Seven Things Your Web Browser Can Do That You Didn't Know About
Not everyone is technology savvy, and living in this digital age we have so many new apps and techniques to learn it could be very distracting. But knowing something as simple as your Web browser and its attributes could help you to get ahead.
There are seven attributes for the Web browser that some of you might know -- so it could be a refresher, and for others this is brand new territory. This is for all of you specific computer users.
1. Choosing your Homepage:
If you use Internet Explorer, then it is MSN's website. Google Chrome loads up as the Google Page. Firefox has its very own start page. And, there is Safari for Apple.
For Internet Explorer, one must click the icon that looks like a gear on the right, and then select Internet Options. Then go to the General Tab and, under the "Home Page" button, enter the Web address that you want to see once the browser boots up.
In Google Chrome, you should press the icon on the right that has three horizontal bars. Then choose Settings. In the left column, choose Settings and then view under "On Startup." Then set it "Open a specific page or set of pages." After that, click the "Set Pages" link. You can type in one or more Web addresses, and then press OK.
For Firefox, please click the icon on the right with the three horizontal bars, and then choose Options. On the General tab, set "When Firefox starts" and change to "Show my homepage." Now under that, type the address you want for your home page, and then click OK.
In Safari for Apple, one needs to go to Safari and click "Preferences." On the General tab, go to the "Homepage" and type in an address. Another way is bookmark your favorite sites.
2. Pin Tabs:
This is mainly used for Chrome and Firefox users. It has been determined that by pinning, one can have access to his or her favorite sites all day long. All you have to do is go to the site, right click on the browser tab and choose "Pin Tab." It will appear again once you even restart the browser. To unpin a tab, go backwards: right click and choose "Unpin Tab."
3. Middle-click to Open Tabs:
This can work. With the mouse that has a scroll wheel, it can act as a middle mouse button. In using the wheel (middle mouse button), you can click on any Web link with that button and it opens the said link in a new browser tab.
4. Zooming Text:
Sometimes when you visit a page with small text it can be annoying. In order to increase the size of the text and images in any browser, simply press CTRL and the plus sign at the same time. If it is too big, then press CTRL and the minus sign at the same time. To put it back the way it was, simply press CTRL and the zero key.
If you really want to show off, press the CTRL key and spin the mouse's scroll wheel. It will zoom in and out.
5. Browsing Privately:
This is where it gets a little tricky and very private. If you do not want your friends to see what you are looking at, or just want to keep your neighbor at the local coffee shop from snooping, this is for you. For all browsers, except Chrome and Mac, you should click CTRL+SHIFT+P.
For Chrome, you should press CTRL+SHIFT+N. On a Mac you can press CTRL+OPTION+P. Or you can press OPTION+SHIFT+N.
You are now in a separate private browsing window.
6. To Update Your Web Browser:
Out of date browsers are deadly. They could have unfixed security flaws that could allow some hackers to take over your computer. Your browser should always be up to date. (Click here to find out if your web browser is up to date.)
7. Use Your Web Browser to Check Your Online Accounts and Passwords:
Your browser has a built in memory that helps you to track your history. This is helpful when you want to look at your old accounts and passwords.
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