Just establishing who s doing the publishing helps you evaluate the accuracy of information. Simple software tools allow anyone to copy logos and text from any Web site. So, another means of establishing identity is to see who owns a particular Web site. One way to do this is look up the domain name at Network Solutions, one of the main registrars of domain names. There should be a telephone number and street address for an administrative contact for the site you re looking at.
Content is important too.
The more controversial the subject, the more likely there will be Web sites lying. Billy Bob s Farm Pets and White Supremacy Company is not likely to be a good site for African-American history. Anything commercial and unsolicited is suspect. Any e-mail giving stock advice should be forwarded directly to the SEC and then removed from your computer. Any subject that contains one or more dollar signs is a sure lie.