OnGuardOnline.gov provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.
Understanding Your Computer: Web Browsers
This tip brought to you by the Department of Homeland Security & US-CERT
Web browsers allow you to navigate the internet. There are a variety of options available, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
How do web browsers work?
A web browser is an application that finds and displays web pages. It coordinates communication between your computer and the web server where a particular web site "lives."
When you open your browser and type in a web address (URL) for a web site, the browser contacts that server, requests the web page you asked for, and displays the page on your computer. The browser translates the code (written in a language such as HTML or XML) for the different elements of the page (text, images, sounds) into the appropriate format and displays the resulting page.
How many browsers are there?
There are many different browsers. Most users are familiar with graphical browsers, which display both text and graphics and may also display multimedia elements such as sound or video clips. However, there are also text-based browsers. The following are some well-known browsers:
- Internet Explorer
- Mozilla
- Firefox
- AOL
- Opera
- Safari — a browser specifically designed for Macintosh computers
- Lynx — a text-based browser desirable for vision-impaired users because of the availability of special devices that read the text
How do you choose a browser?
A browser is usually included with the installation of your operating system, but you are not restricted to that choice. Some of the factors to consider when deciding which browser best suits your needs include
- compatibility — Does the browser work with your operating system?
- security — Do you feel that your browser offers you the level of security you want?
- ease of use — Are the menus and options easy to understand and use?
- functionality — Does the browser interpret web content correctly? If you need to install other plug-ins or devices to translate certain types of content, do they work?
- appeal — Do you find the interface and way the browser interprets web content visually appealing?
Can you have more than one browser installed at the same time?
If you decide to change your browser or add another one, you don't have to uninstall the browser that's currently on your computer — you can have more than one browser on your computer at once. However, you will be prompted to choose one as your default browser. Anytime you follow a link in an email message or document, or you double-click a shortcut to a web page on your desktop, the page will open using your default browser. You can manually open the page in another browser.
Most vendors give you the option to download their browsers directly from their web sites. Make sure to verify the authenticity of the site before downloading any files, and follow other good security practices, like keeping anti-virus software up to date, to further minimize risk.
Author: Mindi McDowell
Produced 2004 by US-CERT, a government organization. You are permitted to reproduce and distribute the US-CERT Tips in whole or in part, without changing the text you use, provided that you include the copyright statement or "produced by" statement and use the document for noncommercial or internal purposes. For commercial use or translations, send your email request to webmaster@us-cert.gov.
