Online Essentials: Browsing, Searching and Communicating Safely
What the domain covers
Online Essentials covers using the web and email responsibly: browser navigation, addresses and search techniques, evaluating information, online safety and privacy, and basic email operations with attachments and contacts.
Concepts to know
Understand the parts of a URL (protocol such as https, domain name, path) and the difference between the address bar and a search box. Know common browser features: tabs, bookmarks/favourites, history, downloads and private browsing. Learn search operators and habits: choosing precise keywords, using quotation marks for an exact phrase, and refining results. Recognise indicators of a secure site (https and a padlock) and understand that these confirm an encrypted connection, not that the content is truthful. For email, know the fields (To, Cc, Bcc, Subject, body), how attachments work, and why Bcc protects recipients' addresses.
Traps
A frequent trap is treating a padlock as proof a site is genuine - it only means the connection is encrypted. Another is confusing Cc (visible copy) with Bcc (hidden copy). Questions may ask where a downloaded file goes (usually the Downloads folder) or what a browser's history records (pages visited, not passwords). Watch for phishing cues: urgent language, mismatched sender addresses, unexpected attachments.
Rule of thumb
For searching, start broad with two or three specific keywords, then narrow using quotes or added terms. For safety, never send personal or financial details in response to an unsolicited message.
Worked example
To find an exact phrase, type it inside double quotation marks, e.g. "renewable energy policy". The search engine then returns pages containing that precise wording rather than the individual words scattered anywhere.