Tech Skills

A URL (uniform resource locator) is the tool used to identify sites on the Internet. Web sites begin with the prefix “http://” The next set of letters refers to a server: “www” for example. The domain name follows the server and indicates who the site belongs to (“adobe”, for example), and an extension identifies a business’ site (“.com”), a school’s site (“.edu”), a nonprofit site (“.org”) and so on.

It can be. Teens who are careful only to share information that they feel safe sharing with the world and who use the site’s privacy settings to ensure that their profiles are only visible to people they know in real life, are less likely to have any unwanted attention.

Cloud computing simply refers to the storing of files or running of software that is not stored on your personal computer, but rather another computer, or server, that is connected to the internet. One way to think of it is like having a closet at home, where you store some of your belongings and a remote storage unit where you store other items. The remote storage unit is “the cloud” in this case. You can also run software on the cloud, such as using an online tax preparation tool.

Spam is the equivalent of junk mail in your physical mailbox. It can be a nuisance and it can sometimes be dangerous. Maybe it is messages from someone trying to sell you something, but it can also be malicious attempts from others to get personal information from you. Either way, you will likely want to stop seeing it altogether.

Most email software, such as Outlook, Gmail, Mac’s Mail app, and so on, provide tools to block spam. You can find controls for the spam blockers in your email’s settings. No spam blocker tool is perfect–it may still let some spam through and it also may block some messages you wanted to receive–but by adjusting the level of protection in your spam settings, you can usually manage to eliminate almost everything you do not want to see.

Billions of dollars change hands in online shopping around the world. It can be an incredible convenience. And generally speaking, if you follow some basic rules, online shopping is as safe as any other kind of shopping.

Have you ever noticed the “http” at the beginning of web addresses? On shopping sites, especially, you want to make sure that it says https, which tells you that the website has an extra layer of security, called encryption, running on it.

If you are shopping from a site or seller you have never used before, it is a good idea to look at customer reviews of that site, to make sure they have a good customer history. Make sure you are satisfied with the company’s returns policy (as you generally cannot try something on or look at it in person before you buy online).

If the site is a secure site (https) then it should also be safe to use your credit card to make payment, but it is generally not a good idea to do so on a public computer.

The answer to that question really depends on the type of job you are looking to have. Almost all jobs nowadays require some basic level of digital skills, and other jobs can be much more tech heavy and require more advanced digital skills. Even retail jobs require tech skills now, as most sales systems are computerized.

Working in an “office job” will usually require you to have an understanding of computers, the Internet, email, word processing software (like Microsoft Word or Google Docs) and possibly other software such as presentation software (like Microsoft Powerpoint and Google Presentations) or even database applications. Once you have the basics covered, many employers will happily train you on specialized software or tools that you will need to be successful.

For technology-focused jobs, you will likely need a lot more tech training, and even certain tech certifications to show that you have the skills you need. Many of those certifications can be acquired on your own with an online course, or at a local trade school or community college.

Tech certifications cover a wide range of specialties, including software development, web server management, internet equipment installation and maintenance, internet security, cloud computing, computer network management, risk management, and project management. Most tech certifications can be acquired by taking a class at a community college or local tech hub or by taking courses online.

In many cases tech certifications require other basic tech skills and knowledge prior to learning the new skill, so you may need to brush up on some digital basics before jumping into something more complicated. Indeed has a great article on some of the hottest tech certifications employers are looking for right now.