Lesson 9

Using Online Services

• Now that you have an email address, you can begin to use all sorts of online services:
  • shopping
  • email distrubution lists
  • social networking
  • music downloads
  • online banking…
• An email address is needed so that you can be sent receipts of purchase, usernames, passwords and of course adverts (these might end up in your spam folder)
• Using online services is safe as long as you follow sensible practices and look out for security features on websites

Google Alerts

• Google Alerts are a type of email distribution list.
• Choose a topic that you would like to monitor and how often you want to monitor it.
• Google will then email you links to websites covering that topic.
• When you have had enough of that alert, you can cancel it.
• This will be a good way of learning to use your email system.

1. Click here to go to the Google Alerts website —> www.google.co.uk/alerts
2. Think of something you would like to monitor eg: a news story, a sports team, a television show, a celebrity, a hobby…
3. Fill in the Create a Google Alert box:
   
4. Decide how often you want to be alerted.
5. You will be notified that the alert has been created, but that you will need to verify it once you check your email:
   
6. Login to your email account
7. You'll probably see a (1) next to the Spam folder, indicating that you have been sent one email that has been classed as spam:
   
8. Open the Spam folder, the email will be your Google Alert notification.
   1. Check the box on the same line as the email
   2. Click on More actions and then choose Move to Inbox:
      
   3. You will be told that the sender has been added to the approved list of senders which means future alerts should go straight to your inbox and shouldn't be classified as spam:
      
9. Open your alert email:
   
   1. Print the email for your records.
   2. Click on the link to verify the alert request:
      
   3. Print out the page that is displayed.
   4. Close this window.
10. Next time you check your email you should have a new alert. If you do, print it out:
    
11. You can cancel the alert at any time.
12. Click on one of the links and print out that page too.

Shop around

• There are a lot of price comparison websites:
  • Shopping price comparisons
  • Airline price comparisons
  • Insurance price comparisons
• You have already used some shopping comparison sites when you were practicing web searches
• There's no need to pay too much for anything again!

1. Click on the web search icon at the top of this page to open Google UK
2. Search for "pet insurance" and make sure you click pages from the UK
3. Print out the search results.
4. Choose any 3 websites that will provide and online quote and compare how much it costs to insure your pet or if you don't have a pet, use this example below:
   1. Pet: Dog
   2. Breed: English Springer Spaniel
   3. Dog's name: Buster
   4. Date of Birth: 29 April 2003
   5. Male, neutered, no vet treatment in last 12 months
   6. Cost: £500
   7. Address: 145 Crookesmoor Road, Sheffield. Postcode: S6 3FP
   8. Type of insurance: Annual
5. Print out your insurance quotes.
6. On your original google search results, draw a * next to the sites you used and write down which provided the cheapest quote

Making a secure online transaction

• So, you've found the best quote for your pet insurance
• Many insurers offer discounts for applying online
• How can you be sure that your transaction will be safe and that your credit card number can't be stolen?

1. Have another look at the website where you got your quote.
2. If you were entering personal information, such as your name and address you should see 2 security features:
   1. The website address begins with https - the s stands for secure
   2. There is a padlock at the bottom of the screen (or on the address bar in IE7). This means that the connection between your computer and the website is encrypted with a code, which means that even if somebody intercepted the communication, they wouldn't be able to crack the code.

• You should always check for the https and padlock before keying in your bank details to make a purchase
• You are advised to use a credit card when shopping online as they nearly all come with on-line fraud protection and of course the money isn't instantly taken from your bank account
• If you want to use a debit card check with your bank first that you have online fraud protection.
• Don't ever use a credit/debit card on a public computer. Always use your own or a family member's.

1. Look at this website about the Tesco credit card.
2. Scroll down the page and you will find the information about Internet protection. Most credit card companies include this.
3. Look at this website about Halifax debit cards.
4. You can add an online password to prevent other people from using your card online.

• If you are a keen ebay shopper, then there are some other precautions you should take
• Check the seller's feedback before you bid. If there isn't any feedback or it is poor, do not bid on that item
• Don't send money or cheques through the post. The safest method of payment is to create a PayPal account. Add money into your PayPal account using your credit/debit card, then use PayPal to pay for the item.

1. Click here to go to the ebay UK website
2. Search for any item you like:
   
3. When you have found one, click on it for more details, look at the seller's feedback and check they accept PayPal:
   
4. Click here for an example of a seller's feedback.
5. You need to sign up for an ebay account before you can place a bid or sell an item.

More tips for safe surfing and shopping

• Only enter your card details onto a secure website (look out for the padlock symbol and web addresses beginning with https).

• It is safer to shop with a credit card. Most credit cards come with online fraud protection so that your purchases are protected if they don’t arrive or if a hacker manages to get your card details. Check with your bank if this is included with your debit card (ie switch, maestro, visa debit)

• Keep your passwords secret! To make them hard for other people to guess use a combination of letters and numbers eg 13jack07ir

• Only ever give out the minimum amount of information needed to complete your order but check you have all the details you need:
  • Price including VAT
  • Price including delivery
  • Delivery date
  • Returns policy or warranty
  • How you can contact the company in case of problems (phone number, e-mail address)

• Keep your records of the sale. Print out the confirmation page. There is usually a sales reference number.

• Only use sites you trust eg sites from stores you would shop at on the high street, or reputable online retailers eg Amazon.

• Un-check any boxes that will sign you up to junk e-mail (unless you think it will be useful).

• Make sure that your computer has a virus checker with firewall installed (as well as Windows firewall). This will stop hackers getting to your information. Here are some free ones:
  • AVG Antivirus - http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-free-anti-virus/us/frt/0
  • Avast antivirus - http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
  • PC Tools Firewall Plus - http://www.pctools.com/firewall

• Make sure you keep Windows up to date by enabling Automatic Updates.

• Watch out for phishing scams. These are e-mails or web sites that pretend to be a bank and ask you to enter your credit card details as they have ‘lost’ them. Real banks know your details – if in doubt contact your bank.

• Be wary of poorly or unprofessionally designed websites and always be careful if using ebay. Get yourself a PayPal account and never, ever send cheques or money in the post to the seller.

Summary

By now you should be confident to:

• Sign up for online services using your new email address
• Use the Internet to find the best deal on something
• Order goods or services using your credit/debit card on the Internet

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