Mastering Internet Connectivity: A Comprehensive Guide to Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Browsing Essentials

I’ve had to take a break of a couple of weeks because I’ve been doing edits for my soon-to-be-released book, Your Data, Your Devices, and You: Easy-to-Follow Instructions to Reduce Your Risk of Data Loss, Device Infection, and Identity Theft.  I’ve got time today to push out the next segment on Computer Basics, which is Connecting to the Internet. My brain is pretty tired, so I’m going to keep this light and try to have a little fun writing it. The material in this post is far from comprehensive, when it comes to explaining how internet communication works, so, in the interest of clarity, I’m going to limit the explanation to how it works for the person using it, not the person building or maintaining it.

WI-FI

Let’s start by demystifying Wi-Fi, something we’ve all heard about but might not be entirely familiar with. Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity, is essentially your ticket to accessing the internet without being tied down by cables. Picture this: you’re at home, in the office, or at a coffee shop, and you want to hop online with your laptop or smartphone. That’s where Wi-Fi steps in. To connect, just head over to your device’s settings or network menu, find the Wi-Fi network name (also known as the SSID) from the list of available networks, and enter the network password if prompted. It really is that simple, from your end. Wi-Fi is like your digital lifeline, making it possible to stay connected and productive wherever you go, whether it’s at home, work, or on the move with your mobile devices.

ETHERNET

Now let’s talk about Ethernet, which is the reliable workhorse of internet connections. Unlike Wi-Fi, which operates wirelessly, Ethernet provides a physical wired connection between your device and a network router or modem, or between those network devices. It’s the sturdy backbone of your internet setup. To get connected via Ethernet, simply grab an Ethernet cable, usually with an RJ45 connector (which looks like a fat telephone connector; but nowadays, we might say that a telephone connector looks like a skinny Ethernet connector) at each end, and plug one end into your device and the other into your router or modem. You now have a direct, fast, and stable connection to the internet. Ethernet is known for its lightning-fast speeds and rock-solid reliability, making it perfect for tasks that demand high bandwidth or low latency. When I’m transferring my photos from my computer to my Network Attached Storage (NAS) device, I use an ethernet cable, because the files are big and there are usually a lot of them. I need a stable, fast connection. I’ve learned from experience that doing that task using the wireless connection is an exercise in frustration.

SWITCHING BETWEEN THE TWO

Most of the time, you can seamlessly switch between Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections based on your needs and preferences. If your device supports both Wi-Fi and Ethernet, you have the flexibility to choose the connection type that suits the situation best. For tasks that demand consistent and high-speed internet access, such as gaming or streaming on a desktop computer or smart TV, it’s wise to prioritize Ethernet connections. On the other hand, mobile devices like laptops and smartphones benefit from the mobility and convenience of Wi-Fi connections, allowing you to stay connected while on the move.

When it comes to managing your network settings, navigate to your device’s settings menu to configure Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections. (On a computer, you can usually find that by going to the search bar and typing “network.” On a phone, it’ll be in the Settings menu, and usually close to the top, because it’s used quite a bit.)  Make sure you pay attention to security settings as well, such as enabling WPA2 encryption for Wi-Fi networks to protect your data from unauthorized access. Additionally, keeping your devices updated with the latest network drivers and firmware ensures optimal performance and compatibility with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet networks. If you’re doing the standard updates as they are announced to your device, that shouldn’t be an issue. Over time, you will gain an understanding of your network settings and managing them effectively.

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS (ISPs) AND ROUTERS

To get started with internet access, the first step is to subscribe to an internet service provider (ISP) for your home or workplace. You will be limited in one way or other on your ISP choice, based on the location of your home and the providers available in your area. If you live in a rural area, you may be restricted to satellite or line-of-site offerings. Other areas may not yet be served with Fiber Optic service. Many providers are encouraging users to subscribe to their Wireless Internet offerings, which works like a mobile hotspot with better speeds and higher or no data caps. Check with your friends and neighbors for recommendations.

Once you have the service, setting up a router or gateway-router combo is essential. Often, the ISP will complete the initial setup with standard settings for connectivity and security. The gateway-router is device creates a local network, manages internet connections, and enables Wi-Fi access for all devices within the network. Make sure the technician takes time to configure your router settings for security by setting up a strong Wi-Fi password, enabling a firewall, and implementing other security measures, and that he explains to you how he has it set up. Also, be sure to get documentation for the settings. Finally, if necessary, fine-tune your router settings for network management and optimize internet speeds for a smooth online experience. If you have the system professionally installed and configured, you probably won’t need to do anything else, and the technician will conduct a functionality test before he leaves. (Or at least he should.)

USING A WEB BROWSER (CHROME, FIREFOX, EDGE, SAFARI)

Now that the Internet access is set up, you can go exploring. It starts with a Web Browser. The most common browsers are Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. There are others, but this is a Basics series. You can launch the web browser from a desktop shortcut, from a start menu item, or I like to keep my main browsers pinned to my taskbar. It will open to the default home page, or to one of your choosing if you later decide to make your home page something different. You can type the name of a website into the address bar, or you can search from a search bar. Most browsers now will let you search from the address bar, and if you type something in that the browser doesn’t recognize as a website address, it will assume that you’re asking it for search responses.

You can save sites you want to visit often, using a bookmark or favorite. When you click on the Star (that what it is in most browsers, and it’s at the right end of the search or address bar), the browser will create a link to that site and store it in its stash of website bookmarks. It can be handy to create folders to sort them into, if this is something you intend to make extensive use of. When you want to visit a website, navigate to the place you’ve stored it and click on it. I have a lot of bookmark folders, but the ones I use the most are the ones for education activities – courses and stuff like that.

Many browsers will let you create a start page that can contain news, weather, and customizable content (horoscopes or maybe access to your calendar’s appointments for the day). It’s not something you have to do. I like the plain-Jane search page when I open my browser. I prefer not to have my attention grabbed by a headline.

TABS AND WINDOWS

Tabs and windows are powerful features in web browsers that enhance your multitasking capabilities. With tabs, you can open multiple websites within the same browser window, allowing you to switch between them effortlessly. Use convenient keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + T (Windows) or Command + T (macOS) to open a new tab and Ctrl + N (Windows) or Command + N (macOS) to open a new browser window. This makes it easy to keep relevant websites open simultaneously. Organize your tabs by dragging and dropping them into a preferred order or grouping them based on tasks. Right-clicking on a tab provides additional options such as closing, duplicating, or pinning tabs for quick access. Tabs and windows empower you to navigate the web efficiently, manage your browsing sessions, and stay productive while exploring multiple websites at once.

I rarely use two windows, unless I need to toggle between them easily. For example, I plan out my week’s meals, and I enter them in my calendar as an “all day” appointment. If it’s a meal I’m not familiar with, I put a link to the recipe in the appointment notes. Then I open a new browser window, not just a new tab, and I open my shopping list website. I can toggle back and forth between the windows, adding items from the week’s menu, much more easily than I can move back and forth between tabs.

NAVIGATION CONTROLS

Navigation controls are essential tools in web browsers that streamline your browsing experience. These controls include back, forward, reload, and home buttons, each serving a specific purpose. The back button allows you to navigate back to the previous page, while the forward button lets you move forward after going back. You can’t go back a page if you just got there, and you can’t go forward if you haven’t gone back a page. The reload button refreshes the current page, handy for updating content or fixing loading issues. Lastly, the home button swiftly takes you to your browser’s homepage. You can access these controls conveniently through buttons in the browser toolbar or by using keyboard shortcuts like Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (macOS) for back navigation. Mastering these navigation controls empowers you to navigate the web with ease, efficiently move between pages, and customize your browsing experience for optimal productivity.

Here are a couple more handy keyboard combinations: Ctrl+Shift+”+” will zoom into the pabe, and Ctrl+Shift+”-“ will zoom out. You can close a webpage by hitting Ctrl+W, and, should you find that you closed a page in error, you can hit Ctrl+Shift+T to bring it back. If you discover you closed a page you shouldn’t have, but then closed several since the one you’d like back, you will have to hit Ctrl+Shift+T several times until you restore the one you’re looking for.

SETTINGS AND CUSTOMIZATION

Your web browser offers a host of settings and customization options, which allow you to tailor your browsing experience to suit your preferences and needs. You can explore browser settings to customize aspects related to privacy, security, and appearance. For privacy, options like clearing browsing data and managing cookies help maintain your online privacy and control over your digital footprint. Security features such as enabling phishing protection and managing extensions add extra layers of defense against online threats. Additionally, you can personalize the appearance of your browser by changing themes, adjusting font sizes, and customizing the layout to enhance readability and aesthetics. Furthermore, exploring browser extensions or add-ons opens up a world of possibilities, provided you are judicious in choosing them. They can offer additional features and functionalities such as ad blockers and productivity tools to boost efficiency. You may find that some of your apps have browser integration, such as Microsoft OneNote Clipper or a password manager plugin to securely store and retrieve passwords for websites. By leveraging these settings and customization options, you can create a personalized browsing environment that maximizes convenience, security, and enjoyment while navigating the web.

SEARCH ENGINES

A search engine is a powerful tool that helps users find relevant information on the internet. It works by constantly crawling and indexing web pages across the web, building a vast database of information. When a user enters a search query (the phrase you’re looking for) into the search engine’s search bar, the engine retrieves relevant results from its indexed database based on various factors such as keyword relevance, page authority, and user location. These results are then ranked according to their relevance and displayed on the search engine results page (SERP). Search engines use complex algorithms to determine the most relevant and useful results for each search query, helping users find the information they need quickly and efficiently. There are additional characters, called operators, that you can add to your search term, which can help narrow down the results to provide you a more tailored set of responses.

WAS THIS HELPFUL?

Let me know in the comments if this has given you any new information, or if you’d like better clarification on something. Next time, I’ll move into Email.