The starting point
Internet basics
A few simple ideas make the rest much easier.
What is the internet?
It’s a worldwide network that lets devices exchange information. A website is a collection of pages you visit through that network. The web is one part of the internet; email and video calls use the internet too.
Getting connected
Your home internet service connects your house to the internet. Wi‑Fi connects your phone or computer to the equipment in your house. You can have a strong Wi‑Fi signal and still have an internet outage.
On a phone, mobile data can provide internet access when you’re away from Wi‑Fi. Depending on your plan, it may use a limited amount of data.
Websites and addresses
A web address such as example.com points your browser to a website. A link is something you click or tap to visit another page. You can usually find the address of the page you’re on near the top of your browser.
Look at the actual address before entering a password. A page that looks familiar can still be on a different website.
Accounts and passwords
An account lets a website remember who you are. Use a different, long password for each important account. A password manager can create and remember those passwords. If a site offers a second sign-in step, turn it on for email, banking, and other important accounts.