Disposable Email Address Services

If you give web sites and new contacts a disposable email address instead of your real one, you can selectively disable a disposable address as soon as you get spam through it, but continue using all other aliases.

All disposable email address services provide this basic functionality, but some have other neat features that make life with email less spam and more fun.

1. ZoEmail - Disposable Email Address Service
ZoEmail restores email as it must have been before spam. Easily accessible via the web and POP, ZoEmail lacks IMAP access, however, and could offer more online storage. The spam-free existence of ZoEmail also comes at the price of a bit of management.

2. Emailias - Disposable Email Address Service
Create disposable email addresses for use on the Web with Emailias, a flexible and feature-packed disposable email address service, and reduce the amount of spam you get.

3. Spamex - Disposable Email Address Service
Spamex provides a solid, useful, and almost feature-complete disposable email address service.

4. Spamgourmet - Disposable Email Address Service
Before you choke on all that spam, try the feature-rich and flexible disposable email addresses from Spamgourmet for protection.

5. E4ward.com - Disposable Email Address Service
E4ward.com is a down-to-earth and very useful disposable email service that makes it easy to prevent spam to your real email address with easily erasable aliases. You can use your own domain with E4ward.com, but address masking in your replies is a bit cumbersome and auto-expiring aliases are not offered.

6. GishPuppy - Disposable Email Address Service
GishPuppy is a disposable email address service that shines with simplicity and functionality. Unfortunately, GishPuppy's functionality does not encompass replacing your real email address with the appropriate alias in replies.
7. Mailinator - Disposable Email Address Service
Mailinator lets you use any email address @mailinator.com and pick up the mail at their site. Since there's no connection to your real address, you sure won't get spam from using Mailinator addresses. Keep in mind that all mail sent to Mailinator is made public.

8. Yahoo! Mail Classic - Disposable Email Address Service
Yahoo! Mail Classic is a comfortable, reliable and secure email service with unlimited storage. A pretty good spam filter (including disposable email addresses) keeps the junk out.
Note that disposable addresses are deleted when you cancel your Yahoo! Mail Plus account.
Source: About.com

How to Make Your PC as Fast as the Day you Bought It

One of the most frustrating things in life is a slow computer. 

Every few years, we buy an expensive new PC and love how fast it starts up, runs programs, and loads web sites.  Inevitably, though it starts to slow down, until eventually we are pulling our hair out waiting for it to do routine tasks.

Why is this? It turns out the answer is actually quite simple and you don't even need to be "technical" to understand the causes and solutions.

The good news, it's not the computer hardware that's the problem.  In most cases the hardware you have is perfectly capable of being restored to its original glory and kept in fast running condition with minimal effort.

Rather, the problem lies with changes that occur to the PC's software. The 2 most common causes of slowdown (along with easy solutions) are:

Registry errors  -  the most common problem

Every time you (or your kids) load a program, game or file, your PC's software registery is updated with new instructions needed to operate that item.  However, when the item is removed, these instructions usually remain on your PC.  Every time you run your computer it tries to execute these instructions but, because the related program can't be found, it causes a registry error.  Your PC is doing a lot more work than it should be and the result is a significantly slower computer.

One of the best ways to manage this is with a neat little tool from a Seattle based company called the Advanced Registry Optimizer (ARO5 for short).   This program scans, identifies and fixes registry errors - resulting in a computer that's a lot more like it was when you first bought it.  On top of the amazing results it offers, it's so easy to install and use that it was recently given a coveted 4-star award by CNET's editorial staff.

You can now get a free working version of the software which will quickly scan your entire PC and identify all of the registry errors that may be bogging it down.  The free version eliminates the first 20 errors and if you have more errors that you want to clean-up or want to set the program to run on a regular basis (recommended) you can easily upgrade to the full version for just $29.95.  After that registry errors will no longer be a problem.

To get the free version simply click here.

Spyware and viruses

Spyware and viruses are software programs that are loaded on your computer without your knowledge or permission.  They have various purposes, including:

• Changing the default search engine in your browser
• Tracking your web surfing habits and showing you targeted advertising
• Using your email program to send out spam to other email addresses
• Stealing your personal information

Most spyware and viruses get onto our computers through files that we download from the internet or as attachments to emails.  They tend to take up a lot of computing power and as a result will significantly slow down the computer.

The simple rule of thumb to follow is to never download any free software programs from companies you do not know and trust, especially screensavers, emoticons and the like.  In addition, you should never open any attachment to an email unless you are 100% certain you know and trust the sender. In addition, make sure you have a good anti-virus / spyware removal software running at all times.

Follow the above advice and your PC should stay fast and safe.

What is the Best Broadband Option: Cable, DSL or Satellite

When it comes to high-speed broadband Internet connections, your options today are better than ever.  The three most popular options are cable, satellite and DSL. 

To get connected using cable the your home or business needs to have an underground cable connection (but you do not need to have cable TV) .  A DSL connection is done over telephone lines, and a satellite connection uses a small dish on the roof to receive and transmit the Internet connection to a satellite.

Unlike dial-up, all three options allow you to use your phone while getting connected to the Internet.  Some rural areas still don't have access to DSL and cable, so in these areas, satellite service is the only option other than using dial-up at a very slow rate of speed.

DSL, Cable, and Satellite are all much faster than a dial-up connection, and the exact speed depends on which plan and company you sign up with.  On average, it's about 40 times faster than a dial-up is.

There are pros and cons to using each option.

With DSL, your speed is always steady, even if you have 2 or 200 people using the service.  With cable, the speed of the  service can be effected by how many others in your neighborhood are logged on at the same time.

Satellite is generally the best option for people in rural areas that do not have good cable or DSL options. The signal has much farther to travel, so there is often a delay.  Plus, it's more difficult (and therefore expensive) to install than DSL or cable options.

Although it's performance is affected by the number of other users in the area, cable providers generally charge more for cable connections than DSL charges.  However, DSL prices often go up at the end of the one-year sign-on special.  In addition, if you do have cable TV, you may be able to get a better price.

If you're using DSL or cable to connect to the Internet, you'll need a broadband modem.  With satellite, you'll need a dish installed.  Regardless of which option you choose, you'll come out ahead if you leave dial-up behind and switch to one of the faster Internet connection opportunities, such as DSL, cable, or satellite service.