There is an enormous wealth of information on every conceivable subject on the internet. The Internet consists of billions of websites, which usually consist of several pages. Almost every Western company or institution has a website, as do many individuals. What is the Internet, how do you use it and what should you pay attention to?
What is Internet?
Internet is the name for a huge network of connected computers. Websites are stored on those computers, which can be viewed via the other computers in the network. A website is a kind of digital ‘document’ on which all kinds of information can be found. This can be texts, photos, videos, games, forums and much more.
There are billions of websites of companies, individuals and institutions from around the world. All websites have a unique name, the internet address. This usually starts with ‘www’, followed by a name and finally a (country) code. The internet address of SeniorWeb is www.seniorweb.nl. If you type the internet address in your internet program, the corresponding website will be opened. Most websites have multiple pages to visit. These are usually arranged in a logical way. Via the start page of a website, the so-called homepage, you can visit all underlying pages. You do not have to type anything for this: you can click buttons and references (hyperlinks) on the page with the mouse, then the next page will be opened.
Well-known websites
Because there are so many different websites, most people use “search engines” to find websites. The best-known search engine is Google (which can be found at the internet address www.google.nl). When you visit Google, you can type in keywords. Google will then create a list of websites you may be looking for.
There are also many ‘well-known websites’ that people regularly talk about. Think of Marktplaats, a well-known site for buying and selling items. When people talk about ‘Marketplace’, they mean the website www.marktplaats.nl.
What do you need?
To use the internet, you need a computer, an internet connection, a computer mouse and an internet program (also known as a browser). The most used internet program is Google Chrome. But you can also use Firefox, Safari and Edge. After starting the Internet program is at the top of a white bar. It’s called the address bar. You can enter an internet address in it. Type the internet address (for example www.seniorweb.nl) and press the Enter key on the keyboard to open the relevant website.
What do you have to pay attention to?
Using the internet is a fun activity that you can have a lot of fun with. As a novice internet user, you have to keep a few things in mind. During your searches on the web, you may come across websites where small windows suddenly open with the worrying message that there are viruses or other scum on your computer. Or it is said that you have won a large amount of money. You should always ignore these kinds of windows, it is a form of internet crime. Criminals try to fool you with these kinds of misleading messages.
You may also encounter calls stating that you urgently need to install a program in order to continue surfing the internet. You should not obey this either. Ask a more advanced internet user for advice. Furthermore, more and more websites are asking for an e-mail address, for example if you participate in competitions. It is best to use an anonymous e-mail address instead of that of your provider. You can create an anonymous email address via www.outlook.com or www.gmail.com. In any case, be careful on the internet and only give your personal information if you are sure that it is a reliable website.
Advice
Using the internet is something you can best experience by doing it a lot. If you regularly visit the SeniorWeb website, you will come across all kinds of tips about websites that are worth checking out and articles about using the internet. Another helpful way to get to know new websites is to read computer magazines and keep up with websites such as www.computeridee.nl. You can also come a long way via websites that belong to your favorite magazines or television programs. Usually the internet addresses are mentioned in the relevant magazine or program. Once you have a fixed list of websites that you visit regularly, you can continue using the internet from there.