Retirement Learning at Vanderbilt
Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Searching the Web: Basic Search Tips
& Advice on Safe use of Internet Resources

Marshall Breeding, Director for Innovative Technologies and Research

Search Engines:

Google: http://www.google.com. The largest and most popular search engine. Best technology, fastest response and cleanest look. Includes a number of search options and features:

• Standard simple search
• Advanced Search
• Image search
• Directory

Other good search engines include:

Yahoo: http://www.yahoo.com
Windows Live: http://www.live.com/

Search Tips:

Entering one word into a search engine often results in an overwhelming number of results. Use combinations of words to obtain better results.

Special operators can help:

• Use the - (minus sign) to indicate words that should not appear. Example vanderbilt -university
• Enclose a phrase in quotation marks. Example "family history"
• Use OR to indicate that either word can appear: Example: cats OR dogs
• Use truncation to search by word stems. Example senat* retrieves senate and senator.

Be aware that search results can be skewed by advertising. Some search engines return items to the top of the list based on payments made by advertisers. All search engines rely on advertising. Good search engines clearly mark paid links.

Security and Privacy:

Shopping online is convenient and safe, provided that you follow basic precautions. In many ways, using credit cards online is safer than using them in person.

Using credit cards online:

• Never enter your credit card number unless you see the closed padlock on the bottom status area of your Web browser indicating that your connection is secure.
• If the padlock is open others might be able to intercept your credit card number.
• Limit your vulnerability: Avoid using a debit card associated with your checking account; Use cards with low credit limits; Limit the number of credit cards you use online.
• Use brand-name sites over obscure ones.

Tips for avoiding unsolicited e-mail (spam) . Risk factors include: placing your e-mail address on a Web page; posting messages to a public discussion list that is archived on the Web; providing your e-mail address in product registration forms or online surveys. Many products require online registration. Provide only the minimum information required; avoid demographic and marketing sections--they are almost always optional.

Tips for avoiding online identity theft. Take great care with your identification numbers: Social Security Number, employee identification number, credit card numbers, bank account. Never provide these numbers in any transaction that you did not initiate. Be wary of any e-mail that asks you to provide a number for verification purposes. See: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/index.html for more detailed information.

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