Introduction

The Internet is an increasingly important part of everyday life for people

around the world. But if you've never used the Internet before, all of this new
information might feel a bit confusing at first.

Throughout this tutorial, we'll try to answer some basic questions you may have
about the Internet and how it's used. When you're done, you'll have a good
understanding of how the Internet works, how to connect to the Internet,
and how to browse the Web.

View Video 1

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a global network of billions of computers and other electronic
devices. With the Internet, it's possible to access almost any information,
communicate with anyone else in the world, and do much more.

You can do all of this by connecting a computer to the Internet, which is also
called going online. When someone says a computer is online, it's just another
way of saying it's connected to the Internet.
What is the Web?
The World Wide Web—usually called the Web for short—is a collection of
different websites you can access through the Internet. A website is made up of
related text, images, and other resources. Websites can resemble other forms of
media—like newspaper articles or television programs—or they can be
interactive in a way that's unique to computers.

The purpose of a website can be almost anything: a news platform, an

advertisement, an online library, a forum for sharing images, or an educational
site like us!
Once you are connected to the Internet, you can access and view websites using
a type of application called a web browser. Just keep in mind that the web
browser itself is not the Internet; it only displays websites that are stored on the
Internet.

How does the Internet work?

At this point you may be wondering, how does the Internet work? The exact
answer is pretty complicated and would take a while to explain. Instead, let's
look at some of the most important things you should know.

It's important to realize that the Internet is a global network of physical cables,
which can include copper telephone wires, TV cables, and fiber optic cables.
Even wireless connections like Wi-Fi and 3G/4G rely on these physical cables
to access the Internet.
When you visit a website, your computer sends a request over these wires to
a server. A server is where websites are stored, and it works a lot like your
computer's hard drive. Once the request arrives, the server retrieves the website
and sends the correct data back to your computer. What's amazing is that this all
happens in just a few seconds!

Watch the video below from Tata Communications to learn more about how the
Internet functions. (Video 2)

Other things you can do on the Internet

One of the best features of the Internet is the ability to communicate almost
instantly with anyone in the world. Email is one of the oldest and most
universal ways to communicate and share information on the Internet, and
billions of people use it. Social media allows people to connect in a variety of
ways and build communities online.
There are many other things you can do on the Internet. There are thousands of
ways to keep up with news or shop for anything online. You can pay your
bills, manage your bank accounts, meet new people, watch TV, or learn new
skills. You can learn or do almost anything online.

Lesson 2: What Can You Do Online?

Introduction
There's almost no limit to what you can do online. The Internet makes it
possible to quickly find information, communicate with people around the
world, manage your finances, shop from home, listen to music, watch videos,
and much, much more. Let's take a look at some of the ways the Internet is most
commonly used today.

Finding information online

With billions of websites online today, there is a lot of information on the
Internet. Search engines make this information easier to find. All you have to
do is type one or more keywords, and the search engine will look
for relevant websites.

For example, let's say you're looking for a new pair of shoes. You could use a
search engine to learn about different types of shoes, get directions to a nearby
shoe store, or even find out where to buy them online!
There are many different search engines you can use, but some of the most
popular include Google, Yahoo!, and Bing.

Email
Short for electronic mail, email is a way to send and receive messages across
the Internet. Almost everyone who uses the Internet has their own email
account, usually called an email address. This is because you'll need an email
address to do just about anything online, from online banking to creating a
Facebook account.

Social networking
Social networking websites are another way to connect and share with your
family and friends online. Rather than sharing with just a few people over email,
social networks make it easier to connect and share with many people at the
same time. Facebook is the world's largest social networking site, with more
than 1 billion users worldwide.
Chat and instant messaging
Chat and instant messaging (IM) are short messages sent and read in real
time, allowing you to converse more quickly and easily than email. These are
generally used when both (or all) people are online, so your message can be
read immediately. By comparison, emails won't be seen until recipients check
their inboxes.
Examples of instant messaging applications include Yahoo
Messenger and Google Hangouts. Some sites, like Gmail and Facebook, even
allow you to chat within your web browser.

Online media
There are many sites that allow you to watch videos and listen to music. For
example, you can watch millions of videos on YouTube or listen to Internet
radio on Pandora. Other services, like Netflix and Hulu, allow you to watch
movies and TV shows. And if have a set-top streaming box, you can even
watch them directly on your television instead of a computer screen.

Everyday tasks
You can also use the Internet to complete many everyday
tasks and errands. For example, you can manage your bank account, pay your
bills, and shop for just about anything. The main advantage here
is convenience. Rather than going from place to place, you can do all of these
tasks at home!

And a whole lot more!

Remember, these are just a few of the things you'll be able to do online. Keep
working through this tutorial to learn more about connecting to the Internet and
using the Web!

Lesson 3: Connecting to the Internet

How do I connect to the
Internet?
Once you've set up your computer, you may want to purchase home Internet
access so you can send and receive email, browse the Web, stream videos, and
more. You may even want to set up a home wireless network, commonly
known as Wi-Fi, so you can connect multiple devices to the Internet at the same
time.

Watch the video below to learn about connecting to the Internet. (Video 3)

Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view it here.

Types of Internet service

The type of Internet service you choose will largely depend on which Internet
service providers (ISPs) serve your area, along with the types of service they
offer. Here are some common types of Internet service.

 Dial-up: This is generally the slowest type of Internet

connection, and you should probably avoid it unless it is the
only service available in your area. Dial-up Internet uses
your phone line, so unless you have multiple phone lines
you will not be able to use your landline and the Internet at
the same time.
 DSL: DSL service uses a broadband connection, which
makes it much faster than dial-up. DSL connects to the
Internet via a phone line but does not require you to have a
landline at home. And unlike dial-up, you'll be able to use
the Internet and your phone line at the same time.
  Cable: Cable service connects to the Internet via cable TV,
although you do not necessarily need to have cable TV in
order to get it. It uses a broadband connection and can be
faster than both dial-up and DSL service; however, it is only
available where cable TV is available.
 Satellite: A satellite connection uses broadband but does not
require cable or phone lines; it connects to the
Internet through satellites orbiting the Earth. As a result, it
can be used almost anywhere in the world, but the
connection may be affected by weather patterns. Satellite
connections are also usually slower than DSL or cable.
 3G and 4G: 3G and 4G service is most commonly used with
mobile phones, and it connects wirelessly through your ISP's
network. However, these types of connections aren't always
as fast as DSL or cable. They will also limit the amount of
data you can use each month, which isn't the case with most
broadband plans.

Choosing an Internet service

provider
Now that you know about the different types of Internet service, you can do
some research to find out what ISPs are available in your area. If you're having
trouble getting started, we recommend talking to friends, family members, and
neighbors about the ISPs they use. This will usually give you a good idea of the
types of Internet service available in your area.

Most ISPs offer several tiers of service with different Internet speeds, usually
measured in Mbps (short for megabits per second). If you mainly want to use
the Internet for email and social networking, a slower connection (around 2 to
5 Mbps) might be all you need. However, if you want
to download music or stream videos, you'll want a faster connection (at least 5
Mbps or higher).
You'll also want to consider the cost of the service, including installation
charges and monthly fees. Generally speaking, the faster the connection, the
more expensive it will be per month.

Although dial-up has traditionally been the least expensive option, many ISPs
have raised dial-up prices to be the same as broadband. This is intended to
encourage people to switch to broadband. We do not recommend dial-up
Internet unless it's your only option.

Hardware needed
Modem

Once you have your computer, you really don't need much additional hardware
to connect to the Internet. The primary piece of hardware you need is a modem.
The type of Internet access you choose will determine the type of modem you
need. Dial-up access uses a telephone modem, DSL service uses a DSL
modem, cable access uses a cable modem, and satellite service uses a satellite
adapter. Your ISP may give you a modem—often for a fee—when you sign a
contract, which helps ensure that you have the right type of modem. However,
if you would prefer to shop for a better or less expensive modem, you can
choose to buy one separately.

Router

A router is a hardware device that allows you to connect several

computers and other devices to a single Internet connection, which is known
as a home network. Many routers are wireless, which allows you to create
a home wireless network, commonly known as a Wi-Fi network.

You don't necessarily need to buy a router to connect to the Internet. It's
possible to connect your computer directly to your modem using an Ethernet
cable. Also, many modems include a built-in router, so you have the option of
creating a Wi-Fi network without buying extra hardware.
Setting up your Internet
connection

Once you've chosen an ISP, most providers will send a technician to your
house to turn on the connection. If not, you should be able to use the
instructions provided by your ISP—or included with the modem—to set up your
Internet connection.

After you have everything set up, you can open your web browser and begin
using the Internet. If you have any problems with your Internet connection, you
can call your ISP's technical support number.

Home networking
If you have multiple computers at home and want to use all of them to access
the Internet, you may want to create a home network, also known as a Wi-Fi
network. In a home network, all of your devices connect to your router, which
is connected to the modem. This means everyone in your family can use the
Internet at the same time.

Your ISP technician may be able to set up a home Wi-Fi network when
installing your Internet service. If not, you can review our lesson on How to Set
Up a Wi-Fi Network to learn more.

If you want to connect a computer that does not have built-in Wi-Fi
connectivity, you can purchase a Wi-Fi adapter that plugs into your computer's
USB port.

Lesson 4: Understanding the Cloud

What is the cloud?

You may have heard people using terms like the cloud, cloud computing,
or cloud storage. But what exactly is the cloud?

Simply put, the cloud is the Internet—more specifically, it's all of the things
you can access remotely over the Internet. When something is in the cloud, it
means it's stored on Internet servers instead of your computer's hard drive.

Watch the video below to learn more about the cloud. (Video 4)

Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view it here.

Why use the cloud?

Some of the main reasons to use the cloud are convenience and reliability. For
example, if you've ever used a web-based email service, such
as Gmail or Yahoo! Mail, you've already used the cloud. All of the emails in a
web-based service are stored on servers rather than on your computer's hard
drive. This means you can access your email from any computer with an
Internet connection. It also means you'll be able to recover your emails if
something happens to your computer.
Let's look at some of the most common reasons to use the cloud.

 File storage: You can store all types of information in the

cloud, including files and email. This means you can access
these things from any computer or mobile device with an
Internet connection, not just your home
computer. Dropbox and Google Drive are some of the most
popular cloud-based storage services.
 File sharing: The cloud makes it easy to share files with
several people at the same time. For example, you could
upload several photos to a cloud-based photo service
like Flickr or iCloud Photos, then quickly share them with
friends and family.

 Backing up data: You can also use the cloud to protect your
files. There are apps such as Carbonite that automatically
 back up your data to the cloud. This way, if your computer
ever is lost, stolen, or damaged, you'll still be able to recover
these files from the cloud.

What is a web app?

Previously, we talked about how desktop applications allow you to perform
tasks on your computer. But there are also web applications—or web apps—
that run in the cloud and do not need to be installed on your computer. Many of
the most popular sites on the Internet are actually web apps. You may have even
used a web app without realizing it! Let's take a look at some popular web apps.

 Facebook: Facebook lets you create an online profile and

interact with your friends. Profiles and conversations can be
updated at any time, so Facebook uses web app technologies
to keep the information up to date.
 Pixlr: Pixlr is an image editing application that runs in your
web browser. Much like Adobe Photoshop, it includes many
advanced features, like color correction and sharpening tools.

 Google Docs: Google Docs is an office suite that runs in

your browser. Much like Microsoft Office, you can use it to
create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more.
And because the files are stored in the cloud, it's easy
to share them with others.
 Lesson 5: Using a Web Browser

Using a web browser

A web browser is a type of software that allows you to find and view websites
on the Internet. Even if you didn't know it, you're using a web browser right
now to read this page! There are many different web browsers, but some of the
most common ones include Google Chrome, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox.

No matter which web browser you use, you'll want to learn the basics of
browsing the Web. In this lesson, we'll talk about navigating to different
websites, using tabbed browsing, creating bookmarks, and more.

Watch the video below to learn the basics of using a web browser. (Video 5)
We'll be using the Google Chrome web browser throughout this lesson, but
you can use any browser you want. Keep in mind that your browser may look
and act a bit differently, but all web browsers work in basically the same way.

URLs and the address bar

Each website has a unique address, called a URL (short for Uniform Resource
Locator). It's like a street address that tells your browser where to go on the
Internet. When you type a URL into the browser's address bar and
press Enter on your keyboard, the browser will load the page associated with
that URL.

In the example below, we've typed www.bbc.com/travel into the address bar.

Links
Whenever you see a word or phrase on a website that's blue or underlined in
blue, it's probably a hyperlink, or link for short. You might already know how
links work, even if you've never thought about them much before. For example,
try clicking the link below.

Hey, I'm a link! Click me!

Links are used to navigate the Web. When you click a link, it will usually take
you to a different webpage. You may also notice that your cursor changes into
a hand icon whenever you hover over a link.
If you see this icon, it means you've found a link. You'll find other types of links
this way too. For example, many websites actually use images as links, so you
can just click the image to navigate to another page.

Review our lesson on Understanding Hyperlinks to learn more.

Navigation buttons
The Back and Forward buttons allow you to move through websites
you've recently viewed. You can also click and hold either button to see your
recent history.

The Refresh button will reload the current page. If a website stops working, try
using the Refresh button.
Tabbed browsing
Many browsers allow you to open links in a new tab. You can open as many
links as you want, and they'll stay in the same browser window instead of
cluttering your screen with multiple windows.

To open a link in a new tab, right-click the link and select Open link in new
tab (the exact wording may vary from browser to browser).

To close a tab, click the X.

To create a new blank tab, click the button to the right of any open tabs.
Bookmarks and history
If you find a website you want to view later, it can be hard to memorize the
exact web address. Bookmarks, also known as favorites, are a great way to
save and organize specific websites so you can revisit them again and again.
Simply locate and select the Star icon to bookmark the current website.

Your browser will also keep a history of every site you visit. This is another
good way to find a site you visited previously. To view your history, open your
browser settings—usually by clicking the icon in the upper-right corner—and
select History.
Downloading files
Links don't always go to another website. In some cases, they point to a file that
can be downloaded, or saved, to your computer.

If you click a link to a file, it may download automatically, but sometimes it

just opens within your browser instead of downloading. To prevent it from
opening in the browser, you can right-click the link and select Save link
as (different browsers may use slightly different wording, like Save target as).
Review our lesson on Downloading and Uploading to learn more.

Saving images
Sometimes you may want to save an image from a website to your computer. To
do this, right-click the image and select Save image as (or Save picture as).
Plug-ins
Plug-ins are small applications that allow you to view certain types of content
within your web browser. For example, Adobe Flash and Microsoft
Silverlight are sometimes used to play videos, while Adobe Reader is used to
view PDF files.

If you don't have the correct plug-in for a website, your browser will usually
provide a link to download it. There may also be times when you need
to update your plug-ins. Review our lesson on Installing and Updating Plug-
ins to learn more.

Lesson 6: Understanding Hyperlinks

Understanding hyperlinks
Have you ever noticed that certain words on the Web look a little bit different?
Whenever you see a word or phrase that's underlined in blue, it's probably
a hyperlink, or link for short. You might already know how links work, even if
you've never thought about them much before. For example, try clicking the link
below.

Hey, I'm a link! Click me!

Links are used to navigate the Web. When you click a link, it will take you to a
different webpage. In the example below, we're clicking a link to learn more
about the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

When you hover over a Wikipedia link, a preview of the linked site appears to
give you more information. It is important to note that most web browsers show
the link's URL in the bottom-left corner of the window.
You may also notice that your cursor changes into a hand icon whenever you
hover over a link.

If you see this icon, it means you've found a link. You'll find other types of links
this way too. For example, many websites actually use images as links, so you
can just click the image to navigate to another page. In the example below,
we're clicking the picture of a coffee mug to open a page with more information
about it.
Links don't always go to another website. In some cases, they allow you
to download a file. When you click a link like this, the file will be downloaded
to your computer. In the example below, we're downloading an installation file
for a new application.
As you can see, links are an important part of using the Web. They allow you to
navigate between different webpages, download files, and do a whole lot more.

Lesson 7: Downloading and Uploading

Downloading and uploading

While exploring the Internet, you’ve probably encountered the
terms downloading and uploading. Downloading means receiving data or a
file from the Internet on your computer. Uploading means sending data or a file
from your computer to somewhere on the Internet.

These terms describe activities you may have already learned how to do. If
you've ever opened an example document in one of our tutorials, you've
downloaded that file. If you’ve ever shared a photo you took on Facebook or
another social media site, you've uploaded that photo.

Downloading
Usually, when you download a file you will start the download by clicking a
link to that file. Many of our tutorials contain links to files, like this:

Download our practice document.

If you click the link, your browser should prompt you to select one of two
methods for downloading the file.

 Open with will download the file and load it immediately in

the specified program.
 Save File will download it and save it to your hard drive.

Either way, once you click OK, the download begins. Your browser will
indicate the progress and time remaining on the download.

Once the download is complete, either the file will be saved to your computer or
it will open in the program you selected. If you have trouble finding the file
after you’ve downloaded it, check out our Finding Your Downloads lesson.

Some browsers don’t always start this download process when you click the link
to a file. In these cases, you can right-click the link, then click Save Link As,
then select a location to download the file.

Uploading
If a site allows uploads, it will have an upload utility to help perform the file
transfer. Each site handles this process differently, but we’ll give some common
examples. Usually, the site will have help pages to walk you through the upload
process.

Many sites have an upload button that opens a dialog box. For example,
Facebook has a camera icon that begins the upload process.

A dialog box will appear, prompting you to select a file. Browse to the location
where your file is stored, select it, then click the Open button. Afterward, a
progress bar tracking the upload process will appear on the page.
Some sites support a drag-and-drop interface. For example, when logged in to
Dropbox you can drag the files from a folder on your computer and drop them
into the browser window.
Many other upload utilities have similar features. A more detailed example of
uploading a file is available in our Google Drive tutorial.

Lesson 8: Using Search Engines

Using search engines

With billions of websites online today, there is a lot of information on the
Internet. Search engines make this information easier to find. Let's look at the
basics of using a search engine, as well as some techniques you can use to
get better search results.
Watch the video below to learn more about searching the Web. (Video 6)

How to search the Web

There are many different search engines you can use, but some of the most
popular include Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. To perform a search, you'll need to
navigate to a search engine in your web browser, type one or more keywords—
also known as search terms—then press Enter on your keyboard. In this
example, we'll search for recipes.

After you run a search, you'll see a list of relevant websites that match your
search terms. These are commonly known as search results. If you see a site
that looks interesting, you can click a link to open it. If the site doesn't have
what you need, you can simply return to the results page to look for more
options.
Most browsers also allow you to perform a web search directly from
your address bar, although some have a separate search bar next to the
address bar. Simply type your search terms and press Enter to run the search.

Search suggestions
If you don't find what you're looking for on the first try, don't worry! Search
engines are good at finding things online, but they're not perfect. You'll often
need to try different search terms to find what you're looking for.

If you're having trouble thinking of new search terms, you can use search
suggestions instead. These will usually appear as you're typing, and they're a
great way to find new keywords you might not have tried otherwise. To use a
search suggestion, you can click it with your mouse, or select it with the arrow
keys on your keyboard.

Refining your search

If you're still having trouble finding exactly what you need, you can use some
special characters to help refine your search. For example, if you want
to exclude a word from a search, you can type a hyphen (-) at the beginning of
a word. So if you wanted to find cookie recipes that don't include chocolate, you
could search for recipes cookies -chocolate.
You can also search for exact words or phrases to narrow down your results
even more. All you need to do is place quotation marks (" ") around the
desired search terms. For example, if you search for recipes "sugar cookies",
your search results will only include recipes for sugar cookies, instead of any
cookies that happen to use sugar as an ingredient.
These techniques may come in handy in certain cases, but you probably won't
need to use them with most searches. Search engines can usually figure out what
you're looking for without these extra characters. We recommend trying a few
different search suggestions before using this method.

Content-specific searches
There may be times when you're looking for something more specific, like
a news article, picture, or video. Most search engines have links at the top of
the page that allow you to perform these unique searches.
In the example below, we've used the same search terms to look
for images instead of websites. If you see an image you like, you can click to
visit the website it originally came from.

You can use the extra search tools to narrow down your results even more.
These tools will change based on the type of content you're looking for, but in
this example we can filter our images by size, color, image type, and more. So
if you wanted to find cookies with pink frosting, you could search for images
that are mostly pink.

Advertisements
One final thing to note: Most search engines include advertisements with
search results. For example, you can see advertisements at the top of the search
results below.
These ads are based on your search terms, and they often look similar to other
search results. While they may be useful in some cases, it's usually more helpful
to focus on the actual search results.

For even more search tips, check out our Search Better tutorial.

Lesson 9: Understanding URLs

Understanding URLs
Every time you click a link on a website or type a web address into your
browser, it’s a URL. URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. Think of it like
a street address, with each portion of the URL as different parts of the address,
and each giving you different information. Let’s examine each component of a
URL and what we can learn from it.
Watch the video below to learn the different parts of a URL. (Video 7)

Scheme
Every URL begins with the scheme. This tells your browser what type of
address it is so the browser connects to it correctly. There are many types of
schemes, but for typical web browsing you will mostly see http and https. Your
browser usually won’t show the scheme in the address bar, and usually you
don’t need to type the scheme when typing a web address; instead, you can just
begin with the domain name. The scheme is still always part of the URL; it just
isn’t being displayed.

Domain name
The domain name is the most prominent part of a web address. Typically,
different pages on the same site will continue to use the same domain name.
For example, all pages on this site share the GCFLearnFree.org domain name.
Each segment of the domain name separated by a period is called a domain.
The domain on the right is called a top-level domain, with the domain to the
left of it called the second-level domain, then third-level domain, and so on.

You can often learn something about the site from the domains. One of the
domains usually identifies the organization, while the top-level domain may
give you more general information on what kind of site it is. For example, in the
domain name nc.gov, the .gov domain means it is a government website in the
United States, the nc domain identifies it as the website of North Carolina.
In most URLs, the www domain can be
omitted. Google.com and www.google.com lead to the same page. However,
other subdomains cannot be omitted. For example, all pages
under news.google.com require the news subdomain in the URL.

File path
The file path—often just called the path—tells your browser to load a specific
page. If you don’t specify a path and only enter a domain name, your browser
is still loading a specific page; it’s just loading a default page, which usually
will help you navigate to other pages.
URLs that end with the domain name without a file path usually will load a
homepage or an index page that's designed to help you navigate to specific
pages on the site. Often, if you can’t remember the file path for a specific page,
you can go to the homepage and search for it.

Parameters
Some URLs include a string of characters after the path—beginning with a
question mark—called the parameter string. You have probably noticed this
part of a URL appear in your address bar after performing a search on Google
or YouTube. The parameter string can be clear or confusing to a human user,
but it is critical information for the server.

Anchor
Also appearing after the path, the anchor tells your browser to scroll to or load
a specific part of the page. Usually the anchor begins with a hashtag and is used
to direct your browser to a specific part of a very long page, much like a
bookmark. Different anchors don’t load different pages; they simply tell the
browser to display different parts of the page.

A whole URL
When combined, these elements make up a URL, although not all URLs will
have all five parts.

Using what we learned in this tutorial, we can tell from the domain name of this
URL that it’s on Wikipedia, from the parameters that the page is probably about
burritos, and from the anchor that we’ll be looking at the section on burritos for
breakfast.
Keep in mind that these are the most common components of a URL. There are
many other parts, but these are the five you will see most often and that can
usually give you the most information.

Lesson 10: How to Set Up a Wi-Fi Network

How to set up a Wi-Fi network

The Internet is a really powerful tool. It gives us access to all kinds of
information at a moment's notice—think email, Google search, and Wikipedia.
So there's something a little counterintuitive about only being able to use the
Internet when you sit down at a desktop computer. What if you could use the
Internet from anywhere in your home or office?

If you already have high-speed (broadband) Internet service at your house, it's
pretty easy to create your own home wireless network. Commonly known
as Wi-Fi, a wireless network allows you to connect laptops, smartphones, and
other mobile devices to your home Internet service without an Ethernet cable.

(Video 8)

Purchase a wireless router

To create your own Wi-Fi network, you'll need a wireless router. This is the
device that will broadcast the Wi-Fi signal from your Internet modem
throughout your house. Your Internet service provider (ISP) may offer you a
wireless router for a small monthly fee. If you've never set up a Wi-Fi network
before, this may be the easiest option.
If you want to buy your own router, we'd recommend spending a little more
time researching different options. CNET offers a comprehensive guide on How
to Buy a Router.

Some Internet modems may already have a built-in wireless router, which
means you won't need to purchase a separate one.

Connect the cables

1. Once you've acquired a wireless router, you'll need to
connect it to your existing Internet modem.

2. Connect an Ethernet cable from your modem to the wireless

router (there is usually a short Ethernet cable included with
your wireless router for this purpose).

3. Plug in the power cable for the wireless router.

 4. Wait at least 30 to 60 seconds, and make sure the lights on
your router are working correctly.

Configure your router

Next, you'll need to use your computer to configure your router's default
settings. This includes setting a unique name and password for your wireless
network.

1. Using your web browser, enter the router's default IP

address into the address bar, then press Enter. Your router's
instructions should include this information, but some of the
most common addresses include 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1,
and 192.168.2.1.
 2. The router's sign-in page will appear. Again, the exact sign-
in details should be included with your router's instructions,
but most routers use a standard user name and password
combination, such as admin and password.

3. Your router's settings page will appear. Locate and select

the Network Name setting, then enter a unique network
name.

4. Locate and select the Network Password setting, and

choose an Encryption option. There are several types
of encryption you can use, but we recommend WPA2,
which is generally considered to be the most secure.

5. Enter your desired password. Make sure to use a strong

password to help ensure no one else can access your
network.

6. Locate and select the Save button to save your settings.

Connect!
That's it! Now you're ready to connect to your Wi-Fi network and make sure it's
working. The process for connecting to a Wi-Fi network will vary slightly
depending on what type of computer or device you're using, but any system will
require these basic steps.

1. Locate your computer's network settings, and search for

nearby Wi-Fi networks.

2. Select your network, and enter your password.

3. If the connection is successful, open your web browser and

try navigating to a webpage like www.google.com. If the
page loads, it means your Wi-Fi connection is working
correctly.
Congratulations!
You've just set up your own home wireless network. Way to go!

Lesson 11: Choosing a Web Browser

Choosing a web browser

A web browser is a type of software that allows you to find and view websites
on the Internet. Even if you didn't know it, you're using a web browser right
now to read this page!
For many years, especially in the early 2000s, there was one browser that almost
everyone used: Microsoft's Internet Explorer. If you used the Internet at that
time, you probably clicked an icon like this to access the Web:

In the past, Internet Explorer was pre-installed on any PC you buy. Starting in
the mid-2000s, other software companies introduced new browsers,
including Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. At the time, these browsers
allowed for more experimental features. Because of this, web developers began
creating websites with browsers like Chrome and Firefox in mind, which meant
they didn't always work as well in Internet Explorer. If you have a PC with
Windows 10, you'll have Microsoft Edge as your web browser instead. Watch
this video to learn more about browsing in Edge.

(Video 9)

It's always a good idea to keep at least two web browsers on your computer or
mobile device. This way, if a website isn't working correctly you can try
opening the page in a different web browser. More often than not, this trick can
solve a lot of problems you might encounter online.
Choosing a Web Browser
Infogram

Using a PC or Android? Try Google Chrome.

Google Chrome is probably the best web browser right now for PCs. It's free to
download, it's very fast, and it's secure. Chrome is also the default web browser
for many Android devices. Watch this video to learn about browsing in
Chrome.

(Video 10)

If you have a Google account, you can even sync your saved passwords and
browsing history across multiple devices. And because it downloads updates
automatically, you'll always be protected from current security threats and
viruses online. If you want to learn more, review our Chrome tutorial.

Using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac? Try Safari.

Safari is the default web browser for Mac computers and iOS devices,
including the iPhone and iPad. Aside from being fast and secure, Safari has a lot
of unique features. For example, Reader view allows you to see a simplified
version of a webpage that's optimized for reading. It's also easy to add articles
you find to your Reading List so you can save them for later. Watch this video
to learn more about browsing in Safari.
(Video 11)

Again, we recommend keeping at least two web browsers on your device.

Chrome is a good secondary browser to use on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad. It's also
important to note that you cannot use Internet Explorer on a Mac or iOS device.

Other recommended web browsers

Firefox: This free web browser from Mozilla works on Windows, Mac, and
Android. It's built by an open-source community of developers, so it will
usually support even the most experimental web features. Like Chrome, it will
be updated automatically, so you'll be protected from viruses and other threats
online. Next, watch this video about browsing in Firefox.
(Video 12)
If you want to learn more, review our Firefox tutorial.
Opera: Originally released in 1994, the Opera web browser has been around
much longer than Firefox and Chrome. You may find that some websites don't
load perfectly on Opera, but it's still regarded as a fast and secure alternative to
your default browser. It's also available for all major operating systems
(Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS).