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Yahoo, Microsoft, Amazon.com, google and many others have created tool bar programs which can be added to internet explorer by installing a simple software package. These “toolbars” are supposed to have various functions that can help you out as well as block popup and advertising messages. However, some tools bars like amazon.com’s alexa toolbar is a mild piece of spyware that reports back to amazon.com what your surfing habits are, then blocks all pop ups other than the ones it generates itself showing you the adds or customized amazon sites suited to what you might buy.

There is no such thing as a free lunch when trying to stop pop up, a commercial ad ware remover is a good idea. Adaware Personal SE is free but has extra version which you can buy that will stop adds getting in without having to regularly scan the computer.

Certainly because these programs are prominently used by computer uses and are integrated into the windows platform, viral programmers tend to pick on these programs a bit more than other email and web browsing software. These programs are still the best for operational use, but some simple things can be done to remove you from risks of contracting a virus.

In outlook express:

* Turn off the preview plan
* Delete messages your not expecting
* Set up a spam filter such as mailwasher to filter out
*Have a commercial grade antiviral software package and KEEP IT UPDATED

In Internet explorer:
* Regularly visit Windows update website http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
* Have the windows xp firewall turned on or a third party firewall for previous versions of windows
* Clean out the Internet explorer cache regularly or install a third party program like web washer that does this for you

There are many free application programs that you can download to provide you with professional results for nicks. You can download a free office program called open office from www.openoffice.org which provides you with all the features of MS office and Sun Microsystems Software’s Star Office. The program is the open source development version of Star Office.

Outlook express is a cut down version of Outlook which specializes in accessing only email servers. Outlook is a much better tool for mail, and has many personal information management options built in such as calendar, tasks and to do lists, notes section and extensive contact management list. You can mail merge from the contact list to form postal letters or form emails. Outlook is designed to connect to the Microsoft exchange mail server used widely in SME’s and large Corporations but has the abilities connect to pop3, IMAP and HTTP mail servers. It also has the abilities to synchronize with PDA and Palm PC’s.

A listener running a business which has 5 staff and 10 computers wanted to keep the address books on all of these computers synchronized and also schedule a list of tasks between all of the staff to complete. It also needed to keep a general business card to hand out to everyone and have a diary that all the staff could add meetings and details to to.

Plaxo can do this; it installs its client into Microsoft outlook and then uploads its details to a central account on the plaxo servers. It then downloads a fresh copy of the address book, task list and new calendar appointments. Whenever, one of the computers has something added to its outlook information manager section it gets uploaded to plaxo and then as each computer comes on line it syncs with the plaxo servers. So basically, every machine then has the same information.

The best thing about plaxo is that it is a free service find out more at www.plaxo.com

People sending large photos from lan or high speed networks to dial up users and causing no end of grief.

Internet helpdesks regular receive phone calls from customers on dial up and lower bandwidth ISDN connections who are constantly complaining that they download three emails and suddenly it stops downloading and they have to try again and download the same 3 emails again. The reason for this is that outlook express sends the delete when clearing the email box after it downloads all of the emails but unfortunately when the email box has a large email and it gets interrupted the mail program starts from the beginning again.

So next time your thinking about forwarding those photos, sending that video or music file from the office LAN or ADSL think where it is going are you sending it home to your dear old parents on a dial up connection. Also understand if they are on a broadband connection they could only be on a light plan so your chewing up there download allowance.

Microsoft are giving away free copies of there service pack 2 software on CD posted to your door. Microsoft are requesting that only dial up and ISDN customers or LITE ADSL users (eg. 200mb cap users) sign up for it from there website at www.microsoft.com.

A couple of the cheap ISP or internet service providers have removed some support services from their cheaper internet plans. Basically, as an example TPG no longer offer support for setting up your email client programs. They will help you get your connection set up and send you to the website to get the information for setting up your mail program. This is OK for technically proficient people but as a majority of computer users are now in the 45+ age group and some of which are connecting to the internet for the first time this kind of support is vital for them. Also one very large ISP (Bigpond) charges 14.95 for a telephone support call if you on a very light plan of a few hours a month. Often its these light users that need the assistance because they only use it a few times a month and often that can be problem matic.The verdict I suppose is when signing up for an ISP just find out what they support and what they don’t and go with the one that will supply you with the best price and support for your needs.