2. Web Browser
A software application that allows you to access resources on the internet.
There are several choices available.
3. Parts of a Web Browser
Forward and Back buttons: Take you a page forward and a page back.
Address bar: Shows you the URL (web address) you are currently visiting.
You can type custom URLs in order to navigate to a new website.
Display Window: The space where you view the website.
Refresh button: Refreshes the current page.
Favorites/Bookmarks button: Shows your favorites/bookmarks will also
have an option to view your browsing history.
Settings/Tools/Options button: Will allow you to change settings related
to your browsers behavior.
4. Web Address - URL
Dictionary.com
It’s an address to help you locate resources (like webpages) on the web.
Every website has a URL.
5. The Domain
http://collegiateschool.org/
The domain tells the browser what network we are trying to initiate
contact with.
Although the domain is used like an address (or phone number) its more
like a persons name. You cannot call a person by dialing their name on a
phone instead you’ll have to look up their phone number in the yellow
pages. Domains are not the final destination the final destination is
determined by an IP address (phone number).
A DNS server acts as a phone book and looks up a websites IP address
using the website’s domain. Using the IP address of a website (or
network) your computer can initiate communication.
6. Domain Names
http://collegiateschool.org/
Hierarchy descends from right to left.
Top-level domains .com .org .net .us
Generic - .com .org .net
or
Country – .uk .fr. .ca .ru .us
Second-level domains
Domain names that can be created with a custom name like that of
a company. Sometimes they are used to complement a Top-level
domain as is the case with bbc.co.uk .
There can also be third-level, forth-level, and even further levels.
7. HTTP
http://collegiateschool.org/
http: - HTTP - Hypertext Transport Protocol
• Indicates what protocol the URL will be using to deliver the
information from the server to a user.
• Without HTTP your computer would not know how to handle
the information it is receiving.
8. HTTPS?
What’s this other version of HTTP the one with the “S”?
https://www.collegiateschool.org/podium/
The S stands for secure.
You’ll notice that banking and email websites will use HTTPS.
HTTP uses less resources (meaning lower cost) then HTTPS so most sites will use
HTTP unless they have information that needs to be secure.
Many websites let you use both depending how you type the URL. If you type HTTPS
you will be taken to the secure version of the site. Websites that need to be secure
always redirect you to their HTTPS site.
9. Downloads/Uploads
Terminology that only pertains to computer networks (not devices).
Whenever you are receiving data you are downloading the data.
Whenever you are sending data your are uploading data.
The two should can not be used interchangeably.
When you use a browser your browser downloads the data from the web
server of the site you are visiting and presents it in the display window.
10. Cookies and Cache
Cookies are data that a web site can save on
your computer to retrieve later.
This information can be used by the site to
remember information like the last user who
logged in.
Cache is data like pictures that is saved by
your browser to make sites load quicker.
Every once and a while you will want to clear
your cookies and cache.
As websites are updated this information
may cause them to render incorrectly.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278835/
12. Searching Safely
You can sometimes tell a website is unsafe by its URL. If the URL is
suspicious don’t click!
Things that will give the website away are an incorrect top level
domain or certificate error.
You can also install a add-in like WOT to alert you if a site is unsafe.
Clicking on a thumbnail on a Google image search will take you
directly to the website where that image is hosted that site can infect
your computer with a virus.
An alternative can be searching with a site like picsearch.com where
the images are more closely filtered.
