Aside from mistakes in the billing system that happen every now and then, there are more fundamental reasons why your mobile bill is so expensive. Here they are, together with what you can do to lower your mobile bill, save some money and spent it on cool gadgets instead.

Wrong Type of Plan

The wrong type of plan is a very common reason for huge bills. Basically, there are three types of plans – pay monthly, PAYG (Pay As You Go), and SIM Only.

Pay monthly is usually the most expensive option because it is a long term contract where you get a subsidized handset in exchange for fewer minutes/texts than SIM only. In some countries this is the only option, so you are out of luck.

If you are on a monthly contract and you don't plan to change your mobile phone soon, check when your contract expires and consider switching to either PAYG, or even better – to SIM only. With PAYG the per minute cost is higher but you pay only for the minutes you have actually used.

SIM only means that you get a SIM card only rather than a mobile phone and a SIM card, as is the case with monthly contracts. SIM only contracts are especially popular in the United Kingdom and Europe as a whole, and if you live in the UK, or plan to move there soon, you might want to check what SIM only deals are available. Unfortunately, if you aren't in the UK, you won't be able to take advantage of these.

The main benefit of SIM only is that you don't pay the hidden cost for getting a handset. You pay only for the minutes/texts you use. Because of this, for the same amount of minutes/texts, SIM only is much cheaper than a monthly contract and PAYG. Therefore, if you switch to SIM only, chances are you will see the most tangible decrease of your mobile bill without having to drastically cut the amount of minutes you use a month.

Wrong Tariff Plan

In addition to the wrong type of plan, the wrong tariff (even if the type of plan is OK) is another common reason why you are paying so much for your mobile calls. If your plan includes much more minutes/texts than you need, you are actually paying for something you are not using. In this case the best you can do is search for a plan that offers an amount closer to your needs. You can have a look at what SIM only plans are available and pick the one that suits you most.

Your Provider Is an Expensive One

Your mobile bill may be expensive because of a very prosaic reason – you have chosen an expensive provider. Competition is driving prices down but still there are providers, whose plans are cheaper and providers, whose plans are more expensive. Unless you have special reasons, such as coverage or contractual obligations, to stick with your expensive provider, you'd better browse what the other providers offer and go for a cheaper one. This move alone can save you a lot.

Monthly Limit Exceeded

When you choose a plan with more minutes/texts you usually use, you end up paying for something you don't use. However, it isn't necessarily better to choose a small plan and regularly exceed it. Depending on your contract, when you exceed your monthly limit, either your service is cut off, or it isn't but you are charged for the extra minutes and this is where the huge bill might come from. In this situation, the best you can do is avoid talking that much, or if you permanently need more minutes/texts consider switching to a more generous plan.

Roaming and International Calls

Nothing makes a bill huge more than international calls and roaming. We do live in a global world and if you have friends, relatives, or simply business partners all over the world, and/or you travel frequently abroad, it is no wonder you are paying really a lot.

To cut your bill, you could consider alternatives, such as Skype. As for roaming, if you spend many days in the same foreign country, it is almost always much cheaper to get a local prepaid card and to use it even for calls to your home country than to use your service in roaming. However, don't take this for granted but check how much you pay for roaming and how much you would pay with a local prepaid card in the foreign country and do the math.

If you follow these simple tips, it is possible to cut your mobile bill in half or even more. By reducing your mobile bill in half you will hardly save millions but why pay lots of money when you have cheaper alternatives and better ways to spend your money?

For more advice and information on SIM only deals, visit http://www.simonlycontracts.co.uk

Many people who use Comcast for Internet access do not realize there is a 250GB (Giga Byte) monthly limit cap.

That means, if you go over the limit once, Comcast will send you a warning. If you go over it again (within a six month period from the initial warning notice), your account will be terminated by Comcast and you will not be eligible for Internet service again for twelve months.

As Comcast states, typical Internet users usually don't exceed 4 to 6GB per month (your amount will vary).

But with streaming video and audio becoming more popular, and the use of additional wireless devices (tablets and cell phones) in homes become more prevalent, your bandwidth usage will increase way past Comcast conservative estimate.

So, to keep an eye on that bandwidth usage, Comcast provides a meter, that many customers do not know exists.

Finding The Meter

To check out your current and past usage stats, sign on to your Comcast account.

Next, click on the Users & Settings tab on the menu at the top of the page.

NOTE: the meter can only be viewed using your Primary or Self-Managed Secondary account with billing access.

Here you will see the bandwidth meter under the caption High-Speed Internet Data Usage from your cable modem. If you have a router connected to your modem, the data usage meter will collect data usage from all your devices connected to that router.

Viewing Past Data Usage Amounts

The meter shows your Internet data usage to the current day. If you want to view past usage history (from the last three months), click on the View details link just below the meter.

Here you see will a bar graph showing the amount of data usage for the past three months.

Your data amounts will look different and depending on the time of the year, you may see higher data usage during some months than during others.

NOTE: if you have more than one cable modem in your household, you will have access to a drop-down box to select individual devices and view data usage for each of these devices.

Where To Find More Information

Obviously everyone will have different opinions about data usage and what is excessive. To make it clear, Comcast provides a FAQ (Frequently Ask Questions) section on their excessive use policy found at this link.

Like it not (I don't but hey who am I anyway), that's the policy. Fortunately for me their is competition in my area. So if things get out of hand, it will be time to jump ship (for better or worse).

No, I'm not talking about an inappropriate website suddenly appearing.

More like when your ISP, such as Comcast, decides to show you their own error search page, instead of Google or Yahoo after you have mistyped an incorrect web address.

Annoying as it is, Comcast does provide an option to disable their DNS redirection service caused by mis-spelled web addresses.

There are two quick ways you can disable the service:  from your account settings or from the error search page.

NOTE: DNS redirection (refered as DNS Helper Service by Comcast) can only be disabled from your primary Comcast account and not a Secondary account.

Disable From Your Comcast Account Page

• Log on to your Comcast account and click on the Users & Settings tab at the top of the page.

• Then scroll down to the High-Speed Internet Settings section and click "Edit" next to Domain helper.

• Here you can disable Domain helper, by selecting the Disable Domain Helper radio button, then click Save followed by clicking OK.

Disable From Comcast Search Error Page

You may not have noticed the option on the error page (or as Comast refers to it – the DNS helper page), after a mistyped web address, but you can also disable the service from this page.

• Click on the Disable this error service link (shown in image below).

• At the next screen, click on the To log in to Comcast customer Central click here link, which will take you to your account settings and you can follow the above steps to disable the DNS Helper service.

Once you have made the change, the next time you mistype a wrong address, you will see the normal error search page that your browser is set up to display.

Fortunately, you will not have too worry about this service to much longer, as Comcast is phasing it out at the end of 2011 when they begin to implement DNSSEC (for more information see link on Comcast site).

Getting online and being connected through the Internet has become a greater importance today, with computer usage rising at work and home, as well as the rise of mobile technologies such as Smartphone’s and tablets.

When considering an Internet Service Provider, or ISP, the choice is of course that of the individual or family needs of the house.

Many ISP companies also include other services, plus there's the decision of which speed to chose, as well as which areas companies service. Here are some things to consider when choosing an internet provider.

What Are Your Needs - this is the first thing anyone should think of when they consider getting internet service.

What exactly are you using the internet for? Are you just surfing and checking email? Will you be downloading? Do you play online games? Will you need it for work or school?

These questions are essential in determining the type of speed that you may need; the higher the internet speed, the more you are able to do.

What is Your Price Range - an individual's budget can be a deciding factor when it comes to internet service.

While having the fastest speed is great, if you are unable to afford it, you may be spending less time online and more time trying to pay bills. Many ISPs do have promotions that might lower the costs for a few months, but it's important to look at the entire cost for a month. Are you able to swing $50/month or just $20?

Your Area - another important facet is to ask yourself what are the internet options in my area?

While most DSL and cable providers deliver services to a wide variety of locations, there are some areas that are not or cannot be serviced by the traditional ISPs. In this case, individuals or families may need to look elsewhere, like satellite internet in order to receive service.

Bundles - as mentioned, most of the ISPs also offer the option to bundle other services along with your Internet service.

This usually includes phone service and cable services; again, depending on your needs, you will need to know if you just want the Internet by itself or if you'd like to bundle services, like cable or digital cable channels.

Speeds - going along with your needs and budget, deciding on the speed of internet is extremely important.

The faster the speed, the higher the cost, however depending on what you use the internet for, this can be an essential motivator. For instance, if you play a lot of online video games, you will want to have one of the higher end speeds so that the latency doesn't hurt your game play.

Installation & Equipment - the first month's bill will be extremely high if you need to have a technician come and install equipment.

This is usually the recommended course for most people, but some people are technically minded and don't need to have anyone come and install anything. The same is true in terms of equipment. If you're getting the Internet connected, but you already have the equipment, you can easily just ensure that everything is working correctly without the need of a tech.

Choosing an internet service provider is easy once you have an understanding of what it is you are looking for when it comes to service. There are several packages offered by the popular ISPs that can easily fit into what your individual needs are.

This is a guest post by Spencer Hogg for the Broadband Expert website where internet packages in your area can be found and compared.

In fact, there are several steps that you can take to improve the connection speed of your internet through minor alterations.

Following are a series of steps to take if your connection is running slower than you would like:

Adjust Browser

Many older internet browsers are quite inefficient when it comes to downloading files. Using a newer version of Internet Explorer or another browser like Mozilla Firefox could significantly reduce the amount of time spent in downloading pages.

Adjust Current Router or Purchase Another

Every router is different but make sure to read your manual and you can most likely find different ways to increase your Internet speeds through various small adjustments. Additionally, try to ensure that nothing is blocking the router’s signal.

Many routers that are given to you free with a home installation are often not the best quality. You may benefit by purchasing a higher quality router with additional features that could greatly boost your Internet speed. You can use this broadband speed checker to check your current Internet speed.

Don’t Allow Neighbor Sharing

You want to make sure that your neighbors are not using your internet connection. If the hardware on your computer allows it, use WPA encryption or at least use a password that will prevent others from using your connection.

Switch to a Wired Connection

Although it might seem less convenient to go back to cables, wireless connections are typically slower than wired ones. Keep in mind, also, that the cables that you use can affect the speed as well. For example, using an Ethernet cable is typically far more efficient than a USB cable.

Limit Overhead Bandwidth

The majority of computers have programs and applications that will automatically begin the second that you log into the computer. These programs will only serve to make the Internet connection slower than it should be.

Fortunately, in the vast majority of cases, you can adjust the settings on your computer so that the programs do not start. This can save you when it comes to connection speed.

Move Modem Nearer to Faceplate

It is guaranteed that your connection will inevitably be weaker the further you are from the faceplate. This is fortunately a really easy fix.

Simply move your modem so that it is as close to the faceplate as possible. If it is necessary to use your computer in another room or on another floor of your home, it is best to connect to the internet via an Ethernet cable.

Increase WiFi Speed

If your PC is about as close to the router as it can possibly get and you are still not seeing the kind of improvement that you want, consider replacing your router antenna for one which is longer. This will both extend its reach as well as improve the router’s signal.

Fortunately, these antenna are not that expensive to purchase. Another option would be to buy a wireless access point that allows you to further extend the reach of your signal without connection strength reduction.

Article written by Spencer Hogg from the Broadband expert website where you can run a broadband speed check and compare broadband deals.

Increasingly more and more web sites, especially financial sites such as banks, credit card companies, or anything that involves personal information, now require a combination of user name, password and answers to security questions.

And that's the way it should be, if you want to prevent someone from gaining access to your accounts and seeing personal information.

But with that "prevention" comes the problem we all face with multi-login access to web sites.

Remembering all that information, just to log on.

So to counter remembering that information, we tend to make things easy and create…easy to remember passwords and answers to security questions.

But were also making it simple for thieves to easily hack into our accounts.

And when that happens, there is no one to blame but yourself.

What Can I Do To Make Password And Security Questions Harder To Guess?

It's simple. Make it harder for the thieves to hack into accounts, while making it easy for you to remember.

Here's how.

We already showed you how to create strong passwords and remember them. This method uses a mix of symbols, numbers, and upper and lower case characters, to create longer, stronger passwords that are easy to remember (only for you).

Now what about all those pesky security question answers?

Well, taking the concept for creating strong passwords one step further, you can use phrases to create answers that have nothing to do with the question.

For example, what answer do you use for the typical questions: "what city were you born in" and "what is your mother's maiden name"?

Yep, you guess it, you're going to use the real answers.

Not only is this a mistake, but it"s information anyone can easily search and find on the Internet.

By using something completely irrelevant, such as "window" for city and "latch" for mother's maiden name, makes guessing a lot harder, And using something that makes sense to you, while being irrelevant, will make it easier to remember.

Not only that, you used the phrase "window latch"

For sites that require up to three or four questions, you can use song lyrics, or lines from a movie.

For example:

Answer to question #1 – "dude"

Answer to question #2 – "looks like"

Answer to question #3 – "a lady"

Or how about this famous line from Clint Eastwood's movie Dirty Harry:

Answer to question #1 – "go ahead"

Answer to question #2 – "make"

Answer to question #3 – "my"

Answer to question #4 – "day"

Now, to keep anyone from guessing well known quotes or lyrics, you can  use more words (double up) in a phrase than the number of questions.

This way you can have more than "one-word-answer" for a question (as in "go ahead" for question #1), which makes well known quotes harder to guess since only you will know which question has multiple words.

But I Don't Want To Use Quotes Or Lyrics?

How about a math addition:

Answer to question #1 – "30"

Answer to question #2 – "+"

Answer to question #3 – "10"

Answer to question #4 – "=40"

Or subtraction such as: 100-25=75.

You can still "double up" for an answer (-25) that only you will know which question it matches. More importantly, it makes hacking a lot tougher. You could also use any number (such as your favorite number) to solve the equation and keep someone from correctly guessing the equation.

What about sites that only require one security question answer?

Easy. See if you can figure out this answer:

Answer to question # 1 – "OU812!"

Which means: "Oh You Ate One Too!"

As you can see, answering those pesky security questions, takes a little creativity to easily answer the questions that you will remember. At the same time, you are providing more security which will ultimately secure your accounts.

So the next time your faced with providing answers to those pesky security questions, don't become frustrated….just do it!

Don't Stop There

Creating strong password and hard to guess answers is just one piece to protecting your identity. Learn more about how identity theft happens and how you can prevent your self from becoming a victim by reading Identity Theft Deterrent on sale at this link.

Actually, if you fully investigate the matter, online faxing is much more secure than regular faxing from the old traditional fax machine in the office

There are many reasons why this is so, but the main one has to do with encryption. You can encrypt your faxes so that only you and the receiver can view them. No one else will see your sensitive faxes.

Many Internet Fax Providers use SSL and PGP encryption. Most, if not all email service providers are compliant with such privacy regulations as Gramm-Leach-Bliley & HIPAA in the United States and PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) in Canada.

Compared to the old traditional fax machine in the office where many prying eyes can view your faxes, online faxing is much more secure. Furthermore, you can securely store your faxes in your online account, although it is probably a good business practice to delete any sensitive faxes once you have read them if you want to keep them totally secret.

Keep in mind, most computer systems (no matter how secure) may be cracked by any determined individuals who wish to do us harm. So like any sensitive files you have on your computer, it is probably wise to store your faxes securely by using an encryption program or by using other means to make them unavailable to the surfing public.

If security is of a great concern to you, always check out any Internet Fax Service Provider before you sign up to discover what encryption measures they take to protect your privacy. Make sure any fax service you obtain does meet any privacy issues that you may have. Since your chosen fax service will act as an intermediary on your behalf to handle all your faxing, do you due diligence and thoroughly check out any company before signing on the dotted line. Make sure there hasn't been any major privacy/security issues with past customers or users.

Again, since we are talking about using your computer and sending your faxes in emails as attachments, you must make sure both aspects or components are secure. Fortunately, computers are becoming much more secure and there are numerous programs you can use to encrypt your data. Likewise, email also has become more secure as web users have become cautious about using email for sending sensitive information and have taken steps to address this problem.

With a good high quality online fax service, the security of your faxes should not be a major concern. Just take some simple steps to ensure your faxes are quickly deleted and/or stored in encrypted form, both on your computer and in your online fax account. Always remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, just make sure your faxes are handled securely from the get-go and you shouldn't have any problems.

Author – Titus Hoskins: For more information on Internet Fax Services use this handy online Comparison Guide to learn more about: online faxing

Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing try here: internet fax services.

But when you think about, a bookmark or favorite can really be anything other than just websites. Here are five ways bookmarks can be used other than just saving (bookmarking) your favorite websites.

1 – Saving Search Engine Results From Google Yahoo and Bing

How many times have you used a search engine to find….anything. Say you wanted to search for "ubuntu auto logon" (with out quotes) using Google. When the search results are displayed, just bookmark the page, which will allow you to return to the results page.

By bookmarking a search engine query, you are able to save the results page, which may be more useful to you instead of just bookmarking a single site with only partial information you are looking for.

2 – Saving Searches From A Website Or Social Networking Sites

You are not just limited to saving bookmarks from Google or Yahoo searches. You can also save queries from running searches on websites and social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, etc…

By doing so, you will narrow your searches to just that specific site  or social network, instead of a combination of sites on the Internet.

3 – Saving Directions

How many times have you look-up directions on Google Maps, Mapquest, etc, only to find yourself looking up the same directions a month or two later?

You can easily save your directions in Google Maps by just bookmarking the links after finding directions (in some cases), or by clicking on Link (upper right of map) and copy the URL in the Paste link in email or IM field.

With MapQuest, you can also bookmarking the links after finding directions, or save the URL by clicking on Link or Embed and copy the URL in the pop up window.

4. Saving Files, Images, Documents

How many times have you clicked on a document (such as PDF, spreadsheet, etc) to view the contents, but you really don't want to save it on your PC?

If you are like me, that would be many times. Instead, just bookmark it. If you really only need to reference the document and don't care if it is eventually removed from the website, bookmarking is the best option. Same goes for images, videos, etc.

5. Bookmark Your Emails

If you prefer to use web based email service (GMail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc…) instead of running a client (such as Outlook or Thunderbird), you can easily bookmark folders or individual emails.

By bookmarking an email or folder (labels when using GMail), you can avoid searching for that hard to find email or folder. Just make sure you are logged in to your email account before using the bookmark.

As you can see, saving bookmarks or favorites locally on you computer is still useful. You can also bookmark folders on your hard drive if you use Firefox as your preferred choice of browsers (see Browse And Open Files On Your Hard Drive Using Firefox).

Just remember, unlike using social bookmarking sites, don't forget to backup your bookmarks so you don't lose them!

Another method is to change your passwords often or on a regular basis.

But unfortunately, on the Internet, not may sites or email services force you to change passwords after they were first created.

And, unless your account has been hacked into or you have forgotten your password (and need to have it reset), more thank likely, your not going to change it all.

With Hotmail, you can set your Windows Live account password to expire every 72 days, in which you will receive a prompt requiring you to reset the password…and keep yourself from never changing it all.

Here's how to set the reminder.

• First, go to Windows Live home.

• At the top right of the page, click on your account name and in the drop down menu select View your account.

• On the next page, on the left side under Account, click on the Password and PINs link.

• Then click on the Change link next to Password: ******.

• On the next page, check the box next to Make my password expire every 72 days, and create a new password (you must create a new password for the expiration to take effect…yes this is a good thing!).

Remember, when creating a password, make it as strong as possible and take note of the strength meter.

• After creating a new password, click the Save button.

Make sure you log out and log back on with your Windows Live account to verify the new password works correctly.

That's it! You just added another layer of protection to your account, because changing your password frequently helps protect your account information.

When your Windows Live password has expired, you will receive a prompt requiring you to reset the password.

And you just made your Hotmail account harder to hack into.

Going shopping for a cell phone with internet capabilities or a wireless internet card for your laptop, you will hear more foreign terms than at a Star Trek convention. All jokes aside, it's important to know what the technology does before signing any service contracts.

Most cellular phones today, smart phones included, run on the 3G network for both voice and data access. 3G, evolved from its predecessor 2G, is used by practically all of the major cellular provider companies.

Under perfect conditions, which almost never occur for the average consumer, 3G can reach speeds of up to 3Mbit/s. In layman's terms, that's more than 50 times faster than dial-up. However, average speeds are about 20 times faster.


4G technology is the successor to 3G. It will soon become the standard for cellular wireless. The technology is currently available, but is still being perfected. The goal is to reach "ultra-broadband" speeds, which is in terms of gigabits per second. To put it simply: extraordinarily fast. The current technology on the market is already gauged at three to four times faster than 3G.

When looking for mobile wireless for your laptop, you generally have two options. The first is to purchase your card from a cellular phone company. The current standard, as with their phones, is 3G service. Prices among the major companies range from 30 to 60 dollars a month. Your other option is to find an independent provider that offers the faster speeds of 4G.

Obviously, one is faster than the other, but each has its own pros and cons. 3G technology only works where the signal reaches. Therefore, if you come across a dead spot in cell phone signal, you will lose your access to the internet. However, in spite of dead zones here and there, 3G coverage spans the U.S. The same cannot be said of its successor, yet. Currently only available in major cities, researchers are working to expand the cover of 4G technology.

It's important to check out the coverage in your area when shopping for wireless internet technology. The last thing you want to do is get stuck with a contract and you can't even pick up good signal where you live and work. If you don't think you are getting an honest answer from your salesperson, ask around to your friends, family and neighbors. There's no better advice than from someone with experience.

The face of technology is changing every day, especially in the way that we are able to access the internet. Our society depends so heavily upon that access. We always want the newest this and the fastest that. That's why teams of scientists around the country are constantly developing new methods of connectivity and new gadgets for us to play with. It's important to stay abreast of the latest developments so that you always get your money's worth when purchasing new technology.

clear 4g brings consumers the latest in wireless technology. For the best deals and fastest speeds, you can count on clear wireless internet.

Now, depending on your plan, it may not be feasible to have texting capabilities, because of costs or you just don't want it.

But, just because you don't have texting capabilities, many people do not realize, you can send a text message to someone cell phone as SMS (Short Message Service) using email.

Just about everybody has an eamil account somewhere. And sending a text message to a cell phone via email is simple and can be done to most major cellular providers.

All you need is the person 10-digit cell phone number and the carrier they use.

For example, if your friends carrier is AT&T, and you know their cell phone number, to send them an SMS text message, you would address the email as:

AreaCode+MobileNumber@txt.att.net (use full 10 digit cell number with no spaces or plus sign)

3085551212@@txt.att.net

Or if the carrier is Verizon, you would address the email as:

AreaCode+MobileNumber@vtext.com

Any email provider can be used (GMail, Yahoo, Hotmail, your ISP or company email). The reason why you can use email, is because, many cell phone providers (especially in the USA) have an email SMS gateway that allows anyone to send an email that will, in turn send a text message.

So, how do you know if a provider has an email gateway. Since carriers change often (merge, shutdown, etc..) your best bet is to do a Google search for the carrier which will likely return the domain suffix to use (such as vtext.com for Verizon), or you can check with the cell carrier's web site (obivously you can also check with the person you want to text for the information).

Below are some of the popular providers for sending text messages:

Alltel      @message.alltel.com
AT&T         @txt.att.net
Sprint         @messaging.sprintpcs.com (or @messaging.nextel.com for Nextell)
T-mobile     @tmomail.net
Verizon     @vtext.com

In addition to sending text messages (SMS), some carriers allow sending MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messages that include multimedia content, such as photos, videos, etc.

To send MMS using email, you will need to use the carrier domain address which may be different than the SMS address. Below are some of the popular carriers (again, do a Google search to fond carriers not listed below):

Alltel
AT&T         @mms.att.net
Sprint         @pm.sprint.com
T-mobile     @mms.uscc.net
Verizon     @vzwpix.com

Now that you know how to text someone cell phone using email, their are a couple of things to keep in mind.

• Make sure the message does not exceed 160 charaters, otherwise it may get cut off.

• Just because your email account is free (meaning you are not charged per message), doesn't mean the person you are sending the text message to (receiving) won't be charged per text message. Check with them first, otherwise they may not be your friend anymore.

• Be patient. Some carrier gateways may delay message delivery, so don't use it for emergencies or when an immediate response is expected.

• Use simple text. Don't bother with fancy fonts or formatting.

• Don't spam anybody cell phone. Do so, and you will end up in a world of trouble (it's not worth it).

If you have not heard, Microsoft awesome Sysinternals site has released the beta version of Sysinternals Live. What this service offers is the capability to connect directly to the Sysinternals site and run their tools without the need to download.

If you are not familiar with Sysinternals, they produce some of the best tools, such as Process Explorer, Autoruns and Process Monitor for Windows systems. Microsoft bought the company in 2006 and continued to offer it's extensive library of diagnostic, troubleshooting, and management utilities for free.

Why is this very cool? Because Sysinternals Live allows to you connect and run all their tools with out needing a web browser.

For example, Vista owners can connect from the Start menu Search bar by entering \\live.sysinternals.com\tools.

Windows Explorer will open, displaying the connection to the share listing of all the tools available.

You can click on any available tool and run it immediately (Sysinternals tools require no installation) without needing to download and unzip.

Or if you know the name of the tool, you can just reference it's name to have it launch and run with the following command syntax:

\\live.sysinternals.com\tools\<toolname>

For example, to run Autoruns, you would use:

\\live.sysinternals.com\tools\autoruns.exe

If you're a command line user, this means you can also run the tools directly at the prompt by entering the same command as above (be patient and give it a few seconds to launch).

But I find mapping a drive to be the best method, since it's convenient to have all their tools available using a drive letter.

You can easily map a drive from the Run dialog windows, by pressing Windows Key+R or click on Start \ Run… and entering the following command:

net use * \\live.sysinternals.com\tools

Of course you can use any browser and connect using http://live.sysinternals.com/tools/.

The Sysinternals Live tools should work in all x86 and x64 versions of Vista and Server 2008 as well as previous version of Windows.

No matter what method you use to connect, having access to these tools with out the need to download, is a big bonus, especially for those times when family or friends bug you to fix their computer and you don't have your handy USB stick around!

In other words, the accounts have easy to hack passwords. Passwords like a pet's name, a friend's name spelled backwards, a favorite movie catch phrase, a significant other's name (or "iheart" followed by that name), and so on.

Hackers are extremely resourceful at guessing and ferreting out those all-too-common password schemes. And sometimes it's not even the hackers that end up with your passwords.

Here are seven key steps to keeping an account from being hacked due to simple and common password theft.

1 – Pick A Good Password. "iHeartSue" is bad. "qicITcl}" is great! The problem's pretty obvious, though – if it's easy to remember, then it's probably a bad password. Instead, use a blended approach: never use full words or names; mix upper and lower case letters, use numbers. Use at least 8 characters. A password like "ILoveWindows" is bad, but a variation – "1luvwind00s" could be very good. "CorgiDog", not so good, but "Igroc7Pup" might be ok. Get creative, using a technique you can remember that no one else could possibly guess.

2 – Keep Your Password Safe. Tell no one. Even in a close and presumably trusting relationship – if anything ever happens consider the damage that the person could do knowing your password. Too many account theft scenarios begin with trusting someone just a little too much, and then having the relationship go bad. Your friends are your friends until one day they're not. Especially if someone is pressuring you or if there's the least little bit of doubt, don't share your password.

3 – Use a "Secret Answer." Most systems use the answer to a "secret question" as a way to recover or reset a password. Unfortunately many people choose answers that anyone can guess, or easily research on the internet. Answers like where you were born or your pet's name are frequently easy to find out with a little searching. The good news is that your secret answer doesn't actually have to make sense. Pick something unrelated or bizarre instead; choose answers like "Pickle" as your city of birth, "Confusion" as your mother's maiden name, or perhaps "Flat Tire" as your favorite pet. As long as you can remember, it doesn't matter.

4 – Maintain That Alternate Email Address. An "alternate email address" is used by many mail accounts as a place to send you a password reminder or reset. Be sure to set up an account on a different email system for your alternate email address (any other free email system will do), and then use that address as your alternate everywhere else. Of course, keep the alternate account active so as not to lose it, since without it you may be out of luck.

5 – Remember. Remembering sounds easy, but like we said earlier: if it's easy to remember, then it's probably a bad password. And yet remembering and being difficult to guess are both critical. You must remember your password, failing that your secret answer, and failing that your alternate email account. Forget or lose them all, and you're severely out of luck. If written down, be sure to keep it all in a secure place – not something like the almost cliche scenario of finding poorly hidden sticky notes containing passwords near your computer. It might be safe to keep something in your wallet, since you already treat that as secure. An encrypted file or password container on your computer might be another option.

6 – Don't Get Taken. There are shady services that will claim to be able to retrieve your passwords and account access. Many are simply scams to take advantage of you when you are vulnerable and only take your money or login information for another account that they can then breech. The only place trustworthy enough for password and account recovery help is the service you've lost access to itself. If they can't help, then neither can a reputable third party.

7 – Learn From Your Mistakes. Finally, if you now know that you have a weak password, if you've told it to someone you shouldn't have, or if you've not set up that secret question or alternate account, fix it. Now. Change your password to something stronger, set up the alternate recovery methods, and keep your information private. If you've been hacked and you don't have any of that set up, you're very likely out of luck. Make sure to take more secure care of your account password and information with your next one.

Get more free tech help and advice from Leo Notenboom by visiting http://ask-leo.com With over 30 years of industry experience, including an 18 year career as a software engineer with Microsoft, Leo gives real answers to real questions from ordinary computer users at Ask Leo! Subscribe to Leo's weekly newsletter now and receive a free ebook: "Internet Safety – Keeping Your Computer Safe on the Internet", a collection of steps, tools and concepts you need to know to keep your computer and your information safe.

Digital photo printing is just like regular photo processing, but the added advantage is that you can change your photos anyway that you would like, and see how they will look, before you actually get them printed.

Here's what you need to know about optimizing your pictures ahead of time.

Step One - Scan in your photo if necessary. If you don't have your picture already on disc or on a digital camera, you'll need to scan in the original. A flatbed scanner will work best for this, to reduce any warping of the picture. Most scanners come with image software that will allow you to easily import the photo on to your computer.

Step Two – Open the picture in a photo editor. It is a good idea to take a look at your photos before you send them in for digital photo printing. This will give you a chance to see if there is anything wrong with the picture before you send it in. Typically, you may need to:

Rotate the Picture – Some cameras and scanners will produce images that are upside down. You can easily fix this by using a rotate tool in photo editing software. Just click the rotate button until the picture is right side up.

Remove Red Eye – This is a common problem, even in digital pictures. If you don't want the red eye effect to appear on photos, you'll need to do some correction. Today's editing software for photos usually comes with a feature that makes this very easy. When you're done removing the effect, you can save the image and it will be ready for digital photo printing.

Correcting Colors/Hue/Saturation – Sometimes, a photo may not be perfect. Before you send it for digital photo printing, you may need to adjust the color, hue or saturation. This can easily be done in photo editing software. Open the image, and look for the tool that will adjust these settings. Typically, there will be a slider bar that will let you play around with the settings until you are happy with the finished results.

Setting the Quality of the Image – In order to get great results with digital photo printing, you'll need to have a high quality file. When you're ready to save your photo, make sure that you use a .jpg or .gif extension. Your software should ask you how high you want the quality to be. Select the highest value and finish saving the image.

Once you've completed these steps, you'll be assured that your images will be perfect when you upload them to your free online photo album service for digital photo printing. The results are typically much better than traditional photo processing and it's always nice to be able to fix problems before you have the photo printed.

Author – MJ Johnston writes for a variety of websites, including Hoorray, a photo sharing site that offers the quickest and easiest way to create a free online photo album.

Are You Invisible Online?

It's true that your IP address is no secret. It's a basic part of internet communication protocols to send your IP address whenever you connect to another site, request a web page, chat, play an online game, etc. Without your IP address, the computer on the other end wouldn't know where to send the reply.

But that doesn't mean that Evildoers can find your house if they know your IP address. Each time you go online (if you have dialup) or each time you start your computer (if you have cable or dsl) you will be assigned an IP address, randomly selected from a pool of IP's assigned to your Internet service provider (ISP).

WHOIS Your ISP

So a person MIGHT be able to get a general idea of your geographic location, based on your IP address, by doing a lookup on the WHOIS database, but that will only tell them the physical location of your ISP — not YOUR home address.

And if you use a large regional or nationwide ISP, the IP lookup probably reveals nothing of interest. For example, if you are an AOL subscriber, your IP address lookup will show the location as Dulles, Virginia — regardless of where you live.
When The Law Comes A Knockin'

Of course there is an exception to every rule. If Joe or Jane User calls your ISP and wants to know who was using a certain IP address last Tuesday, the ISP will tell them to go away. But if an officer of the law hands your ISP a court order to reveal that information, they must do so. Your ISP's logs will enable them to determine which customer was using a certain IP address on a certain date & time, and they must reveal that information if a court has found probable cause that a crime was committed by that person.

But for the truly paranoid (or the criminally inclined) there are ways to surf the web anonymously. The Anonymizer service will act as a proxy between you and your ISP, and they claim that your information cannot be subpoenaed because they do not store it.
What About Email Addresses?

The same concepts apply to your email address. The part that follows the "@" sign is your ISP's domain name. And given the domain name, one can determine the ISP's physical location, but nothing personally identifying about the email user without a court order.

Web-based email accounts are not truly anonymous, either. Even if you don't provide your real name when signing up, they can capture your IP address and track you through your ISP if necessary.
Other Considerations

It's much more likely that you or your children will reveal your physical location the old fashioned way — by just blurting it out. Kids who chat or play online games should be reminded often that they should never reveal any personal information, including their last name, phone number or home address.

Oh, and if you have any spyware or viruses on your system, all bets are off. These things are designed to violate your privacy. If you need help with scanning your system for spyware, adware and other unwanted pests, see my articles How can I avoid computer viruses? and Spy, Counter-Spy (http://www.askbobrankin.com/spy_counter-spy.html) for details on how to protect yourself from those risks.

Author – Bob Rankin is a tech writer and computer programmer who enjoys exploring the Internet and sharing the fruit of his experience with others. His work has appeared in ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is publisher of the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, author of several computer books, and creator of the http://LowfatLinux.com website. Visit Bob Rankin's website for more helpful articles and free tech support.