book

The Internet For Dummies, 14th Edition

by John R. Levine, Margaret Levine Young

March 2015

Beginner

384 pages

9h 14m

English

For Dummies

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About This BookHow to Use This BookWho Are You?How This Book Is OrganizedIcons Used in This BookBeyond the Book
So What Is the Internet?What’s All the Hoopla?Anybody can access itIt’s politically, socially, and religiously correctThe Net advantageOkay, What Next?
Privacy: Who’s Who and What They Can Tell about YouWho is the party to whom I am speaking?Safety firstPhishing for inphormationDon’t take the baitWeb bugs track the ads you readCookies can be goodWe know where you areSecurity: How People Can Take Over Your PCViruses arrive by emailWorms come right over the NetSpyware arrives via websitesPop-up browser windows pop up all over the placeWhat’s the secret word, Harry?Spam, Bacon, Spam, Eggs, and SpamWhy it’s called spamWhy it’s so badWhat you can do about itSafety: How to Keep Yourself and Your Family Safe
Really Cool Ways Kids Use the NetSo-So Ways Kids Use the NetNot-So-Good Ways Kids Use the NetTruly Brain-Dead Things Kids Should Never DoThe Internet and Little KidsSurf SafeSell, Sell, Sell!Who’s Online?The Internet in SchoolsA Few Useful Websites
What Kind of Device Do You Need?Hey, I don’t even have a computer!Yup, I have this old, beige box in the closetYup, I got a brand-new BitBucket 2015Yup, I’m getting a tablet such as an iPadYup, I got this little smartphoneThe Types of Internet ConnectionsInternet via Smartphones and TabletsGetting Wi-Fi with Your LattéWi-Fi can be free, or notConnecting to Wi-Fi from a tablet or phoneConnecting to Wi-Fi from a laptopAirports, hotels, and beyondWi-Fi and email don’t mixSpeedy Connections: DSL and Cable InternetWhat is broadband, anyway?What’s in an account?Cable and DSL modemsHow your computer connects to the modemGetting your cable Internet hooked upGetting your DSL hooked upWires galore!After the DSL or cable Internet installerChecking your DSL or cable connectionI’m In!Essential Software to Keep Your System SafeWalling out the bad guysNo viruses need applyDetecting spywareOur Favorite Internet SetupYou’re Connected — Now What?
Just One Computer for Internet Access? NaahFirst, Make a LANThe box in the middle — a hub, switch, or routerSetting up a RouterConfiguring routers for DSL connections that require a username and passwordConnecting your LAN to the modemWiring Your Computers into a LANForget the Wires — Go Wi-Fi!Set a password, for Pete’s sake!Making the Wi-Fi connectionShortcut setup with WPSHome and Office Setup
What Is the World Wide Web?Linking web pagesFinding the page you wantWhere’s that page?Browsing to Points UnknownWeb Surfing with Your BrowserGetting aroundBackward, ho!Going placesA good place to start browsingWhat not to clickThis page looks funny or out of dateGet me outta hereViewing Lots of Web Pages at the Same TimeWild window maniaTab dancingBrowsing from Your Smartphone or TabletGetting and Installing a BrowserGetting the programRunning a new browser for the first time
Saving Stuff from the WebSaving text from a pageSaving an imagePrinting pagesA Few of Your Favorite ThingsBookmarking with FirefoxCreating one-click bookmarks in FirefoxStoring favorites in Internet ExplorerCreating one-click bookmarks in Internet ExplorerAdding web pages to your Windows taskbarBookmarking (including one-click) with ChromeOne click and drag bookmarking with SafariFilling In FormsKnowing Where to StartSpecifying where Firefox startsConfiguring Internet Explorer start and home pagesTelling Chrome what to display at start-upSetting Safari’s home pageWho Can Remember All Those Passwords?Storing passwords in FirefoxStoring passwords in Internet ExplorerStoring passwords in ChromeStoring passwords in SafariCookies Are (Usually) Your FriendsBurning cookies in FirefoxExploring cookies in Internet ExplorerCookies and ChromeSafari with cookiesWhere Have You Been?Your browsing historyOh, nowhere, reallyBlocking Pop-Up WindowsNo pop-ups in FirefoxBlocking pop-ups in Internet ExplorerChrome and pop-upsSafari stops pop-upsWhen Browsers Go BadGetting Plugged In with Plug-InsFour essential plug-insHow to use plug-ins

What’s My Address?The domain partThe username partGetting Your Own MailboxPutting it all togetherAnd I would read my mail how?The Web Is a Fine Place to Read Your EmailReading webmailSending email with webmailDoing Email on Your Smartphone or TabletSetting up your mail program on a phone or tabletReading your email on a phone or tabletSending email on a phone or tabletReading Your Email in a Mail ProgramMail servers galoreSome popular mail programsSetting up OutlookSetting up Apple MailSending Mail Is EasyMail Coming Your WayReading your messagesDeleting messages the quick-and-easy wayTo Whom Do I Write?Avoiding Viruses, Malware, and Other Mailborne Annoyances
A Few Words from the Etiquette LadiesFlame off!Smile!Spam: Kill, Kill, Kill!Filtering spam in webmailFiltering spam on a phone or tabletFiltering spam in OutlookFiltering spam in Apple MailBack to You, Sam: Replying to MailKeeping Track of Your FriendsWho’s whoAddressing messages the easy wayHot Potatoes: Forwarding MailCold Potatoes: Saving MailFiling messages in webmail systemsFiling messages on a smartphone or tabletFiling messages in OutlookFiling messages in Apple MailSending Files by EmailAttachment can be goodForming attachmentsGetting attached
Facebook Isn’t the Only Social NetworkGetting Started with FacebookFacebook in your browserFacebook in your pocketExpanding Your ProfileConnecting with your friendsGroups of friendsDo you want the whole world to see this?An ounce of preventionDon’t Miss a Thing That HappensUpdating your statusResponding to and Arguing with Your FriendsKeeping an eye on the News FeedSending messagesHiding and unfriendingGoogle Goes Social with Google+Hanging out on Google
Getting StartedTwitter in your browserTwitter on your phone or tabletReading Tweets and Following TwitterersSearching the universe of tweetsWhat’s with all this weird punctuation?Hey, I like this person’s tweetsHow to Not Become Overwhelmed by All Those TweetsLists of your Twitter friendsSaving your searchesPreparing to TweetYour Twitter profilePrivate tweetingHow to TweetHashtags identify keywordsIncluding a web address in your tweetReplying and retweetingI’m talking only to you: direct messagesLet’s all tweet at the same timeGetting Serious about Twitter
One-to-One Text ChatChatting via FacebookText chat via GoogleAbbreviations and Smileys for ChatAdding Voices and FacesSay what? Hooking up the soundI see you!Hanging out in Google HangoutsGood Viber-ationsVoice and video chat using SkypeOther Skype featuresAround the Virtual Town PumpParticipating in Facebook groupsI read it on RedditMailing lists: Are you sure that this isn’t junk mail?Posting to message boardsLook Who’s ChattingWhere is everyone chatting?Who am I?Type or talk?Getting used to chat culture
Your Basic Search StrategySearch, Ho!Google, our favorite search engineRefining your searchEven more Google optionsBing!Browsing with DirectoriesYahoo! for directoriesFor facts, try Wikipedia firstThe Usual Suspects: Other Useful Search SitesFinding PeopleLooking for email addressesGoogling for peopleUsing other people-search sitesWe’re from Your Browser, and We’re Here to Help YouToo Many Toolbars
Seven Ways to Get Media and One Way Not ToReceiving media as a giftBorrowing media by streaming itBuying mediaPlaying media from CDs or DVDs you already ownSubscribing to media servicesSharing mediaRenting mediaStealing media — um, noWhat Are You Listening With?iTunesWindows Media PlayerOkay, How about Some Music?Copying music from your own CDsOrganizing your music with iTunesMaking playlistsSubscribing to PodcastsSubscribing to podcasts on the webSubscribing to podcasts with iTunesPlaying Music and PodcastsListening to Internet RadioTuning in to a stationMaking your own stationWatching Movies on the WebThe YouTube thingPutting the “You” in YouTubeWatching moviesWatching TV
Shopping Online: Pros and ConsThe Credit Card QuestionPaying at the StoreHow Little Do You Want to Pay?Up, Up, and AwayThe theory of airline ticketsMore about online airlinesEven More Places to ShopAuctions and used stuffCraigslistBooks, music, and moreClothesComputersFoodMore Opinions Than You Ever ImaginedTravel and foodVroom, vroomReal EstateReal estate, temporary versionQuestions and Answers
Going to the Bank Without Ever Leaving HomeTransferring money between bank accountsPaying bills onlineTaking advantage of other online bank servicesChecking out a few recommended banksTrying out combo bankingDealing with Credit CardsPay for Your Stuff with PayPalSend Money to Your PalsInvesting Your Money OnlineMutual fundsStockbrokersPortfolio trackingBudgeting Tools
Ways to Go Public on the WebSay “Cheese!”Organizing Your Photos, TooSharing Documents and CalendarsCreating a Google documentSharing the wealthMaking and sharing an online calendarLooking beyond Google DocsPlain Old Files in the CloudMaking Your Own WebsitePage creators aboundWhat do you say?Setting Up an Online Shop
What’s in a Blog?How to read a blogMore photos than textCommenting on blogsCurated super-blogsSubscribing to blogsWriting Your Own BlogFinding a place for your blogGoing postalIllustrating your blogBlogging in song
Share Pictures and Videos with Your Friends and FamilyWatch Movies, TV, and AdsListen to Current and Classic Radio ProgramsPlay Checkers or BridgePlay Lots More Online GamesFind Out What Your Stuff Is WorthBuild Your Own Jumbo JetVisit Art Museums around the WorldTour the EarthTour the Solar SystemBuild Your Own WorldRead the ComicsShare Your Screen with a Friend
Feed the HungrySupport a Charity While You ShopFind Charities That Don’t Waste MoneyBecome a Microfinancier or a PhilanthropistEducate YourselfEdit an EncyclopediaDigitize Old BooksSearch for Extraterrestrial Life or Cure CancerMentor a Teenager or Young Adult OnlineAdopt a Kid