Gleaner, the surfer might want to enter 'Gleaner'.

Aarons explains that the use of the plus (+) sign is no longer necessary. For example, in searching for 'Usain Bolt wins', simply write 'Usain Bolt', instead of 'Usain + Bolt + wins''.

Aarons, however, shares that in browsers such as Yahoo, the use of quotes refines searches, listing only entries containing the entire phrase.

Kudos to google

In Aarons' opinion, no engine beats Google, which now offers a variety of search engines, and further specifies geographical locations. For example, Google.co.uk contains searches within the United Kingdom as priority, while Google Jamaica offers results specific to Jamaica as priority. Google.com is specific to the United States.

To avoid falling into danger zones such as pornography and online scamming, Aarons further advises the use of browsers' built-in security settings and McAfee's site adviser. Norton Internet Security also assists with protection within these danger zones. Just like the phone system, where secure lines are needed to ensure absolute privacy, surfers need to bear in mind that lines must be secure.

Wireless Internet, according to the expert, is the most insecure form of Internet usage, as a hacker can intercept the network's signals/waves.

e-banking dangers

Persons who practise Internet banking are particularly warned against wireless transactions.

Online transactions often, he says, involve the network's hosts and the companies that must process or approve the transaction, usually resulting in a relay among at least four locations.

In any network, according to Aarons, the surfer can only control what is being done on the machine being used. Physical wires, although safest, can be spliced.

That said, Aarons suggests that surfers check for padlocks as indications of secure sites.

When spotted, sites with padlocks must be read to ensure there is some guarantee offered on the part of the owner that the site is secure.

GOLDEN LINKS:

http://www.siteadvisor.com/

http://surfthenetsafely.com/

http://www.learnthenet.com/

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