By now we are all well aware of the power and proliferation of the Internet, but some of us may still be reluctant to embrace it or are unsure of how to utilize its many capabilities. Fear not: there are classes, course and forums that abound both on and offline, along with books and guides, to satisfy your desire or just plain curiosity about harnessing the power of the Net.

The Internet has become a powerful and persuasive tool through which to market and conduct business. In fact, some would argue that if you’re a business without Web presence or Internet commerce, than you are out of business, or soon will be.

With universal access and the free flow of ideas, information, images and data, the Internet is an exciting, but often hazardous world in which to navigate. Check your security status and be sure to at least some sort of anti-virus software enable on your home computer, especially if you have children, in which case also consider installing parental monitoring and security software.

Web design primarily deals with the aesthetic and overall appearance and presentation of information on a website. There is a distinction between Web design and Web development and programming, which deal with more of the functionality of a site, whereas Web design is more associated with graphic design.