There are plenty of tools you can use to search the World Wide Web for particular information. The editor of the online version of "Being Digital" has used mainly these "agents":

• Lycos
• Yahoo Search
• WebCrawler
• WEBDOGGIE, a Document Filtering System Program formerly known as WEBHOUND (... and briefly known as WEBHUNTER)

Speaking of agents, have a look at Firefly: was the Media Lab HOMR (Helpful Online Music Recommendation Service), formerly known as Ringo, on which Clifford Stoll comments in his new book Silicon Snake Oil -- Second Thoughts on the Information Highway.