COMPUTING FOR THE BEWILDERED ============================ By Bill Hayles Hello, again. THE INTERNET - Part 3 ===================== Last time, we looked at how much Internet access could cost you, and what you could do with an Internet connection. We didn't manage to finish. We left it at: 4. HTTP. "The World Wide Web". ============================== (a) I keep hearing about this. What is it? The World Wide Web is an ever expanding, interconnected set of information and other displays, or "pages", written in a computer language known as HTML (HyperText Mark-up Language), and located by means of a URL, (Universal Resource Locator), using HTTP, (HyperText Transfer Protocol). You have absolutely no need to know how any of this works in order to view the pages ("surf the web"). It is very seldom you will even have to type in a web address in order to find the page you want. When you first start a browser, it will automatically be set up to load your starting, or "home" page. This is usually the address of a web database site, or "search engine". You will type in the sort of information you wish to know, and the search engine will display a list of what it thinks are the most likely sites to be of interest to you. You simply point with the mouse to the site you want to look at and click. The software automatically loads that page. If it's the starting page of a large site, it will have links of its own to its subpages, which you can select with the mouse. If you find a site that interests you, and you may wish to visit again, you can add it to a list, usually called "Favorites" or "Bookmarks", so that you can go straight to it another time . At no time do you have to remember its URL. Many websites include links to others, so you can find yourself looking at, and discovering many new sites from visiting just one. These new sites will have links of their own, and so it goes on. That's why it's called the Web. Everything is linked to everything else! From websites, you can usually save the information on your own computer, or print out anything you might like to keep for further study. Many websites are "interactive". They ask you for information and act on it. A search engine is an obvious example, open to all and with little security risk. An on-line bank account is at the other end of the scale, the bank taking all possible precautions to ensure only the authorised account holder can access their account. Web browsing can become addictive. "Just a few more sites" is a common cry. (b) What can I find on the web? Almost anything. It is, of course, a vast electronic reference library, but it's much more than that. Millions of people have posted their own pages, with their personal details and much else. These will probably only be of interest to their immediate families, but are there if you want them. My own web sites come into this category. All major, and most minor, companies have websites to promote their products and, increasingly, as the centre of their support operations. Support staff are often asked the same questions over and over again. These are put on the site as FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions). All hobbies and pastimes have devotees with websites dedicated to them. (c ) What can I do on the web? Just a few examples: Read the Daily Telegraph Bet with Ladbrokes Find out about the Costa Blanca Expats Internet Group Run your bank account with Banco Popular Buy a book from Amazon Access adult material with Tasha Addams (d) Glad you mentioned those (d1) Isn't buying on-line dangerous? No. It's considerably safer than buying something in a shop. I buy on-line frequently, and the worst that's happened is that the goods I ordered never turned up, nor was I charged. (d2) So you admit the web is riddled with porn! Like the top shelf of the newsagent, it's there if you want it, and are prepared to pay for it. If you don't, you can easily ignore it. Excuses, or  I CAN'T USE THE INTERNET BECAUSE: ============================================== I'm too old Many people in their seventies and older have taken to the Internet. They even have a name – the "Silver Surfers". Older people are very likely to have relatives living far away. E-mail is a perfect way to keep in touch. I can't type You don't need to be an ace touch typist to be able to use the Internet. Most web browsing is done with the use of a mouse. It takes only a few minutes to work out how to use it. You'll need the keyboard to compose an e-mail, but you can take as long as you like, and any mistakes can be corrected and recorrected so the final version will always be correct. I'm no good with technology. I can't even program the video. Using the Internet is much easier than programming the video, and far more rewarding. I can't afford it. It needn't be as expensive as you think, and you can always use an Internet cafe. And just think of all those long distance phone calls and letters you will no longer be needing to send. I'm worried about viruses Let's debunk a couple of myths about these. "Virus" is just a term. They have absolutely nothing to do with the world outside your computer. YOU cannot catch a computer virus. They CANNOT physically destroy your computer. The worst case scenario is that all the information stored on your computer will be lost and you will have to start again from scratch. A virus is nothing more than a computer file designed to do something unplanned and sometimes nasty to your computer. You can only acquire a virus by inadvertently copying it onto your computer from the outside world. This includes from a floppy disk or CD-ROM when installing software, or through a network, such as the Internet. The other way, which is what concerns us, is as an attachment to an e-mail. It is, in practical terms, impossible to guarantee against receiving a virus in this way. But a virus can only do you harm if it is activated or "opened". It is very easy to avoid this happening. Firstly, use anti-virus and /or firewall software. Experts argue as to which is the best, but basically they all work, and any is many, many times better than none. Secondly, and most importantly, do not allow your e-mail reader to open any attachment without your permission. Set your software to read only "plain text". Plain text CANNOT contain a virus. Be very suspicious of any unsolicited e-mails with attachments. If you delete them before opening them, they cannot harm you. Finally, the fear of viruses causes much more anxiety than the beasts themselves, so don't worry!!! Thanks, But I Donīt Think I'll Bother If you've come to that decision after at least giving it a go, probably in an Internet Cafe, then fair enough. Not everybody NEEDS to go on the Internet. It's not compulsory. If you find it's giving you sleepless nights and you can't get to grips with it, then stick with what you know. I won't think any the less of you. I have two left feet. I can't dance. I accept that some people are like that with Information Technology. That's all for today. Next time, I'll be looking at sending e-mails, and explaining why Outlook Express is not one of Microsoft's greatest products. IF you wish to contact me, you can do so by e-mail to questions@billnot.com. Although I can't promise to give everybody an individual reply, I do read everything. My main computer related website is http://cftb.net. If you wish to join our computer chat discussion group (mailing list) you can do so by sending an e-mail to computerchat@billnot.com with the single word SUBSCRIBE as the subject. If you have been, thanks for reading this.