Paul's Internet for Beginners Blog

Yes, computers have security holes. And with a little bit of knowledge, it is possible to exploit them. Here are some resources on learning how these holes work, and how you can defend against attackers. Let's just hope you use this knowledge for good... (photo by Getty Images)

There is no right or wrong time to introduce your child to the family computer. Much like deciding when to buy the first bike, or when your child can go out alone with friends, the choice will be based on your parenting style, your values and, most importantly, your child's readiness. Consider the following as you help your children learn how to use the computer...

While participating in an online discussion forum about Barack Obama, you see this weird expression "TLDR". This odd phrase appears multiple times after some long posts, but what exactly do they mean? Well, TLDR is a forum culture way of saying...

OK. You've just downloaded a "zipped" movie, or perhaps your sister has just sent you zipped photos of her new house. These "Zip" files do not automatically open on your computer. How do you make a Zip file work? Here is a beginner's introduction to Zip and Winzip file management...

If nobody has formally explained Quicktime, Real Audio, Winzip, Flash Player, and Java Virtual Machine to you, then you might find this article very helpful. Written for both beginners and intermediate Internet users, this is a quick and helpful explanation of browser "plug-in" software, the top 11 choices, and how to find and install these tools. "Yes, I would like plug-in guidance, please..."

Named after mathematician George Boole of the 1800's, 'Boolean Searching' is a way of expanding or narrowing your search results. If you're in a rush to find a hotel in Philadelphia, or perhaps you want a very specific song identified by some lyrics you heard on the radio, then Boolean Searching is very useful. Marziah Karch explains how Boolean phrases work... (photo by Rob Elliott / Getty Images)

What a juicy question that is, and interestingly enough, the answer is also juicy. "Who runs the internet" is answered differently, depending on who you ask! While the USA and the European Union claim to have jurisdictional governance over the internet, it is the USA who has the most current influence over the standards of the WWW and the net. That could be changing, however. The controversy of internet governance is far from settled... (photo by Arko Datta / Getty Images)

"Internet cache" is a large store of temporary internet files that you've viewed, and that you may return to see within the next few days. Alas, these cache files build up to many hundreds of megabytes, and can slow your machine down with time. By clearing your "cache", you not only free up hard drive space, but you also speed up your computer and web page speeds. Don Schecter shows you how to clear your cache manually and automatically in this splendid video tutorial...