Internet Basics — Everything You Need to Know
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Table of contents
What Is the Internet?
The big picture, in plain English.
The internet is a giant network that connects billions of computers around the world so they can share information. Think of it like a postal system — but instead of letters, you send pieces of information to and from computers anywhere on Earth, in seconds.
When you open a website, send an email, or watch a video, your device is quietly reaching out across that network, pulling bits of information from another computer somewhere else, and showing it to you. You don't need to understand the wires and towers behind it all. You just need to know a few simple ideas to feel comfortable.
The internet is not one thing you can point to. It's made of many smaller pieces: your device, the cables or signals that carry information, huge computers called servers that store websites, and the software that ties it all together. Every time you click a link, you're tapping into that web of connections.
You don't have to be technical to use the internet well. Most of it comes down to learning a handful of everyday tools — a web browser, email, and a few safety habits. That's what the rest of this course will cover.
How it works (the short version)
When you type a website name, your device sends a small request over the internet. That request travels — often in fractions of a second — to a server somewhere in the world. The server sends back the web page, and your device displays it. That's really all that's happening, just very quickly and very often.
What you need to use it
- A device — a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.
- An internet connection — either Wi-Fi at home or in a public place, or cell data on your phone.
- A browser or app — the software you actually tap or click to see things (more on this in Lesson 2).
Key terms in plain English
- Website — a place on the internet you can visit, like teksure.com. Every website has an address (also called a URL).
- Browser — the app you use to open websites. Common ones are Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge.
- Wi-Fi — a way for your device to connect to the internet without wires, usually from a box in your home.
- Router — that box. It's the little device (often with blinking lights) that brings internet into your home and shares it wirelessly with your phone, laptop, and TV.
Quick Tip: You don't have to memorize any of this. If a word confuses you later, you can always check our glossary.
Web Browsers — Your Door to the Internet
How you actually get to websites.
A web browser is the app you use to open and read websites. It's the door that takes you into the internet. Without a browser, your device can connect to the internet but can't really show you web pages.
The four browsers you'll see most often are:
- Chrome — made by Google. Works on almost every device.
- Safari — made by Apple. Comes already installed on iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
- Firefox — a free, privacy-friendly browser you can download.
- Edge — made by Microsoft. Comes already installed on Windows computers.
You only need one. Pick whichever came with your device and you'll be fine.
How to open a browser
Look at the home screen of your phone, tablet, or computer and find an icon that matches one of the names above. Tap or click it. A new window will open, usually with a blank page or a search box in the middle. You're in the browser.
The address bar
At the top of every browser window is a long text box called the address bar. It has two jobs: it shows you the address of the website you're currently on, and it's also where you type to go somewhere new.
You can do two things with the address bar:
- Type a URL — a full website address like
teksure.com. Press Enter and the browser goes straight there. - Type a search — just words like "how to cook rice". Press Enter and the browser shows search results from Google (or your default search engine).
Links
A link is a piece of text (or sometimes a picture) that takes you to another page when you click it. Links are usually a different color — often blue — and sometimes underlined. If you move your mouse over a link, the arrow often turns into a little pointing hand. That's how you know you can click it.
Bookmarks
A bookmark is like a shortcut. When you find a page you'll want to come back to, you can save it as a bookmark and open it with one click instead of typing the address again.
Learn how step by step in our full guide: How to bookmark websites.
Tabs — multiple pages at once
A tab is a single web page inside your browser window. You can open many tabs at the same time, each with a different website, and switch between them by clicking along the top. It's like having several magazines open in front of you at once.
To open a new tab, look for a small "+" button near the top of the browser. To close a tab, click the little "×" on the tab itself.
Back, forward, and refresh
- Back arrow (←) — takes you to the page you were on before.
- Forward arrow (→) — takes you back to where you were after pressing the back button.
- Refresh (circular arrow) — reloads the current page. Use this if a page looks broken or frozen.
Quick Tip: If a website ever looks strange, try pressing Refresh first. It fixes most small glitches.
Email — Sending Messages Online
The first app most people use.
Email (short for "electronic mail") is a way to send written messages from one person to another over the internet. It works a lot like a letter, but it arrives in seconds, costs nothing, and can include pictures, documents, or links.
Email is different from texting. Text messages (also called SMS) go from phone number to phone number through your cell carrier. Email goes from an email address (like name@gmail.com) to another email address over the internet. Email is usually longer, more formal, and better for things like bills, receipts, and work.
The parts of an email
- To — the email address of the person you're writing to.
- Subject — a short headline that tells the reader what the message is about.
- Body — the main message itself.
- Attachments — extra files you add, like a photo or a PDF.
How to send an email
- Open your email app or go to your email website (like gmail.com).
- Click the Compose or New message button — usually a "+" or a pencil icon.
- Type the recipient's email address in the To field.
- Add a short Subject so they know what to expect.
- Write your message in the big box underneath.
- Click Send. That's it — your message is delivered.
Step-by-step with pictures: Set up a Gmail account and Send and receive email.
Reply vs. forward
- Reply sends a message back to the person who wrote to you. Use it for conversations.
- Reply all sends your answer to everyone on the original message. Use carefully — sometimes you only want to reply to one person.
- Forward sends the message you received on to a different person. Use it to pass along information.
Attachments explained
An attachment is a file you send along with your email — a photo, a scanned document, a PDF, a spreadsheet. Look for a paperclip icon when writing a message. Click it, choose the file from your device, and it'll ride along with your email.
Full guide: Manage email attachments.
Signing out on shared computers
If you check email on a library computer, a friend's laptop, or any device that isn't yours, always sign out when you're finished. If you don't, the next person can read — and send from — your account. Look for your name or profile icon in the top corner, click it, and choose Sign out or Log out.
Quick Tip: If an email looks odd, has lots of spelling mistakes, or asks for money or passwords — don't reply. Delete it. You'll learn more in the next lesson.
Staying Safe Online
Simple rules that stop almost every scam.
The internet is a wonderful place — but like any public space, it has some bad actors. The good news: a few simple habits stop almost every scam before it gets anywhere near you.
The 3 golden rules
1. Don't trust urgent messages.
Real companies and government agencies don't demand instant action. If a message says "your account will be closed in 1 hour" or "pay right now or go to jail" — it's almost certainly a scam.
2. Don't click unknown links.
If you don't recognize the sender, don't click the link. Go straight to the company's real website by typing it into your browser instead.
3. Don't share passwords.
No legitimate company will ever ask for your password by email, text, or phone. Not your bank. Not Amazon. Not Microsoft. Ever.
Spotting phishing
Phishing is when a scammer pretends to be a company you trust — a bank, a delivery service, even a friend — to trick you into clicking a link, handing over a password, or sending money. Here's what to watch for:
- A sender address that looks "off" (like
support@amaz0n-help.coinstead of amazon.com). - Spelling or grammar mistakes that a real company wouldn't make.
- A link that claims to be a company but goes somewhere else when you hover over it.
- Pressure to act right now.
- Unexpected attachments, especially zip files or documents asking you to "enable macros".
Strong passwords
A strong password is long and hard to guess. Use at least 12 characters. Mix in numbers and symbols. Avoid obvious things like "password", your birthday, or your pet's name. And never reuse the same password across different sites.
Full guide: How to create a strong password. Or let us generate one for you: Password generator.
You can also check whether your email has been caught up in a past data leak with our Data Breach Checker.
Two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (often called 2FA) adds a second lock to your account. After you type your password, the site asks for a short code sent to your phone or generated by an app. Even if a scammer steals your password, they still can't get in without that code. Turn it on for your email, your bank, and anywhere else that offers it.
Recognizing scam websites
- Check the address bar. Real websites use the company's exact name (amazon.com, not amaz0n-deals.net).
- Look for the small padlock icon next to the address. No padlock means don't type anything sensitive.
- If a deal seems unbelievable, it probably is.
- Pop-ups shouting about viruses are almost always fake. Close the tab.
Want more help? Visit our Scam Defense Center for the latest threats, warning signs, and recovery help.
Getting Help When You're Stuck
You don't have to figure it out alone.
Everyone gets stuck. Even people who work with computers all day get stuck. The difference is knowing where to look for help — so that "I don't understand this" turns into "OK, I figured it out" in a few minutes.
TekSure Brain
TekSure Brain is a search tool built on top of our 1,200+ guides. Ask it a question in plain English ("how do I change my WiFi password") and it'll pull the most relevant answers for you in seconds.
TekSure's free guides
We have step-by-step guides for almost every everyday tech task — setting up a phone, writing an email, joining a video call, spotting a scam. They're all free and written in plain English. Browse them all at /guides.
Community forum
Not finding exactly what you need? Ask other real people on our community forum. Other TekSure users and our team read and answer questions — no question is too basic.
Libraries and tech help near you
Many public libraries, senior centers, and community organizations offer free one-on-one tech help. A real person, in your neighborhood, can make all the difference. Find local help on our Tech Help Near Me page.
It's OK to ask
There's nothing embarrassing about asking for help with technology. New devices, apps, and websites come out every week — nobody knows them all. The people who seem the most confident are simply the ones who have learned to ask good questions and look things up. You can do that too.
Remember: every expert was once a beginner. Asking questions is how you become the person other people ask.
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