This paper addresses several issues relative to Internet research and ethics in an era of information explosion and information anxiety. Situations are reviewed in which misleading or "junk" information appears in web sites--information which novice users may not be able to distinguish from valuable sources. Suggestions for proper evaluation of Internet information are then outlined. The discussion includes: (1) awareness of electronic mail hoaxes and home pages that may be nothing more than a form of vanity publishing (it is noted that a document that may have information of great value, but one which has not been through the peer review process or disseminated by the trade publishing industry is still a vanity work); (2) identification of research needs and the usefulness of information sources; (3) validation of authors by investigating information such as reputation, perspective, timeliness, and costs for material; and (4) advantages of valid Internet research, or the ability for professors to spot check sources while sitting at their computer. Some search engines, which can be dependable vehicles for verification and evaluation of sources, are described: W3 Virtual Libraries Project; Clearinghouse Project; Yahoo; Point Communications; the McKinley Internet Directory; and Gale Guide. A review of some examples of search tool evaluation is also provided. (AEF)