How to Get the Most Out of Your Broadband Package

A fast broadband connection helps you get the most out of the internet, but there are so many things you can do with it that it's sometimes hard to know where to start. You've probably heard of sites like Facebook or Wikipedia, or terms like social networking or streaming video, but what do they mean, and how do you get involved? Perhaps most importantly, is there anything you shouldn't do?

If you're reading this, you're probably already familiar with web pages, but there's no end to what they can be used for. Once you're online, you can use the web to manage your bank account, mortgage, energy bills and so-on, and you may even get a discount for doing so. Visit your current suppliers' websites to find out more.

You can also use the web to research a big purchase or hunt down a bargain price. If you're in the market for a credit card, for example, you can visit a site such as MoneySavingExpert for advice, or to exchange experiences with other people in the community. Because you can visit auction sites like eBay and stores anywhere in the world, there's almost no limit to what you can buy online - just be careful to look for the padlock symbol in your browser before you hand over your credit card details : if you don't see it, don't shop.

Of course, with a fast broadband internet connection you can do more than just look at web pages. Music lovers can stream internet radio from anywhere in the world, buy and download tracks from stores like iTunes or Napster, or track down new music perfectly tuned to their taste through a site like LastFM. If video's more your thing, try the BBC's iPlayer service, or look on YouTube for user-contributed efforts. For photo enthusiasts, sites like Flickr let you share your own photos and discuss other people's. Finally, social networks like Facebook, MySpace or Saga Zone (for the over-50s) let you link up with existing friends and find new ones.

Dos and Don'ts

Every culture has its own social norms, and the internet is no exception. Its dos and don'ts shouldn't stop you getting the most out of it, but before you jump in you should understand that the internet is public, and much of it is permanent. Emails you send, comments you leave, web pages that you design and photos that you distribute could all be copied or stored indefinitely: it's worth being a little careful what you say and do.

Most importantly, remember that you might 'meet' people who aren't who they say they are. Just as you'd want to see identification from a meter reader or somebody who wanted to come into your home, you should be sure of who you're talking to online. Never, ever reveal your bank details in an email, and never enter them on any website other than your bank's. In particular, look out for so-called phishing attempts: no reputable bank or online store will ever ask you to supply or confirm your login details via email.

Etiquette

It's easy to understand that someone's joking when you can see a mischievous glint in their eye, but you can't spot a grin from text on a screen. Fortunately, there are a few widely-used tricks and conventions to help avoid online misunderstandings.

You might have seen 'smileys', sometimes called 'emoticons', in text messages on a mobile phone, and these are often used online to hint at the meaning behind a message. Most are a collection of three symbols that, when you tilt your head to the left, look like a face. The most commonly used ones are :-) for happy, and :-( for sad, but you can see a longer list on the online encyclopedia Wikipedia.

Many people write quickly on the internet, so spelling mistakes and poor punctuation are common. There are at least two light-hearted online dialects - leet speak and LOLspeak - that deliberately play on this. How you choose to write is up to you, but one thing to avoid is TYPING EVERY WORD IN CAPITALS - It looks like shouting.

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