What is an URL?
A URL (Universal Resource Locator) is the equivalent of an address in the online world; it tells you the location of a Web page, just as a street address tells you the location of a house or business in the real world. Every Web page has a unique URL, so the URL is all you need to find any page. You can access that Web page simply by typing the URL into your Web browser's Address blank (for Internet Explorer) and hit the "Return" or "Enter" key on your keyboard, or you can access that Web page without knowing its URL by clicking to it from a link on another page. With a little experience, you can learn to read URLs just as easily as you read street addresses.

What do URLs look like?
Most URLs look something like this:
"http://www.usmessage.net/faq/index.asp"
The first part, "http://," which stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol, indicates that this address points to a standard Web page. The second part, "www.usmessage.net," is the Web page's hostname - the name of the computer that this page lives on. It consists of a prefix, a domain name, and a suffix. The final part, "/faq/index.asp," tells your browser where the Web page is stored on its host computer. The final part of the URL is the actual name of the Web page file. In this case, the page is named "index.asp" and it is stored inside a folder named "faq."

What is a domain name?
A domain name is the core of a Web address; "usmessage.net" is a domain name, so are "amazon.com" and "priceline.com." Companies with a Web site generally try to get a domain name that matches their name. This makes their URL easy to remember and their site easy to find.

Why do some Web site addresses end in ".net," ".org," and ".edu" instead of ".com"?
The final part of the hostname (such as ".com") tells you what kind of host the page is on and where the server is located. The ".com" suffix happens to be the most common, and tells you that the host is a commercial business, such as "usmessage.net." Other common suffixes and their host types include:

• .net: networks such as Internet Service Providers (www.uunet.net)
• .edu: educational institutions such as colleges and schools (www.ucla.edu)
• .gov: governmental agencies and bureaus (www.treas.gov)
• .mil: military agencies (www.defenselink.mil)
• .org: nonprofit organizations and personal pages (www.autism.org)

I've seen some Web sites with a ".uk" or ".au" at the end. What are they?
A domain's suffix can also tell you what country a host is in. Sites in the United States do not have any additional suffixes, but other countries do. Web sites in Great Britain, for example, would have a ".uk" at the end. Some common ones include:

• .au: Australia
• .ca: Canada
• .ch: Switzerland
• .de: Germany
• .il: Israel
• .it: Italy
• .jp: Japan
• .uk: Great Britain

Why do some URLs start with "http://" and others with "www"?
Most Web addresses begin with "http://." This stands for HyperText Transport Protocol, the standard method of sending information on the Web. Anytime you see "http://," you can be sure the address points to a Web page. Since almost every URL begins with "http://," they are often listed without the "http://." If you enter a URL without the "http://" into your browser, it will assume that you have typed a URL and add the "http://" automatically. So for most URLs, you can just start with "www," such as "www.usmessage.net."

Does it matter if URLs are written in capital or lowercase letters?
It depends on the part of the URL. The main part of the URL (such as www.usmessage.net) can be written in either lowercase or capital letters. However individual directory or file names (anything that comes after the main part of the URL) are case-sensitive. If the URL of a directory is in all lowercase (such as www.usmessage.net/faq/index.asp), you won't be able to access it if you type in www.usmessage.net/FAQ/index.asp or www.usmessage.net/Faq/index.asp. For this reason, most URLs are in all lowercase letters. If you do see file names written in some combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, be sure to them into your browser exactly as they appear.

How can I make search engines work better and give more accurate results?
Be as specific as possible when you search. Use as many key words in your search as you can. The more key words you use, the narrower your search results will be. For example, if you are looking for small hotels in California with an ocean view, don't search using only "hotels" or "ocean view." Try using all the keywords instead: "small hotels ocean view California." You're probably better off getting very specific first and then broadening your search if necessary, rather than start off with a broad search and getting thousands of results.

Can my computer "catch" a virus on the Internet?
Your computer cannot get viruses when you just visit most Web sites, read email, chat, or post on newsgroups. You can only get viruses onto your computer when you open applications or documents that you've downloaded from the Internet. If someone you don't know sends you an email with a file attached, such as a document or an image/photo, you should check the file with an anti-virus program.

Is it safe to give out personal information on the Internet?
You must be very careful when sending messages through the Internet. Since each message passes through several computers, it's possible (though unlikely) that someone other than the intended recipient will be able to intercept and read it. You should NEVER send personal information - especially credit card numbers - through email. When you are giving out your personal information at a Web site for online shopping purposes, make sure that the site is encrypting that information, meaning that only the intended recipient can read the information. Many sites will show a little "lock" symbol at the bottom of the browser when you are on any page that asks you for your personal information. This tells you the information will be encrypted. The site itself can tell you about its security protocols. And you can always call the company directly and ask.

Is it safe to give out my credit card number on the Internet?
Online shopping can be very enjoyable and convenient, and most online stores are as safe as - if not safer - than physical stores. However, you must be aware of security issues when shopping online. Before you purchase something online, make sure that the site will encrypt or encode your credit card number. When a message is encrypted, no one but the intended recipient can understand it. Call the company directly if you don't know whether your credit card number will be encrypted. If the site can't encrypt your number, place your order over the phone.

Is the Web the same as the Internet?
Not really. The Internet encompasses the Web. The World Wide Web (WWW) is the most well-known and visible part of the Internet - the part you see through your browser (such as Microsoft Internet Explorer). It's a global series of interconnected pages containing text, graphics, and multimedia.

How do I get to a Web site?
Just type the Web site's address (known as the URL) into the address blank on your Web browser and hit the "Return" or "Enter" key on your keyboard. For example, you can just type in "http://www.usmessage.net" to get to US Message.

Why do some Web pages take a long time to load?
A number of factors affect the loading speed of Web pages: the amount of text and graphics on the page, your connection speed, the traffic on the Internet and at the site you're visiting, and so on. In general, the more graphics a Web page contains, the slower the loading time (the longer it takes for you to see the page); the more people trying to see that Web page and the more people surfing the Internet in general, the slower the loading time. Although you can't control those factors, you can control what type of modem you have and ultimately how fast your connection speed will be.

Can I make Web pages load faster?
Yes. Besides having the fastest possible dial-up speed on your computer, you can surf the Internet during off-peak hours when the Internet traffic is low. You can also change your browser settings, particularly the size of your cache. Jump up to "What is cache" and "how do I clear my cache?" above.

How come sometimes I can't go back when I hit the "Back" button on my browser?
You may have opened a new browser window without realizing it. Sometimes when you click on a link on a Web page, the page instructs your browser to display the new page in a completely new browser window. Generally the new browser window is smaller than the previous window so that you know what is happening, but sometimes this new browser window covers the previous window. Try minimizing or closing the browser window you're viewing to see whether the other window appears. Also, if you see one more browser icon than you know should be there at the bottom of your browser, you're probably on a new browser.

Can I save Web pages I like?
Yes. Make sure the page you want to save is currently displayed in your browser. Then go to your browser's "File" menu and select "Save As." Choose a place on your hard disk (such as a certain folder or your Desktop) where you would like to save the page and click "OK" or "Save." You can also just bookmark the page in your browser to make it easy to find the page again without actually saving it. To do this in "Internet Explorer," click on "Favorites" in the top menu and click on "Add to Favorites." You can have many Web pages in your "Favorites" folder, and you can organize them for easy reference by clicking on "Organize Favorites."

Can I print Web pages?
If your computer is hooked up to a printer, then you can print any Web page you want. Make sure the page you want to print is currently displayed in your browser. Then go to your browser's "File" menu and select "Print."

Can I copy text from a Web page into a word-processing program?
Yes. Position your mouse cursor on the Web page, click and hold down your left mouse button, and drag the mouse to highlight the text you want to copy (to select all the text on a page quickly, go to the "Edit" menu and choose "Select All"). Then go to the "Edit" menu and select "Copy." Switch to your word processor, go to the "Edit" menu, and choose "Paste."

Why do links seem to change color?
Links change color to show you which links you've already clicked. The color change helps you keep track of where you've been. The actual color is determined by the specific Web site.

What if a specific web page cannot be displayed?
A. If a specific web page cannot be displayed read below:
Possible causes

• The Web address you entered may be incorrect
• The server on which the Web page is located may be shut down or busy.
• The Web page may no longer exist.

• If you typed the Web address, make sure it matches the Web address that you were given exactly, including spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
• Sometimes the problem is with the page itself. You can try to click the Reload button to reload the page.
• If the computer that stores the Web page (the server) was shut down or too busy to handle your first request, it may be able to display the page later.
• Check to see if the page has moved. In some cases, you will be given a "forwarding address," or automatically taken to the new page after a brief wait.

How do I disconnect from the Internet?
Windows: In your lower right hand corner you SHOULD have an icon that looks like two computer monitors, double click it then click the Disconnect button

Macintosh : Go back to your dialer (PPP, Remote Access, FreePPP, Config PPP, etc & press the Disconnect button.

Why do I get disconnected?
There are multiple reasons you may be getting disconnected.

1. If you leave your Internet connection idle for 10 minutes, your connection with US Message may be dropped. This is helpful for people who forget to disconnect when they have completed using our network.

2. The phone lines in your house or in your area are not stable. The phone lines you use to connect to the Internet are often decades old. Often, changing weather conditions can affect the way these lines pass data. If you can here static when you are using the telephone, chances are you will get a poor Internet connection. If you feel you have bad phone lines in your area, we advise you to contact you local phone provider for assistance.

3. Many times, the problem is hardware. As the technology of modems has advanced they have become less forgiving to phone line noise. Often we see a customer with a new PC and/or modem who suddenly can't connect. This has to do with the fact that the new high-speed modem protocols don't operate on a poor connection and will attempt to downgrade the protocol to something that will accept the conditions. On many new modems the old protocols are not installed because the manufacturers need to save money and keep the cost of the modem down and gamble that you won't need the lesser protocol anyway. So when the switch tries to downgrade the protocol to something that isn't supported on your modem, you are immediately disconnected. Trying an older modem from the same location can sometimes demonstrate this phenomenon and installing an older or more expensive modem with more installed protocols can solve the problem sometimes too. We suggest external hardware modems for the best dial-up connection.

Why can't I connect at 56K?
There may be several reasons for this:
First, the highest connection the FCC allows over standard phone lines is 53.3k. This is the fastest connect rate you can get. If your are connecting in the 40k-50k range, this is considered good for most dial up connections.

If you connect at a rate less than you would like, your modems 56k protocol may not be compatible with ours. We support the fastest and most common protocols, 56k Flex and V.90. You can attempt to update your modem drivers.

The biggest factor in determining connection speed are telephone lines. Age of the telephone lines in your area, "line noise", and weather can all affect your line quality. If you are concerned about the quality of your phone lines, please call you local telephone company. However, keep in mind that the fastest speed the phone company's guarantee is typically 21k.

Lastly, as the technology of modems has advanced they have become less forgiving to phone line noise. Often we see a customer with a new PC and/or modem who suddenly can't connect. This has to do with the fact that the new high-speed modem protocols don't operate on a poor connection and will attempt to downgrade the protocol to something that will accept the conditions. On many new modems the old protocols are not installed because the manufacturers need to save money and keep the cost of the modem down and gamble that you won't need the lesser protocol anyway. So when the switch tries to downgrade the protocol to something that isn't supported on your modem, you are immediately disconnected. Trying an older modem from the same location can sometimes demonstrate this phenomenon and installing an older or more expensive modem with more installed protocols can solve the problem sometimes too. We suggest external hardware modems for the best dial-up connection.

Why do I not get any web pages?
Ensure that you are still connected to US Message, check the web site address (URL) syntax to make sure it is spelled correctly and contains all the characters in the correct case. In addition, the specific page you are attempting to access may have been removed, had its name changed, been down temporarily or been moved to a new location.

If you cannot access any web sites while connected, please verify the following settings:

• Click Start
• Click Programs
• Click Internet Explorer
• Click Tools on the main menu
• Click Internet Options
• Click the Connections tab.
• Select Always dial my default connection if it is not already selected.
• Click the Settings... button
• Ensure Automatically Detect Settings is selected. If not, click to add a check mark.
• Ensure Automatic configuration script is not selected. If it is, click to remove the check mark.
• Ensure Use a proxy server is not selected. If it is, click to remove the check mark.
• Click Ok.
• Click Apply and then Ok Attempt to access the web pages that you could not previously access.

Why do I get junk mail (SPAM)?
There are some steps you can take to help reduce the amount of junk mail reaching your inbox. You can configure your email program to filter your email as you receive it. Email filters will place unwanted email into your Trash folder. In order to do this, you need to identify key words within the unwanted email and then have your email program filter all messages containing these criteria to the Trash. The next time you check your email, your email program will search each message looking for the words that you have specified and move the offending message to the Trash. Although this feature can be extremely useful, you need to be very careful in selecting specific words for your filters, as you may unknowingly filter out mail from your family, friends or business contacts.

One of the most important ways is to NOT reply to spam messages. Spam programs are intelligent. They are programmed with standard dictionary languages and even understand last names. Therefore, if you use your last name in your email address these programs can easily find you. What these programs don't know is whether the address to which they are sending is valid. Once you reply to a spam, you have confirmed to the spammer that your email address is real and is actively in use.

Use discretion when giving out your email address while visiting other sites or registering for on-line contest prizes and other promotions. You should use the same judgment that you use when providing your home address and consider how it may be used. Finally, you need to watch out for the opt-in check boxes. These boxes are usually placed next to questions that ask if you would like to receive information from the Web page owners or their partners. By leaving the box checked, you are agreeing to receive promotional emails from the promoter and possibly other parties.

How can I prevent getting viruses?
Computer viruses are nasty and can wreak havoc on you computer. The following steps may not completely protect you from viruses, but they can significantly reduce your chances of being harmed by them:

1. Install anti-virus software on your computer.
2. Ensure you update your anti-virus software regularly. At least once a week.
3. Be very wary of email attachments. Scan attachments before opening them.
4. Do not open or preview messages which may appear suspicious.
5. Back up you essential data to a safe place separate from your hard drive.

How can I control what my kids see on the Internet?
US Message provides full access to the public world wide web. We do not restrict content or limit our users' access to Internet web sites. We regret the amount of offensive material available on the Internet. US Message urges each user to take appropriate action to limit access to this material as they see appropriate.

US Message provides the following links for your information and use. US Message does not offer technical support, endorse these companies or are we affiliated with any of the companies represented here. US Message has not reviewed these products and offers no endorsement of their quality or reliability. US Message simply provides this information as a courtesy to our members.