An ongoing series specifically targeting novice users- begins with browsers.–PC Pitstop.
Learning About Browsers
by Jim Canfield for Daves Computer Tips
In this and all subsequent articles, I will include a Terminology section at the end of each article. If a word, acronym, or term is italicized, there will be a very brief definition listed at the end.
Links to all articles included in this series:
1. The Beginning: Opening introduction to the series
2. Browsers: What are they? How to make them a safer door to Web. (you are here)
3. Search Engines: The Good, Bad and Ugly. Understanding search results.
4. Malware and Virus: What is Malware? – What is a Virus? What is the difference in their types? How to avoid them. How to know if you are infected. How to remove them.
5. Phishing: Signs of phishing, phishing emails, phishing sites
6. Computer Optimization: Why is my computer slow? What can I do about it?
7. Improving Your Email Experience
8. Enjoying Your Computer: Social Media. Entertaining Activities. Educational Activities.
Understanding Browsers
This post will attempt to help make the use of browsers, and very importantly, the other web based programs like Java, Adobe Flash etc. easy to understand so you can have the best and safest experience while using the internet, World Wide Web also known as WWW or the Web.
Search Engines are often confused with Browsers, search engines such as, Google, Bing, Yahoo, AOL, etc. are really nothing more than another website. The graphic below shows the most common Windows browsers and search engines. Remember, browsers are programs in your computer while Search Engines reside on the Web.
The process used to communicate between computers and the Internet (World Wide Web) is a client/server relationship. You run a web client on your computer we call a browser. Others put data (like this webpage) on a web server. Most individuals use Internet Explorer because it is the browser they received with their computer but many people choose to switch to other browsers or use more than one, such as Firefox or Chrome, while Apple users normally use Safari. The newest of the bunch is Microsoft Edge. This is the new browser for Windows 10 and besides being very sleek, and secure, it has the added benefit of being the universal browser across all windows platforms, phone, and tablets.
