Can You Find Your Way Online?

Surfing. Googling. Blogging. The Internet and the lingo that goes along with it are now a part of every day life.

With so many bits of information to find out in cyberspace—world maps, homemade videos, foreign newspapers, business information, and movie reviews to name just a few—basic Internet literacy is now a critical skill that everyone needs to master.

If you’re new to using the Internet, don’t be embarrassed; it’s not too late to get started. And, even the Internet proficient can benefit from search tips that speed things along and help you evaluate the reliability of information.

If you’re just using the Internet for email, or relying on just a handful of websites, it is time to get out of your comfort zone and set off on a voyage of discovery.

What is This Internet, Anyway?
Remember all that talk some years ago about the “information superhighway?” That’s the Internet – a system of networks that link computers and provide access to information in much the same way that a highway provides access to communities via on and off ramps. The World Wide Web is the name for the systems that allow you to see what you find through the Internet. When you log on to the Internet through a browser, (Safari, Internet Explorer or Netscape for example) you are looking at documents on the World Wide Web.

How Do You Find Information?
It is estimated that there are more than 50 billion documents currently on the World Wide Web. So, depending on your point of view, it can be incredibly easy or incredibly difficult to find anything. When you “search the Web,” you use search engines, such as Google, Yahoo Search, or Ask.com, which link you to a relatively small percentage of the information that’s out there.

How Do I Know What’s Reliable?
That’s tricky. The World Wide Web is a great place to find information on many topics. But, keep in mind that putting pages on the Web is easy, cheap, and unregulated. There are great things to be found, but the burden is on you to determine if they are trash or treasure.

You need to use your critical thinking skills to determine if a site is reliable and authentic. Is it someone’s personal site? Does the information come from a government agency, respected newspaper, or university? Has the information been updated? What are the author’s credentials? Are sources documented with footnotes or links? Do the links work and do they represent a variety of viewpoints? Do they indicate a bias?

What Can You Do to Help Secure Your Identity?
While Wachovia is monitoring online fraud 24 hours a day, and actively working to target and eliminate identity theft, there are some additional measures you can take in order to stay informed and protected from falling victim to identity theft.

Sign up today to receive a free educational email series that provides valuable information geared towards helping you protect yourself from fraud and identity theft. This series will help you take an in depth look at how you’re protecting your personal information and guide you to take appropriate action if you should experience suspicious activity. Learn how to protect yourself from fraud and identity theft.

Get Going!
Once you get comfortable you’ll the Internet, you’ll discover many interesting things and interests you never knew you had. Maybe you’ll even start a blog to talk about your experiences!