The Internet seems to be one of the greatest wonders of the modern world. Nowadays, it is hard to find a house with no access to the Internet and every day, more and more people are discovering the amazing possibilities which it gives us.
The Internet is the biggest and the most effective provider of the variety of resources and services. It is a worldwide database of any information you may need. However, information is not the only thing you can obtain thanks to the Internet. The World Wide Web also provides you with the access to a wide range of computer programs, games or the possibility to download your favourite music or films. What is more, the Internet facilitates your contacts with other people. Not only can you easily and quickly contact them via emails but you can aslo speak to them, thanks to the Internet communications program. They have become very popular recently as they enable you to make new friends on-line. However, the paradox is that while they facilitate your communication with others, at the same time they cause the deterioration of your contacts and relationships since it is much easier to stay at home and talk to somebody on the Internet insted of going out and socializing. Moreover, on-line friendships can turn out dangerous as you can never be sure who the other person is.
In addition, the Internet is very addictive. People never notice that they spend too much time in front of the computer screen and that they use the Internet more often than they really need. Surfing on the net becomes more important than meeting with friends or going to the classess at the university and the reality they start to live in is the virual reality. Nevertheless, the Internet is not only a source of entertainment but, above all, the tool of business. Nowadays, it provides you with any service you can think of. Without leaving your home, you can do shopping, have your photos developed, book holidays or even learn foreign languages. You can also buy many second-hand but cheap and good quality things like, for example, sport or photographic equipment. However, it must be taken into consideration that the more Internet websites you enter, the more serious the risk that your computer will be hacked into and some important or classified data will be stolen. Although all financial operations carried out on-line are protected, you cannot be sure no one will obtain the user's information. The most dangerous of the crimes committed via the Internet is identity theft which financial consequences may ruin you. What is more, not only can your computer be hacked into but it can also become infected with viruses which may destroy the hard drive and you will no longer be able to access the computer.
An important advantage of the Internet is that it has become the most easily accessible and the best resource collection. It is used for the research purposes not only by the university students but also by the children from primary schools as more and more teachers give assignments requiring retrieving some information on the Web. At the same time, however, easy and unrestricted accessibility of all kinds of information provided by the Internet becomes a threat when it comes to children. It is hard to control the websites they enter, therefore they may access pornographic materials or become victims of pedophiles or other criminals.
Another important function of the Internet is its being the world's biggest news resource. Nowadays, you no longer need to buy a newspaper since you can read on-line all about the recent news. The most often accessed websites are probably those providing match results since they are updated as soon as the match ends. Another popular information searched for every day is the weather forecast. Thanks to the Internet you may check weather in any place of the world. Moreover, you can also obtain any information concerning tourist attractions or facilities in the place you want to visit during your holidays.
The Internet is undoubtedly one of the most important inventions of the last century, a proof of amazing technological progress. Its many advantages are appreciated by people of all ages and occupations. Nevertheless, it cannot be forgotten, that while the Internet offers unlimited possibilities, at the same time it poses a lot of threats. Therefore, we must take it into consideration before we let the virtual reality control our life.
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