Archives for the 'Blog' Category

Social Networking – How to get started

September 17th, 2009 by Webmaster in Blog | 2 Comments

Social media allows users to interact with each other and discuss shared interests. Popular social media sites include: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, MySpace, Wikipedia, Digg, Delicious, Friend Feed, Flickr, Ning, Skype, Stumbleupon and many more. However, the three most popular sites include Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn which is what we will discuss this month.

If you are not currently on these sites, try one for a week. You may be surprised with who you find: competitors, vendors, news sources, your dry cleaner, even your elementary teacher. You will certainly notice the number of businesses that not only have accounts but also are advertising on the sites. Here are some tips to help you establishing yourself online:

Experience Social Media – If you are not already established, visit these sites and choose a user name for you or your business. Start connecting with friends, family, and neighbors. Also start connecting with clients, vendors, news outlets, and leaders in your industry.

Find your Audience – You know all of that money you spend trying to reach your audience with television, radio, newspaper, and even search engines? Your audience is already using social media – you just have to find them. Use the search function on the site and type in your ideal buyer keywords. You will find groups dedicated to your industry, hobby, neighborhood, and even your pet.

Create a Social Media Plan – Identify the goals of your social media strategy. Do you want to increase your customer base? Offer advice? Increase sales? Increase website traffic? Find your high school sweetheart? Whatever your goals, write them down and create a plan of action to achieve them. Plan how you will measure the success of the strategy.

Measure Your Results – One of the key benefits of social media is how easy it is to measure. Measure the number of followers each week using a simple spreadsheet. You can also measure how many times your company is mentioned, linked, or your content is redistributed.

Once you’re there, look for Computer Troubleshooters on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. We look forward to interacting with you online.
Facebook – ‘No Computer Problems’ and ‘Technology Solved’
Twitter – @NoCompProblems and @TechSolved
LinkedIn – Computer Troubleshooters Company

Email Marketing made easy

September 17th, 2009 by Webmaster in Blog | No Comments

Most business owners would agree that it’s easier to provide more solutions to an existing client than it is to find new customers. Repeat business comes from providing quality and value, but also from keeping in touch with your clients, reminding them of your services and promoting things you think they can benefit from. Email marketing is an easy and effective way to remain at the top of a customer’s mind for that next transaction, as long as your email marketing messages are appropriate and effective. Although it may seem difficult for a small business to manage an ongoing email marketing campaign, there are many simple and effective tools designed to make this easy and affordable. This month we highlight what to look for in an email marketing tool.

List management – If you already have permission to use your customer’s email addresses and you’ve been storing these in a database, spreadsheet or email program, you’ll want to be able to import this information easily. Also look for easy sign-up methods that integrate with your website but also allow you to manually add extra subscribers. List groups are a great feature too, allowing you to segregate your subscriber list so you can deliver content targeted to that particular segment of your customer base.

Templates – You want to deliver emails that look professional, but don’t require a professional developer to create HTML code changes every time you want to send something. Look for a tool with a broad range of templates that are easy to modify and re-use.

Measurable results – By reviewing statistical information about your email campaigns, you’ll be able to fine-tune your messages and identify what is working and what isn’t. Look for the ability to report on things like how many of your emails were opened and how many people clicked on links to find out more information.

Approved bulk mailer – Internet providers and anti-spam services identify sources of large volumes of emails and can ‘blacklist’ them to prevent a spam onslaught. Look for an email marketing tool provider who is known as an ‘approved bulk mailer’ and is accepted by many ISPs and anti-spam services.

Anti-spam law compliant – As many countries develop regulations to try and limit unsolicited email, make sure your email marketing tool is compliant with any local laws. These may include having to list a physical address in your emails and having to process unsubscribe requests within 10 days. Other anti-spam features are also desirable, such as ‘opt-in’ confirmation emails and a one-click unsubscribe process.

Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about the right email marketing tool, so your business can easily take advantage of the sales potential in your own current client base.

Anti-virus Sofware – what's the best ?

September 17th, 2009 by Webmaster in Blog | No Comments

We often get asked “what’s the best anti-virus software?” however that’s like asking a group of people what the best car is. Raise the subject of anti-virus software with a group of computer experts and you will get many different opinions. Here are some things to consider when selecting security software for your computer:

Retail box or download – Many good software products are not sold in retail chain stores but are available for secure purchase and download from the internet. This sometimes makes it harder to ask questions about the product, but remember that the retail sales person has a vested interest in recommending the product that they stock. Just because a large chain store stocks the software doesn’t mean it’s the best software for your needs.

Impact on PC performance – This can be a tough area to gauge just by looking at the software description. Check out the ‘Minimum System Requirements’ to see which software needs more resources (e.g. memory). Also, consider installing a time-limited trial version of the software (if available) to test it for yourself before parting with your money.

Updates & upgrades – All anti-virus software should entitle you to download the latest information (updates) about any new viruses for free, for the duration of your license subscription. Some software products also entitle you to upgrade for free if a newer version of the software is released, whilst others make you pay an upgrade fee.

Price – Software licensing comes in many different configurations, so make sure you are comparing the same kind of software license when you are comparing prices. Factors that influence the price include how long your subscription is for (allowing you to download those free anti-virus information updates), how many PCs can use the one license and whether the software is being installed in a student/academic environment, home, business or not-for-profit entity.

Management – If you run a business with more than one PC, a ‘network edition’ may be right for you. This allows the updates to be downloaded by one of your computers and distributed to the rest of them, instead of each PC downloading the update. It also provides an overall view of whether the software is working on each PC and if any infections have been found. These features reduce the time (and cost) it takes to manage your anti-virus software across multiple computers.

Additional features – Many anti-virus software vendors now also produce ‘security suites’, which include firewalls and protection against spyware, malware and spam. It may be more cost effective and resource effective to run one product to handle all of these security aspects.

Trusted recommendation – There are many independent testing laboratories and software review websites that publish the results of their anti-virus software comparisons.

Your local Computer Troubleshooter also deals with a significant number of computers every year and will have developed a preference for the software they believe does the best job with the least amount of problems. Find out what software your CTer recommends – chances are they know it well and use it in their own business.

Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about the best anti-virus solution for your specific requirements.

What is a virtual Server?

September 17th, 2009 by Webmaster in Blog | No Comments

Did you know that you can have all of the business benefits of a server, without physically owning a server? These benefits include a common storage location for shared information, email and calendaring features and remote access, to name a few. However servers are often thought of as an expensive initial purchase, requiring ongoing maintenance and future upgrades. If your business is seasonal you may find that your technology needs also peak and drop with demand, yet you have to allow for those peak demand times.

In most cases, a server is not running at its full capacity 100% of the time. Technology companies are taking advantage of this fact by letting businesses share servers. This is now made possible by a couple of key factors: ‘virtualisation’ of software (which enables multiple software systems to run on one physical box) and high-speed internet access. ‘Farms’ of high performing servers can be created that you can access when you need them … and only pay for that access when you need it.

Servers are located in specialised ‘data centres’ which are designed to house multiple computer systems. The location of the centre is irrelevant, as you access it via your high speed internet connection. The term ‘cloud computing’ has been coined, referring to the fact that in a computer network diagram, the internet is represented as a cloud shape. This kind of ‘on demand’ access has also given rise to terms like ‘Software as a Service’. This refers to your ability to pay for accessing software during the time period that you need it, for the number of staff you need it for at that time – instead of needing to purchase a license outright.

This centralised storage and processing capability is great if you have multiple locations that need to easily share information (e.g. use the same database), without you needing to build your own server infrastructure. If you grow your operations, you’re not faced with having to add additional server hardware. Your ‘server’ also benefits from the data centre’s other features such as power redundancy, backup and recovery strategy and systems monitoring and management. Often this underlying management is included as part of your access fee.

The downside to not having your server at your location is that your internet connection becomes critical, as it’s your only access link to your information. Consider channelling some of your cost savings towards paying for a business-grade and some redundancy (such as a second internet line or backup cellular internet access).

Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter to see if your business would benefit from having its server in the cloud.

Why you need a Firewall

September 17th, 2009 by Webmaster in Blog | No Comments

Did you know that when your computer is connected to the internet, it has over 131,000 ‘ports’ that a hacker could connect to? These ports are like doors in a building and if they aren’t protected properly, then someone could sneak in without you noticing. If the hacker is not installing a virus, they can still do some serious damage without alerting your security software, including transmitting your personal information. So how do you watch all of these doorways to your information? You need a firewall!

In construction terms, a firewall is a fire-resistant wall that subdivides a building to stop the spread of fire from one area to another. In computer terms, we need to stop communications between your computer and others on the internet. A total block of all internet communication would be useless though, so you need a way of selecting which type of communications you want to receive. For this, computer firewalls have rules and filters much like construction firewalls have access doors.

Where do I put this firewall?
Firewalls can be on a hardware box (a separate unit or part of your internet modem or router) or can be software installed on your computer. Most popular security software packages also include a firewall. A hardware firewall is great for providing a barrier before your computer is even reached and will also mean that your computer doesn’t have to spend its precious resources on running the firewall software. It also reduces the risk of the firewall itself being compromised, as some viruses can try and disable security software features that are running on your computer. The downside is that a hardware-based firewall can be more expensive and not as easy to configure and maintain if you are unsure of how to use them.
If Microsoft gives me a firewall, do I need another one?
The Windows Firewall (on Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Vista) only examines inbound communications coming into your computer from the internet. If your computer becomes infected (e.g. if you install some free software that turns out to have a hidden nasty) then your outbound communication to other computers on the internet won’t be examined or filtered. This can turn your computer into a source of infection, impacting your security and internet connection. It’s also not recommended that you run more than one software firewall as this uses more processing power and can cause conflicts, so if your security software includes a firewall, turn off the Windows Firewall.
If I have a secure wireless connection do l need a firewall?
A wireless connection is another way to get onto the internet and wireless security controls who can use that connection. This is similar to allowing who can plug into your phone line. Once you are connected, your 131,000+ ports are still open to hackers, so you still need a firewall. A firewall may be included on your wireless router but it pays to check.
Why does it keep on giving me messages?
If you are doing something specific (like installing new software or troubleshooting a connection problem) you may need to temporarily disable your firewall. Software firewalls may alert you that a connection has been attempted and blocked and may ask if you wish to allow that kind of connection in the future. In general, if you are doing something new which would probably involve a connection to the internet, you can allow the connection – either ‘this time only’ or for all future connection attempts. If in doubt, block it, as you can always allow it later if you find that it is needed.

Firewalls provide an enhanced level of security that has now become the minimum standard to protect your computer. They do require a certain level of knowledge or a great computer support person, so talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter to ensure that you are protected.

New Year – New Computer Problems

September 17th, 2009 by Webmaster in Blog | No Comments

This month we continue our advice on technology’s little hassles, with a few more areas that can be easily and inexpensively solved.

Starting from scratch? If you have a document, spreadsheet or presentation to create, see if the topic is used by other businesses too. An online search or a visit to the Microsoft website may uncover a template that you can apply to your situation. Common examples include budget templates, sales presentations and employment forms.

How paperless is your office? Consider these alternatives to printing and posting:

·    A fax card can be inexpensively installed into your computer, connecting to your phone line and allowing you to send documents directly to a fax machine without printing them first. Another option is online fax services, which allow you to upload your faxes to a website to be sent. For documents that need a signature, consider scanning a copy of your signature, which can then be added like a picture to your document before faxing.

·    Email is also a great alternative to regular postal mail. Your financial software may even allow you to email invoices directly from it. It you are concerned about document details being changed, you can find free software to ‘print’ your documents electronically into an unchangeable Adobe Acrobat PDF format. This is widely used by airlines for sending flight details and receipts via email.

Morning slowness? If you have time to finish your coffee whilst your computer starts, there could be some easy tweaks which will improve its performance. Review the items in your ‘Startup’ group of programs and look at the icons in your ‘system tray’ by your computer’s clock, to see if you really do need everything to start up at once. Also, check and see if your anti-virus software is set to perform a scan each morning, perhaps changing the schedule to during your lunch break instead. If computer slowness is a constant problem, then a software tune-up or additional memory could improve the performance for less than the cost of a new computer.

Lost your internet connection? Intermittent internet connection faults are very frustrating and can be caused by any number of things between your internet provider and your computer. Keep a log of any drop-outs and call your internet provider to check if there is a fault on your cable or phone line (especially for ADSL). Ensure that all of your telephones and faxes have ADSL filters. And, if you also have wireless access to your internet that is provided by another ‘box’, follow this method to get things up and running again after a drop out: 1) Power off your internet modem and your wireless router. 2) Power on your internet modem. 3) Wait for the ADSL light to be solid (approx. 40 seconds). 4) Power on your wireless router.

Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about any other little problems – they may be easy and inexpensive to solve!

Cyber-bullying

September 17th, 2009 by Webmaster in Blog | No Comments

School-aged children quickly learn to make friends, display preferences and establish their own social circles. This interaction used to take place in person, via notes or letters, or via the home telephone. Affordable technology has now provided our children with new methods of communicating, including ‘online’ via various methods on the internet and also through personal cellphone text messages.

Unfortunately, those communication channels can also be used as a channel for harassment or bullying, bringing this childhood threat out from the school playground and into our homes.

Cyber-bullying can range from unwanted negative remarks to threats and disclosure of personal information and can include:

· repeatedly making fun of another person on internet websites;

· repeatedly picking on another person through emails, text messages or instant messages;

· using internet forums and postings messages online intended to harm, damage, humiliate or isolate another person that they don’t like

· posting unflattering photos of someone on a website to embarrass them.

Tips for children:

· Just like in real life, there is a difference between what is right and what is wrong on the internet.   If something doesn’t feel right, tell someone that you trust.

· Never give out your real information on the internet (especially your name, school etc) or tell anyone your passwords.

· Create a free email address (like Gmail or Hotmail) and use that for internet websites. If someone uses it to harass you, it’s easy to just delete that address.

· On sites like Facebook and MySpace, keep your profile private.

· Refuse to support cyberbullying – don’t pass on hurtful messages and tell your friends to stop. Treat people with respect, like you want to be treated.

Tips for parents:

· For younger children, keep the computer in a common area where you can watch them.

· Talk to your children about what they are doing online. Learn about the technology that they are using like instant messaging and social websites.

· Tell your children that bullying is not right and it’s not their fault. Encourage them to tell you about anything that is bothering them and reassure them that they won’t be in trouble with you.

More resources:

Cyber-bullying is a popular topic, with many groups, governments and schools providing information through various websites. Here are a few examples:

www.stopcyberbullying.org www.cyberbullying.org www.cyberbully411.org http://www.microsoft.com/protect/family/activities/social.mspx

Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about how you can protect your family online.

The Ten Technology Basics

September 17th, 2009 by Webmaster in Blog | No Comments

Technology is always changing and evolving, but most businesses can’t afford to keep pace with the latest trends. Instead, focus on laying a solid foundation for your business technology, with a plan and a budget for ongoing support, maintenance and replacement. It’s just as important to get the technology basics right as it is to have a strong financial or marketing plan. This month we touch on the ten technology basics that should be in place in your business.

1. Hardware & Software – The most obvious technology components. To reduce problems, ensure that your hardware isn’t too old and always use legally licensed software.

2. Power protection – Often neglected, power protection equipment is an essential investment for protecting your more expensive technology assets from power-related damage.
3. File sharing – Whether using a shared storage device on your network, a ‘hosted’ solution or your own server, save yourself from the tiring and unproductive task of emailing documents around your own team.
4. Backups – Ensure they are functioning, checked daily, tested weekly and stored securely at another location. It’s not enough to ‘think’ that they are working and that ‘someone’ is looking after them.
5. Internet access – Balance your monthly fee budget with a connection that is reliable and gives you enough speed and data allowance to enable your staff to work effectively.
6. Domain name – The cost is negligible to show people you are serious about your business and you are not just operating with a free email service. Build your internet presence on this and tap into a great source of new customers.
7. Security – Though network ‘firewalls’ and ‘anti-malware’ software security measures are now considered essential, don’t neglect the physical security of your computers. Is your server easy to grab during a break-in through your front door?
8. Passwords – Commonly avoided in small business as you trust the people you work with, secure, complex passwords are needed in your defense against hacking attempts and physical theft.
9. Plans & Policies – Technology needs to be managed like any area of your business, not just taken for granted and acted on in an emergency. Your plans should include budgeting for replacing aging hardware, business continuity processes in case of technology failure, and disaster recovery processes. Policies for staff covering acceptable usage and computer security are also easier implemented before they are needed.
10. Trusted I.T. advisor – Develop a relationship with a technology expert who is willing to learn about your business. Then you’ll get the best possible support and solutions that fit your current needs and future plans.
Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about the next steps for reinforcing your strong technology foundation.

IT TAX TIPS

September 17th, 2009 by Webmaster in Blog | No Comments

As the end of the Financial Year approaches we are often thinking of ways of ensuring our business is tax effective, so now is the time to start planning. Here are 6 Tips for IT from Computer Troubleshooters you might consider with advice from your tax advisor:

1 Small Business & General Business Tax Break

For Small Businesses turning over less than $2 million a year, new tangible equipment investments of more than $1,000 are eligible for the tax rebate. Under the government’s plan businesses will be able to claim a bonus deduction of 30% for new eligible depreciable assets .The deduction is on top of the usual capital allowance deduction (i.e. depreciation).

To be eligible for the investment allowance, businesses must

* acquire or start to hold the equipment under a contract entered into between December 13 2008 and the end of June 2009 and

* have it installed ready for use by the end of June 2010, the deduction will be in the income year when first used or installed ready for use.

It is an ideal time to upgrade hardware & networks as you get the 30% as an upfront rebate plus you get the normal depreciation benefits over time. If you embark on the full network upgrade project the full installation and configuration cost of the project can be capitalized and included in total project costs. However, new software costs are not eligible for the 30% Tax Break Deduction.

Example – A Small Business buys & installs a $5,000 computer before the end of June 2009 can claim an additional $1,500 deduction (ie, 30%) in its 2008/09 tax return.

2 Prepayment of IT Services

For Small Businesses turning over less than $2 million a year prepayment of the following years IT services is a great way of tax effectively managing your future IT costs and having a complex area of your business effectively outsourced to an expert.

A prepayment is not apportioned but allowed in full as a deduction in the year the year in which it is incurred if all services in respect of the prepayment are provided with 13 months of incurring the expenditure.

Your Computer Troubleshooter can provide prepayment of IT services using either a Managed Services Contract or a Block Time Services Agreement.

*  A Managed services Contract has a defined service level and a monthly management component. This allows your network to be proactively managed & serviced like an outsourced IT department.

*  A Block Time Services Agreement is an agreement to provide a specific number of hours of services at an agreed rate. This is a responsive contract where you use your Computer Troubleshooter as your service provider on a pay for service basis over the year. Generally this must be expended within the 12 month period.

Example – A Small Business decides to contract Computer Troubleshooters for it’s 2009/2010 IT outsourcing contract for $500 a month. The $6,000 contract covering 12 months is signed and paid prior to end of June 2009. The business can claim the $6,000 deduction in its 2008/09 tax return.

3 Depreciation

The depreciation rate on IT equipment is quite high due to their low expected life compared to many other depreciable assets. For depreciating IT assets over $1,000 the effective life is 4 years and 3 years for laptop computers. Small Businesses in many cases can claim an immediate deduction for a depreciating IT asset costing less than $1,000.

So while equipment may last beyond this point you may no longer have depreciation tax benefits.

So you if upgraded your IT equipment you could be experiencing the benefits of the latest technology tax effectively with a lower downtime risk and better running costs.

Example – A Small Business has a fully depreciated server which is five years old and expensive to maintain with a high risk of failure. It replaces the Server with a new one purchased & installed for $5,000 qualifying for the 30% Tax Incentive (see Tip1) & depreciates the equipment on an ongoing basis. Effectively gaining the $1,500 (30%) rebate, plus depreciating the $5,000 over the life of the asset, moving some expenses from cash to non-cash, and reducing business continuity risk.

4 Education Tax Refund

The Federal Government recently announced the proposed introduction of an education rebate for primary and secondary students. Under the proposal, eligible tax payers will be able to claim 50% for costs up to $750 for primary school students (i.e. a rebate of up to $375), and 50% for costs up to $1,500 for secondary school students (i.e. a rebate of up to $750).

*  To be eligible, the taxpayer must receive Family Tax Benefit (‘FTB’) Part ‘A’ or the child receives certain payments or allowances such as Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY or Disability Support Pension

Computer equipment and computer running costs (such as internet service provider fees, laptops, home computers, printers, toner, and stationery) used by students can be claimed. Make sure you keep receipts and tax invoice for inclusion for the claim.

Example – A family receives Family Tax Benefit Part ‘A” and have 2 children in school one in primary, the other in secondary. They purchase a $2,000 home computer for use by the children and pay $60 a month for ADSL. Total spending of $2,720 on IT for the students is incurred before end of June 2009. In their 2008/09 tax return they claim $750 for the primary student & $1,500 for the secondary student. This equates to a rebate of $375 plus $750, so the rebate of $1,125 will be included in their 2008/09 tax return.

5 Home Computer Services

If have used Computer Troubleshooters for servicing a computer that has been used for deriving income or managing tax affairs a proportion of the amount may be claimed for deduction for tax purposes.

IT costs such internet access, printer consumables (toner & paper), depreciation, and computer security subscriptions maybe proportionally deductible in the same circumstance.

Like all personal tax deductions you would need to provide proof of the expense and verify the proportion of the cost that is deductible.

Example – A home user who uses their home computer for managing their tax & financial affairs has previously verified with their tax consultant that 30% of the costs associated with the computer are tax deductable. The home user has used Computer Troubleshooters during the year and spent $300 in repairing the computer and has a tax invoice & receipt. The owner can include the $300 in their computer running expenses & gain a $90 deduction of the costs (30%) in their 2008/09 tax return.

6 Get Tax Advice & Make a Plan

Often we wait until the end of the financial year to think about tax. This year why not be proactive and plan your tax outcomes in advance. With specific Federal Government programs available that must be committed before July 1 it is an imperative that to take full advantage you begin to plan now.

Why not take advantage of tax incentives and ensure your IT is up to speed.

Talk to your tax advisor and your Computer Troubleshoooters to find a tax effective IT plan for your circumstances.

Example – A Small Business turning over less than $2 million a year decides to develop an IT plan with it’s tax advisor, they determine to bring forward a planned $10,000 total network upgrade and appoint Computer Troubleshooters as their outsourced IT department for next year for $6,000. The business gains the $3,000 rebate plus is able to reduce the 2008/09 tax liability by $6,000 by prepaying the managed services contract for 2009/10. Giving the business a financial boost for the 2008/09, but also having upgraded the IT infrastructure and outsourced the IT management they have reduced business continuity uncertainty and improved efficiency.

For more information talk to your local Computer Troubleshooters – your Trusted IT Advisor

All advice contained in this communication is of a general nature and should not be relied on as a reliable source for Tax advice. The IT Tax Tips contained in this document were regarded as correct at the time of writing, changes to legislation or proposed legislation may alter these Tips. We recommend you contact the Australia Tax Office or a Certified Tax Consultant for advice for your personal or business situation.

Email Virus or Season Greeting?

September 17th, 2008 by Webmaster in Blog | No Comments

If an email arrives in your inbox, claiming to be an electronic greeting card from a friend or family member, would you automatically open it? New research by global internet security company AVG Technologies found that 74 per cent of the people polled said they would automatically open the email.


Criminals misuse our trust in familiar names. They send their security threats with false ‘from’ addresses to get us to think the information has come from a trusted source. Reputable companies are also not immune, with one reported case of emails being sent in the name of the Deputy Director of the USA’s FBI department.


If your computer is up to date with functioning security software, do you need to be concerned? Well, just like you need good driving skills in a car that has many safety features, good email habits can also help to protect your precious information. Sneaky attacks like identity information gathering (known as ‘phishing’) can also be difficult to detect.


Remember these tips for the next greeting card that arrives in your inbox:

1. Check the spelling: Look out for misspelled words, names or website addresses, which are a good sign that the email is not genuine.


2. Read the fine print: Carefully read any terms and conditions that you have to accept before viewing your card, especially if the card site wants to install any software onto your computer. You may actually be agreeing that the site can have access to the details of everyone in your address book.


3. Don’t open attachments: Save any attachments and scan them with your security software before opening them.


4. Avoid clicking on links: Links to websites may look legitimate, but they can hide malicious code that activates once the link is clicked. Instead, most e-card companies allow you to visit their website by typing the site name manually into your web browser and then entering a code to retrieve your card.


5. Phone a friend: If in doubt, delete the email or call the sender to confirm that they really sent it.


Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter if you are concerned about the contents of an e-card that you have received or your computer is running slow with popups and  is showing signs of operational difficulty.

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