by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: March 10, 2009   Last Updated: August 10, 2010

If you have never done it, surfing the internet can be a scary thought. There is so much information out there and it may be a little difficult pulling it out of the right places if you don't know how to look for it.

Here are some tips for basic internet use that will help make you an intermediate user rather than a beginner.

If you follow these suggestions, you will find yourself an old pro before you know it. It just takes a little time to get used to all the buttons on your browser and what they can do for you:

1. Browser Type- The browser is the "window" that allows you to do all of your internet searching. All of your results will be shown in your browser. To make the best of your internet experience, you should get a good browser. The two most widely used browsers are Internet Explorer (IE) and Foxfire. Both browser are good choices. Some sites aren't as compatible with other browser types.

2. That Long Bar at the Top of Your Browser- Once you open up your browser window, you will see a long bar at the top of the browser. This is where you will type the URL of the site you are looking for. It will also show the URL of any site that you visit, even if you didn't manually type it in.

3. Home- Home is the place that opens up when you first open your browser. It will generally be set to the webpage of the browser or the site of the company that built your computer. When you find a website that you frequent more often than others or a search engine that works best for you, you can reset the homepage to go to that site. This is generally done through the internet settings tab at the top of the browser. Once you have it set to your personal likes, you can click on the home button and it will take you directly there.

The home button is sometimes an icon such as a house. Click on that icon and it will sweep you away to your favorite website. Be careful that you don't click yes when asked by certain sites if you would like to make it your homepage. This will change your browser settings and home may not look so much like home anymore.

4. Search Engines- There are many search engines, but some are better than others. One of the best search engines available is Google. You can do nearly anything there. This includes storing pictures, creating documents and looking up directions. Another good search engine is Yahoo. Both sites allow you to have a free email account with them. This can come in handy for those times that you need a different email address in order to

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