• The Internet
• Internet Resources
• Email Etiquette ("Netiquette")
• Getting Connected
• Security Issues
• Useful Web Terms
• LASPAU Website
  

THE INTERNET

The Internet (often called simply the "Net") and the World Wide Web (usually referred to as "the web") are often equated. However, the web is actually just one component of the Internet. The Internet refers to the worldwide system of computer networks in which users of any one computer can (if access is not restricted) get information from or communicate directly with users at any other computer. The web refers to the vast array of information that is available over the Internet in a form ("web page" or "website") that enables you to access additional information by clicking on a text or graphic link. Other components of the Internet include email, electronic mailing lists, and electronic bulletin boards.

If you are not already comfortable using the computer or would like to learn more about a particular type of software or a specific Internet resource, we encourage you to obtain computer training. On most campuses, short workshops are offered to help students improve their practical computer skills. You can also learn how to use computers and the Internet through self-paced tutorials and how-to-guides. These skills can be critical to academic success in the United States today. Many institutions rely heavily on computer, including Internet, use at all levels.

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Locating Information on Websites

A vast quantity of information is available on the web. Some of it is accurate; some of it is deliberate misinformation. People sometimes act under the mistaken belief that if information is on the web, it must be correct. You always need to take into account the credibility of the individual or organization that created a web page.

In order to find specific information on the web, most people use a search engine. Search engines catalog the web based on wording and subject matter. When you type key words into the search engine, it finds the web pages that best match your description. Different search engines use different rules for determining the "best match," and no single search engine has succeeded in cataloging the entire contents of the web. If you find that one search engine isn’t giving you the results you need or presents its results in a fashion you don’t like, try another one. Some commonly used search engines are listed below:

You may also find it helpful to visit the Bare Bones 101 website, which offers a series of lessons on how to find what you're looking for on the Internet. Created by the head librarian at the University of South Carolina Beaufort campus, Bare Bones 101 can be found at: http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/pages/bones/bones.shtml

Electronic Mail

Electronic mail (email) is a versatile, convenient, and inexpensive way to exchange information and messages with people around the world on the Internet. It is also a highly efficient way of interacting with LASPAU staff. Email can have advantages over making a phone call. An email message can contain complex information and you can be assured it will arrive exactly the way you sent it. Email allows you to compose and send a message with your concerns or questions at a time that is convenient for you and allows LASPAU staff to respond with a complete, well-researched answer that you can save for future reference. Please note that your LASPAU contacts have many responsibilities and may not be able to respond to your messages immediately.

All LASPAU staff members have email addresses in the form of

firstname_lastname@harvard.edu

These addresses are also listed in the Staff List in the About LASPAU section this website.

Email is much faster than postal mail and usually cheaper. It is also highly reliable; however, it is not perfect. While most email reaches its destination within a few minutes of being sent, some messages can take several days to arrive. Usually, you will receive notification if your message can’t be delivered. However, sometimes your email doesn't reach its destination and you aren't notified of the problem. If you don’t get an answer to an email that required a response within a reasonable period of time, do not assume the recipient is ignoring you. It’s possible the message did not arrive. You should follow up with a second email message or a phone call.

Universities often provide students with email accounts at no charge. In addition, there are many companies that offer free email accounts. Some commonly used companies are listed below:

http://www.hotmail.com

http://mail.yahoo.com

Electronic Mailing Lists

Electronic mailing lists enable many people with a similar interest to communicate with each other at the same time. Instead of sending mail to each individual member of the group, it is sent to only one place, where it is then distributed to everyone on the list. There are thousands of public mailing lists on the Internet, discussing almost every conceivable topic. Many subjects even have more than one mailing list. Each list has its own tone, rules, and traditions. Some lists are "moderated" lists, where each message is read by a person or group of people to determine whether or not it should be sent to the others on the list. "Unmoderated" lists automatically distribute all messages without anyone looking at them.

Moderated lists differ widely in their feel: some moderators merely delete repeated messages or messages that aren’t intended for that list, other moderators try to prevent pointless arguments while allowing conversation to go on freely, while still other moderators actively control what topics are discussed. It all depends on the purpose of the list and the attitudes of its members. Even on unmoderated lists, however, there are expected standards of behavior (see the Email Etiquette part of this section).

When you subscribe to a list, you will receive an informational message. Save it for future reference. The message usually contains the rules for the particular list, contact information for the list administrator, and instructions for removing yourself from the list. When joining a mailing list, it is a good idea to read it for a few days before sending your first message so to that you get a sense of the type of thing that is acceptable for that list.

For a searchable directory of many (but not all) of the publicly accessible mailing lists, visit the website http://www.lsoft.com/lists/listref.html.

Electronic Bulletin Boards

An electronic bulletin board is similar to a mailing list in that it allows you to share your thoughts with many other people. It is also very similar to a physical bulletin board in that you leave a message by "posting" it on the board and anyone who visits the bulletin board can read it. Some bulletin boards are public; anybody can post or read a message. Other bulletin boards are private and restricted to members of a particular group. For example, a professor may set up a bulletin board for his class so students can discuss the course material online (that is, on the Internet). As with mailing lists, there are bulletin boards for just about every conceivable subject. Today, most electronic bulletin boards are web-based. You usually need only a web browser to access them, but special software may be required as well.

Usenet Discussion Groups

Usenet discussion groups (also referred to as "netnews groups" or "news groups") are a special variety of bulletin board. Usenet consists of many thousands of named, categorized discussion groups. For example, the group comp.databases.oracle is for discussions about using Oracle’s database products, the group sci.geo.geology is about the science of geology, and the group news.announce.newgroups is for announcements about newly formed news groups. Usenet is an especially good resource for information about computer software and hardware—the "comp" (computer) groups—or for meeting people who share your hobbies—the "rec" (recreation) groups.

In order to read Usenet groups, you need special software (a "newsreader") and access to a news server. Alternatively, you can access the Usenet discussions through a web interface at: http://groups.google.com

Instant Messaging

Instant messaging is a technology that is rapidly increasing in popularity. It allows you to send messages in real-time from your computer to another user who is currently connected to the Internet and is also using instant messaging. Some instant message services also allow you to leave messages if the user isn't available. A number of companies make instant messaging software. Some of the software can only be used to contact other people who use the same brand of software. Other packages will communicate with software from multiple manufacturers. Some examples of messaging software are AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo Messenger.

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EMAIL ETIQUETTE ("NETIQUETTE")

• There is a tendency for everything to become accelerated when you are a heavy user of the Internet. If you check your email messages every hour, you start wondering if you are being ignored when it takes more than an hour for the recipient to respond. Remember, not everyone checks email with the same frequency that you do. When an intense and rapid-fire email exchange is going on about how to solve a particular problem, it is easy to become impatient because "there has been all this talk and nothing is happening." Sometimes you have to step back and remind yourself that all of the activity has happened over a very short time (often only a few hours) and actually implementing a solution to the problem may require a longer time frame or depend on conversing with someone who isn’t available for a day or two.

• The constructive exchange of ideas between people from different backgrounds is an important part of the power of the Net, and you should feel free to challenge inappropriate behavior and explain your own beliefs. However, "constructive" is a key word here. Thoughtless anger or sarcasm, while often gratifying in the short term, usually makes the problem worse in the long term. It is especially tempting to respond to angry or sarcastic messages (known as "flames") with anger or sarcasm. This, in turn, will inspire others to flame and generally accomplish nothing useful. If you feel yourself getting angry or frustrated, it’s a good time to stop reading and do something else for a while. A good solution is to respond to the content of the message rather than its tone. If there is no content worth responding to, ignore it.

• Occasionally, you may see electronic chain letters. Some of these may seem amusing until you realize how many resources are being wasted to produce and propagate them. Chain letters violate most acceptable-use policies. It is best to delete them. Signs that something is or has become a chain letter are: the message has already been forwarded multiple times; the message asks you to forward it to everyone you know (almost always a bad idea); the message offers something unrealistic (if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is); or the message talks about something that happened "yesterday" or "today" with no exact date (usually these were once accurate but have now been circulating for years).

• If you belong to an electronic mailing list, you will usually find several messages from the list waiting for you when you log in to your computer account. The temptation to respond to each message the moment you read it is high. However, this can be embarrassing to you and annoying to others if someone else has already responded to that message. In particular, simple questions and obviously wrong statements have probably already been answered or corrected by someone else. Read all of your email before replying to any of it.

• Many email lists have specific policies about the kinds of messages that can be posted there or the kinds of people who can join. Even if you consider these restrictions unfair, you should abide by them, although you may wish to send email to the list administrator explaining why you consider the list’s policy inappropriate.

• If you are replying to a message, it is a good idea to quote from or paraphrase the original message, so that the recipient(s) knows what you are replying to. Try to make clear who is saying what, and quote the smallest amount of material you can. It is common to see special symbols like > or # used to distinguish quoted material, and [...] or [snip] to symbolize text that was edited away for space purposes. Here is an example, quoting from this paragraph:

>If you are replying to a message [...] make clear who is saying what,
>and quote the smallest amount of material you can.

Also, if you are using the reply command, change the subject header if it no longer matches the message content.

• Although most email software displays the sender's email address, sometimes this is not the case. It is a good practice to include your email address at the end of each message you send.

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GETTING CONNECTED

Electronic Communications on Campus

Almost all U.S. universities provide students with computer accounts that enable them to access the Internet either for free or for limited cost. Many schools have developed sophisticated campus networks that allow students to register for classes, submit course work, and communicate within that campus, among other things. Other schools simply provide email accounts and World Wide Web access. It is extremely difficult to generalize about the kinds of services that will be available at your location. Campuses that are large or have a technological focus are the most likely to provide the greatest access to Internet services.

Computers will probably be available for your use in student computer facilities and libraries at your university. It also may be possible to dial-in to the university’s network from your own computer.

If you do not receive information about campus computer accounts as part of your university’s orientation materials, talk to someone at your campus computer center (often called Information Services) to find out how you can get an account. The international student office may also be able to help you. If your university is unable to provide Internet access, you can purchase access for your home computer through a commercial service, use an Internet cafe, or make use of the free services on the Web and access them through computer terminals at public and campus libraries.

Using Commercial Internet Services

A commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP) will give you an email account and Internet access in your own home. You will be charged a monthly fee for this service. There are thousands of ISPs. Some are small companies that service only their local areas. Others are national or international companies with local access numbers all across the United States or the world. You should shop around to find the ISP that offers the best price for the services you need. A list of which ISPs serve which areas can be found at http://www.thelist.com

Home Internet services come in three major types: dial-up service, cable modem service, and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) service. The term "broadband" is often used to describe these latter two services because they provide faster data-transfer rates than the older dial-up technology.

Dial-up service connects your computer to the Internet over a standard phone line. You can use the same phone line for both your telephone and your computer or purchase a separate line for the computer. While this is slower that the broadband technologies, the speed is fine for checking email and doing moderate web browsing.

Cable modems connect your computer to the Internet via the cable TV system’s wiring. Not all cable TV companies offer Internet service. For more information, contact the cable company in your area. One of the benefits of using a cable modem is that you can use the Internet without tying up your telephone line.

DSL is the newest high-speed Internet technology for the home. DSL provides a dedicated line between your computer and your ISP. It is designed for people who keep their computers on all the time and are heavy Internet users or are running a web server or other Internet application server. DSL service is not available in all locations. It is mostly available in and around major cities. DSL service is provided by the phone company and by companies that specialize in installing DSL equipment. It is the most technologically complex of the options. It provides higher speeds than a cable modem does.

Using Internet Cafes

"Internet cafes" are another way of accessing the Internet in order to browse the web and view email. Internet cafes sell computer access and often food or coffee as well. Typically, they charge computer users by the hour. While Internet cafes are not very numerous in the United States, they are very common in parts of Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In some countries, they are the primary way people gain Internet access.

Acceptable Use Policies

Your Internet provider, whether it is your school or a commercial ISP, will have an acceptable use policy. It explains what you can and cannot do with your account. For example, most schools prohibit the use of their facilities to run a business or to send chain letters. Violating the acceptable use policy can result in your losing your Internet access.

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SECURITY ISSUES

Security and the Internet

Most people have information on their computers—such as financial records or research data—that they would prefer to keep private. The first line of defense against unauthorized access to computer systems is password protection. People like to have simple, easy-to-remember passwords. With all of the different Internet services that are out there, many people like to use a single password for all of them to make it easier to remember. Also, people often write down their passwords. Unfortunately, all of these are actions you should avoid if you want to keep others from breaking into your computer accounts.

A good password is one that is easy for you to remember, but that another person wouldn’t guess easily and that doesn’t appear in the dictionary. (Programs designed to break into a person’s computer account often do so by testing all the words in a dictionary to see if one of them is the password.) Do not use personal data such as your birth date as a password, as personal data is one of the first things a "system cracker" (that is, someone who tries to break into other people’s computer systems) will try. Good passwords combine upper case characters, lower case characters, punctuation, and numbers (for example "e3ng!yl" and "b%gf%sherman"). In general, longer passwords are more secure. In addition to choosing good passwords, you should change your password periodically. Each computer system and website requiring a password will have its own rules for things like the minimum length of the password or whether some of the characters in the password are required to be numbers.

Ideally, you should use a different password for each computer account and service that requires one. Realistically, most of us can’t keep track of more than two or three. Think carefully before you reuse a password about what the consequences would be if somebody found out your password and used it to break into all of your accounts that have that password. Do not use the same password or PIN (personal identification number) for your computer accounts as you do for your bank card. If someone learns your password, they will not only be able to access your computer accounts but also your bank account.

Never give your password to anyone. If you give someone permission to use your account, you are responsible for anything they do using your account. Once you give another person your username and password, you have no control over how they are used.

One frequently asked question about Internet security is, "Is it safe to give out your credit card number on the Internet?" In general, paying by credit card over the Internet just as safe as using your credit card in a store or giving it out over the phone. Only give your card number to a business you have researched and trust. When a website gives you a choice, you should use the "secure server" option if possible. With a secure server, your credit card information is encrypted before it is sent across the network.

Privacy on the Internet

Many websites ask you to become members and provide personal information before you can access information on the site. Typically, companies like to collect contact information (e.g., addresses and phone numbers) and demographic information (e.g., age and gender) in order to better understand who is interested in their services or so they can sell mailing lists to other companies. Before you give out any personal information, you should make sure you understand how it is used. A reputable Internet site will have a privacy policy that tells you exactly what they will and won’t do with your information. If you are not comfortable with a site’s policies, do not give them your information.

In addition to collecting information by asking for it, some web sites keep track of your information in less obvious ways. Most web servers record (or "log") the Internet address of any computer that accesses the server, as well as recording which pages on the website are viewed. Usually, this information is used to track usage trends (how many people visit the site a day), but it can also be used to follow which web pages a specific user accesses. This type of logging cannot be prevented by the user.

Sometimes companies use a controversial technology called "cookies" to track where you have been. A cookie is a short file that is placed on your system by a website. It is designed to be read by the website that created it; however, it is possible in some cases for a site to read all the cookies on your machine. Cookies can be used simply to help personalize a website for you or they can be used for tracking purposes. For example, some companies that provide Internet advertising use cookies to keep track of which advertisements you have seen and which ones you have actually clicked on to go to the advertiser’s website. Some people are not bothered by all this tracking and like the benefits that come from it. Others don’t like the concept that information about them is being stored and possibly sold. Most web browsers have security settings that let you control whether or not to accept cookies.

Always assume that anything you do on the Internet is not fully private unless you are using encryption. Email, by its nature, is stored at least for a brief time on the systems it passes through on its way to its destination. Most systems keep logs of email traffic for diagnostic purposes. A message that you delete can live on for months or years as part of a system backup. Normally, no one will look at the content of your email, but the possibility does exist.

Computer Viruses

Along with all the benefits of electronic communications, there also come some problems. One major concern is computer "viruses." Computer viruses are programs that copy themselves from one computer to another. Some are harmless and do little beside occupy space; others can destroy all of your data. Here are some things you can do to protect your computer from virus attacks.

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USEFUL WEB TERMS

Home page: The document that provides a starting point or organized center for a website. A home page usually provides an introduction to the site, along with links to other sections of the site.

URL: Uniform Resource Locator—the electronic address for documents on the Internet.

Web browser: A software application that allows you to retrieve and display web pages from the World Wide Web. Commonly used web browsers include Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Hyperlink (or "link"): A path between a word (or phrase) or an image to a page containing more information on the same or a related topic. Hyperlinked text is generally identified with an underline. You can identify that a graphic is a link if the cursor turns to a hand when it hovers over the image. To retrieve the related document, click on the link.

HTML: Hypertext Markup Language—a programming language (or code) used for creating web pages.

HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol—an information retrieval mechanism for HTML documents (web pages).

FTP: File Transfer Protocol—the standard way to transferring files from one computer to another over the Internet.

Components of a Web Address (URL):

• A colon and two forward slashes (://) are used to separate the communications protocol from the name of the computer that is hosting the website.
  
  
• The name must be typed exactly as specified (with correct upper and lower case) or you may not reach the website.
  
  
• "http" is the communications protocol used by the web. Some web browsers require that you explicitly include it; others assume that if you don’t specify it, the protocol is http.
  
  
• Many web browsers also allow access to other Internet communication protocols, such as Telnet (telnet://) and FTP (ftp://). Examples include:

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LASPAU WEBSITE

LASPAU maintains a webpage to inform users about LASPAU and point them to related resources on the Internet, including hundreds of university home pages and in-depth information on Latin American educational issues. You can access the site by clicking the "LASPAU HOME" button on the left-hand side of this page or by going to: http://www.laspau.harvard.edu

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