Welcome aboard! This book is your ticket to the wide, wonderful Internet Today, the Internet is as much a part of everyday life as television -- in fact, you can even watch TV on it. This book helps you get connected, shows you how to protect your family from online troublemakers, and introduces you to all the great stuff out there -- music and video, online shopping, e-mail, social sites like Facebook and LinkedIn®, games, and much more! Don't get caught -- learn what phishing, spyware, spam, viruses, worms, and pop-ups are and how to dodge them Make the connection -- hook up DSL or cable Internet, configure a modem, and activate security software Seek and find -- locate almost anything by using Googleor Bing, browse directories, find people, and get facts from Wikipedia Just hangin' out -- keep in touch via e-mail, instant messaging, and chat features Here I am -- share your thoughts on a blog, post a video on YouTube®, or join the Twitter flock New ways to browse -- check out the newest features of Internet Explorer®, Firefox®, and Google Chrome Media magic -- discover iTunes®, Internet radio, online movies, hulu.com, podcasts, and more Enlarge your horizons -- explore virtual worlds and play games against competitors from around the globe Open the book and find: Steps for choosing the best Internet service provider What a router is and when you need one Tips for Web browsing with Internet Explorer and Firefox Advice on reducing junk e-mail Help with banking, shopping and paying bills online safely Places to share your digital photos How to find old friends on Facebook and other social sites Where the cool online music and videos hang out Learn to: Get connected to the Internet and share your connection with your other computers Get social with Facebook® and Twitter® Manage e-mail, connect with friends, and discover new Web sites Deal with spam, spyware, and other online pitfalls.