What is the Internet?

The internet is the global system of computer networks. It includes the connection to your computer and smartphone, the computer network at your business, and the other computers and networks that talk to each other and share content on the web. It even includes your internet-enabled security doorbell and intelligent assistants like Alexa. The internet is the wiring, switches, wires, and protocols that let them all talk to each other and share information. The internet is why you can shop at Amazon or Costco, log into your doctor’s patient portal, access your government services, earn a college degree, or enjoy streaming a movie or music without leaving your home. 

The internet connects you to websites. Websites are pages of information that are available to view on the internet. You are viewing this page on a website we created to teach digital literacy. Websites are collections of web pages created by businesses, universities, governmental agencies, and individuals.

You use a particular app called a browser to navigate the internet and view websites. A browser is an app that translates the computer code on a website to the readable text, images, and video you see on your screen. Windows comes with a great browser—Edge. However, you can download other browsers. The most popular 3rd party browsers are Chrome (Google) and Firefox (Mozilla). Both are free to download and use. The browser we will use in this course is Microsoft Edge. Edge comes with Windows and is a great browser. You’ll learn a lot about Edge in an upcoming lesson.

Surfing the internet refers to visiting and following links and searches for other pages and websites. There are billions of pages of information on the web, more than you could see in many lifetimes. The internet has evolved from a curiosity to a central node of our lives. Access to the internet is essential for just about all of us.

Do you need the internet?

It’s not a trick question. The fact is that the internet is an integral part of daily life for most of us. You likely have to use the internet for work if you are employed. And if you are unemployed, the internet is a giant job board. Your medical history is probably on your doctor’s internet portal. Your Social Security benefits are managed online. Increasingly we stream music and video entertainment via the internet. We keep in touch through email, text messaging, and video calls, relying on the internet. Do you need the internet? Most of us do if we live in the modern world. Even if you don’t need the internet, if you are a curious lifelong learner, the internet has virtually limitless resources to keep you mentally active and engaged.

Is the internet safe?

The internet is chock-full of scams, viruses, and malware. However, most successful scams result from mistakes or actions by the victims. It is tough to install a virus or malware on your computer unless you, as the user, click on a dangerous link in an email message. It’s almost impossible to hack your online accounts unless you use unsafe passwords like “password” or “123456.” Scams start with phishing attacks, messages that appear to be coming from legitimate sources, and use social engineering to frighten or mislead you to do something–like clicking that dangerous link. The internet is as safe as you make it. Learning how to spot bat website addresses (URLs), fake emails, and text messages is the first step to your online security. I cover online safety and security in-depth in this free course, The Oasis Guide to Online Safety. Cybercrime is a vast and growing problem, but you don’t have to be a victim if you take the time to learn how to spot and avoid scam traps!