A browser opens websites. A search engine helps you find pages that may answer a question. Understanding that distinction makes it easier to see where information comes from and where a link is about to take you.
Search for a specific need
Use words that describe the task, and add the type of device if it matters. Read the result title and the site address. A prominent position or polished design does not establish that a page is accurate or appropriate for your needs.
Check the destination
Look carefully at the spelling of a website address before entering account information. An encrypted connection alone does not prove that a business or message is trustworthy. For an unexpected account alert, open the service through a route you already know.
Protect your private details
Keep passwords and verification codes to yourself. Be cautious when a message creates urgency or asks you to move to an unfamiliar contact channel. You can stop and verify independently before continuing with a request.
Try this yourself
Compare two explanations of a familiar topic and identify who published each one.
Check your understanding
What makes one explanation more useful or better supported than the other?