The Internet For Dummies^®: Quick Reference, 8th Edition

by John R. Levine; Arnold Reinhold; Margaret Levine Young

• ISBN13: 9780764516450
• ISBN10: 0764516450
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-03-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

The Internet is an active medium. You can't just sit and watch it like television; you have to try things, poke around, and find the sites, information, and people that you need and enjoy.The Internet For Dummies Quick Reference, 8th Edition, puts you on the road to online discovery and keeps you on track by showing you how to Buy the right computer hardware for Internet access Select an Internet Service Provider to make the connection Use popular e-mail programs Get the real deal on privacy, security, and cookies Buy and sell on the Internet Speak the online language with glossary guidance This down-to-earth reference includes all the tasks and resources you really need, lies flat on your desk so that you can type with both hands, and weighs less than a laptop computer. The latest edition in a regularly updated series covers the newest versions of Internet Explorer and Netscape Web browsers, e-mail client software, and other basic Internet tools. You can expect to get the nitty-gritty on Getting into the swim with Web surfing Finding the best online resources for research and support Sending voice and pictures over the Internet Choosing between Windows and Macintosh systems Reading newsgroups and browsing with America Online Tapping shareware and freeware software Uploading and downloading files with ease The Internet For Dummies Quick Reference, 8th Edition, also introduces you to the whys and wherefores of building and posting a Web page, a document that has its own URL and that can express anything you want to a big, wide world of visitors. Whether the Internet's new territory to you or you've been Web-wise for quite a while, this up-to-date, fast, and fun resource will have you cyber-traveling in style in no time!

Author Biography

<b>John Levine</b> (Trumansburg, NY), <b>Arnold Reinhold</b> (Fresh Pond, MA), and <b>Margaret Levine Young</b> (Cornwall, VT) are all part of the 'Internet Authors Cabal,' organized by John to develop and write technology books to help new PC users.<br> e authors are full-time technology writers and teachers. John also lectures on technology issues, especially Internet privacy issues.

Table of Contents

The Big Picture: The Internet	1	(1)
What You See: The Browser Window	2	(2)
What You See: An E-Mail Message	4	(1)
Toolbar Table	5	(1)
The Basics: Logging In	5	(2)
The Basics: Reading Your E-Mail	7	(1)
The Basics: Using E-Mail Toolbars	8	(1)
The Basics: Composing an E-Mail Message	8	(2)
The Basics: Working with Addresses	10	(1)
E-mail addresses	10	(1)
Web addresses --- URLs	10	(1)
Instant message and chat addresses	11	(1)
What You Can Do: Search the Web	11	(2)
What You Can Do: Buy Something	13	(1)
What You Can Do: Send an Instant Message	14	(1)
What You Can Do: Make a Personal Web Page	15	(1)
What You Can Do: Send Someone Money	16
Part I: Getting to Know the Internet	1	(4)
What Is the Internet?	2	(1)
What's So Great about the Internet?	2	(2)
What Services Does the Internet Provide?	4	(1)
Will the Internet Take All Your Free Time?	4	(1)
Part II: Getting Started	5	(18)
Hooking Up to the Internet with Broadband	6	(3)
Broadband facts	6	(1)
Cable or DSL?	7	(1)
Direct connection	8	(1)
ISDN	8	(1)
Hooking Up to the Internet Cheap	9	(2)
E-mail appliances	9	(1)
Free e-mail and Internet access service	9	(1)
Libraries and cybercafes	10	(1)
Secondhand computers	10	(1)
Set-top boxes	10	(1)
Hooking Up to the Internet By Dial-Up	11	(1)
Investing in a Computer for Internet Access	11	(4)
Macintosh - and the iMac - versus Windows	11	(1)
Desktop versus laptop	12	(1)
Is Linux for you?	12	(1)
This year's model versus last year's model	12	(1)
Making sure that your computer is cable ready	12	(1)
Memory, hard disk, monitor, and printer	12	(1)
Personal firewalls and routers	13	(1)
Prepare to back up	14	(1)
Upgrading versus buying	14	(1)
Modems	15	(2)
Modem specs	15	(1)
Modem types	16	(1)
``What do the lights on my modem mean?''	16	(1)
Other modem tips	16	(1)
Telephone line tips	17	(1)
Selecting an Internet Service Promoter (ISP)	17	(2)
Online services	17	(1)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	18	(1)
PPP and shell accounts	19	(1)
Software for Internet Access	19	(4)
Connection software	20	(1)
Other software	20	(3)
Part III: Electronic Mail	23	(36)
ABCs of E-Maul	24	(4)
Electronic etiquette	24	(1)
E-mail caveats	25	(1)
Finding e-mail addresses	26	(1)
Free e-mail	27	(1)
Headers	27	(1)
Acronyms, Smileys, and Emoticons	28	(2)
Addresses	30	(5)
``What's my address?''	30	(1)
Hostnames and domain names	31	(1)
IP addresses and DNS	32	(1)
Mailboxes and mail servers	32	(1)
Port numbers	33	(1)
Top-level domains	33	(2)
URLs versus e-mail addresses	35	(1)
America Online and CompuServe Addresses	35	(1)
Attachments	35	(1)
Using America Online (AOL)	36	(3)
Finding an address	36	(1)
Reading incoming mail	37	(1)
Sending new mail	38	(1)
Replying to messages	39	(1)
Forwarding messages	39	(1)
Saving messages	39	(1)
Using Eudora (Windows and Mac)	39	(4)
Configuring Eudora	40	(1)
Getting incoming mail	40	(1)
Reading incoming mail	40	(1)
Sending new mail	41	(1)
Replying to messages	41	(1)
Forwarding messages	42	(1)
Saving messages	42	(1)
Reading saved messages	42	(1)
Attaching a file	43	(1)
Using Netscape Mail (Windows, Mac, Linux, and UNIX)	43	(6)
Running the Netscape mail program	44	(1)
Setting up Netscape for e-mail	44	(2)
Getting and reading incoming mail	46	(1)
Sending new mail	47	(1)
Replying to messages	48	(1)
Forwarding messages	48	(1)
Saving messages in folders	48	(1)
Reading saved messages	49	(1)
Using OS X Mail (Mac)	49	(2)
Running the OS X Mail program	49	(1)
Setting up OS X Mail	49	(1)
Getting and reading incoming mail	49	(1)
Sending new mail	50	(1)
Replying to messages	50	(1)
Forwarding messages	51	(1)
Saving messages in mailboxes	51	(1)
Reading saved messages	51	(1)
Using Outlook Express (Windows and Mac)	51	(4)
Setting up Outlook Express	52	(1)
Getting and reading incoming mail	53	(1)
Sending new mail	53	(1)
Replying to messages	54	(1)
Forwarding messages	54	(1)
Saving messages in folders	55	(1)
Working with Hotmail accounts	55	(1)
Using Pine (Linux and UNIX)	55	(4)
Running Pine	55	(1)
Reading incoming mail	56	(1)
Sending new mail	56	(1)
Replying to messages	56	(1)
Forwarding messages	57	(1)
Saving messages to a file	57	(2)
Part IV: Usenet Newsgroups	59	(10)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)	60	(1)
Google Groups and Usenet Indexers	61	(1)
Newsgroup Names	62	(1)
Newsgroup Netiquette	62	(2)
Posting Your First Article	64	(1)
Ramping Up Your Own Newsgroup	65	(1)
Reading Newsgroups at Google Groups	66	(1)
Searching Google Groups	66	(1)
Using Google Groups as a newsreader	66	(1)
Replying to articles	67	(1)
Posting a new article	67	(1)
Reading Newsgroups with a Newsreader	67	(2)
Reading newsgroups with America Online	67	(1)
Reading newsgroups with Netscape	68	(1)
Reading newsgroups with Outlook Express	68	(1)
Reading newsgroups with other newsreaders	68	(1)
Part V: Mailing Lists	69	(10)
Addresses Used with Mailing Lists	70	(1)
Finding a Mailing List	71	(1)
Getting On and Off a Mailing List	72	(2)
Lists maintained manually	72	(1)
Lists maintained automatically	72	(1)
Web-based lists	73	(1)
Open and Closed Mailing Lists	74	(1)
Receiving Digested Mailing Lists	74	(1)
Sending Messages to a Mailing List	75	(1)
Sending Special Requests to Mailing Lists	75	(1)
Starting Your Own Mailing List	76	(1)
Using Filters to Sort Your Mailing List Messages	77	(2)
Part VI: The World Wide Web	79	(22)
ABCs of the Web	80	(1)
Bookmark or Save?	81	(1)
Finding Your Way around the Web	82	(1)
Kids, Porn, and the Web	83	(1)
Access supervision	83	(1)
Buying filtering software	83	(1)
Using the built-in AOL filtering	83	(1)
Plug-Ins Helper Programs and ActiveX Controls	84	(2)
Acrobat Reader	85	(1)
Apple QuickTime	85	(1)
Macromedia Shockwave	85	(1)
RealPlayer Basic (formerly RealAudio)	85	(1)
Stufflt Expander	85	(1)
WinZip (Windows only)	86	(1)
ZipMagic (Windows only)	86	(1)
Privacy, Security, and Cookies	86	(2)
Cookies	86	(2)
Secure surfing	88	(1)
Problems and Error Messages	88	(2)
Displaying a page takes too long	88	(1)
Error message ``The server does not have a DNS entry''	89	(1)
Error message ``www.bigsite.com has refused your connection'' or ``Broken pipe''	89	(1)
Error message ``404 File Not Found''	89	(1)
Your browser keeps crashing	90	(1)
Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)	90	(2)
Using AOL to Browse the Web	92	(2)
Viewing a Web page	93	(1)
Following a link	93	(1)
Using bookmarks	93	(1)
Using Internet Explorer to Browse the Web	94	(2)
Viewing a Web page	94	(1)
Changing your home page	95	(1)
Following a link	95	(1)
Playing favorites	95	(1)
Go for history	96	(1)
Using Netscape Navigator to Browse the Web	96	(5)
Viewing a Web page	97	(1)
Changing your home page	97	(1)
Following a link	98	(1)
Using bookmarks	98	(1)
Remembering where you came from	99	(1)
Using Netscape plug-ins	99	(2)
Part VII: Finding and using Resources on the Internet	101	(22)
Directories, Search Engines, and Portals	102	(4)
Directories	102	(1)
Engines that search	102	(1)
Portals	103	(1)
Directories, search engines, and portals with a twist	104	(1)
Power searching	104	(1)
Search strategies	105	(1)
Excellent Surfing Ideas	106	(1)
Free, Free, Free!	106	(1)
Information Sources	107	(2)
The CIA's World Factbook	107	(1)
Libraries	107	(1)
Maps	107	(1)
Needle crafts	108	(1)
Regional information providers	108	(1)
Satellites	108	(1)
Statistics and other data	108	(1)
World time	109	(1)
Magazines and Literature	109	(1)
Music Online	109	(1)
Newspapers	110	(1)
Selling Online	111	(1)
Types of auctions	111	(1)
Ways to pay	112	(1)
Shareware and Freeware Software	112	(1)
Shopping Online from A to Z	112	(5)
Airline	113	(1)
Books	113	(1)
Condoms	113	(1)
Dolls and other collectibles	113	(1)
Education	114	(1)
Flowers	114	(1)
Groceries	114	(1)
Houses	114	(1)
Internet Service Providers	114	(1)
Jobs	114	(1)
Love	115	(1)
Macintoshes	115	(1)
Overcoats and boots	115	(1)
Postage	115	(1)
Quesadillas	115	(1)
Stocks and bonds	115	(1)
Tapes, CDs, and DVDs	115	(1)
Used and new cars	116	(1)
Vitamins	116	(1)
Web page design	116	(1)
Xylophones	116	(1)
Yiddish	116	(1)
Zygotes	116	(1)
``Should I Give Out My Credit Card Number over the Internet?''	117	(1)
Telephone Directories	117	(1)
Uncompressing and Decoding Retrieved Files	118	(3)
.bin	119	(1)
.gif	119	(1)
.gz and .z	119	(1)
.hqx	119	(1)
.jpeg and .jPg	119	(1)
.mp3	120	(1)
.mpeg and .mpg	120	(1)
.png	120	(1)
.sit	120	(1)
.tar	120	(1)
.wma, .wmv	120	(1)
.Z	120	(1)
.zip	120	(1)
Viruses	121	(2)
Part VIII: Live Online Communication	123	(30)
Chatting Online	124	(6)
Chatting with friends with instant messaging	124	(1)
Chatting with anyone in chat rooms	124	(1)
Conversations: They can be hard to follow	125	(2)
Etiquette	127	(1)
Safe chatting	127	(1)
Smileys, abbreviations, and emoticons	128	(1)
Weeding out disruptive chatters	129	(1)
America Online (AOL) Chat Rooms	130	(4)
Beginning to chat	130	(1)
Choosing a screen name	131	(1)
Filing a complaint	131	(1)
Instant messages	131	(1)
Profiles	132	(1)
Rooms that are private	132	(1)
Rooms with a view	133	(1)
Buddy Lists	134	(1)
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)	134	(1)
ICQ	135	(2)
Getting ICQ	135	(1)
Making contact	136	(1)
Starting a chat	137	(1)
Taking a message	137	(1)
Internet Relay Chat (IRC)	137	(7)
Starting IRC	138	(1)
Picking a server	138	(1)
Issuing IRC commands	139	(1)
IRC channels	140	(1)
Joining a channel	141	(1)
Leaving a channel	141	(1)
Listing available channels	141	(1)
Choosing an IRC nickname	142	(1)
Holding a private conversation	142	(1)
Starting your own channel	143	(1)
Types of channels	143	(1)
Filing a complaint	144	(1)
Getting more info	144	(1)
MUDs and MOOs	144	(2)
Using MUDs	145	(1)
Finding MUDs	145	(1)
Getting started in MUDs	145	(1)
Voice and Video over the Net	146	(1)
Web-Based Chat	147	(1)
Windows Messenger	147	(2)
Starting up	147	(1)
Adding contacts	148	(1)
Contacting friends	148	(1)
Adding voice, video, and conferencing	148	(1)
Advanced features	149	(1)
Yahoo Messenger	149	(4)
Adding to your Friends List	150	(1)
Starting a conversation	150	(1)
Adding video	150	(1)
Conference calls	151	(2)
Part IX: Advanced Topics	153	(20)
Encryption and Internet Security	154	(7)
Cryptography	154	(1)
Public-key cryptography	154	(1)
The politics of cryptography	155	(1)
How secure is public key cryptography?	155	(1)
Key size	156	(1)
Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator	156	(1)
Outlook Express and Netscape Messenger	157	(1)
Pretty Good Privacy	157	(1)
Obtaining a copy of PGP	158	(1)
Getting started with PGP	158	(1)
HushMail	159	(1)
Public-key infrastructure	160	(1)
Passwords and pass phrases	161	(1)
Java and Network Computers	161	(1)
Java applets	161	(1)
Network computers	162	(1)
Internet Radio and TV	162	(1)
Creating Your Own Web Home Page	163	(7)
Why would you want your own home page?	163	(1)
Building your page	164	(2)
Tips for effective Web pages	166	(1)
Web page maintenance	167	(1)
HTML editors	168	(1)
Creating a home page on America Online	168	(1)
Publicizing your page	169	(1)
Link exchanges and Webrings	169	(1)
META tags	170	(1)
Starting a Business on the Web	170	(3)
Part X: Classic Internet	173	(6)
FTP	174	(2)
About FTP programs	174	(1)
Navigating files and directories	175	(1)
Uploading and downloading files	175	(1)
Windows XP Web Folders	175	(1)
Telnet and SSH	176	(3)
Choosing a telnet program	176	(1)
Connecting to remote computers	177	(1)
Disconnecting from remote computers	177	(1)
UNIX and Linux commands	177	(2)
Appendix: Internet Country Codes	179	(4)
Glossary: Techie Talk	183	(14)
Index	197