Getting Started

If you are new to the Internet, here is a brief guide to getting started.

1. NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER give out your Social Security Number, Driver's License, Credit Card, or Bank Information over e-mail.  There are people that will fake messages from VISA, eBay, PayPal, Earthlink, and SwiftPay pretending that there is a problem with your account, and ask you to "log in" to the site to fix the issue.  When you do, you log into a fake site that steals your information.

2. 90% of the items that claim to be free in e-mail AREN'T.  The sender wants your e-mail address, so they can sell it. If something is free, there shouldn't be any charges (like "Shipping and Handling").  Here's a way to test the offer:  Fill out a fake address and e-mail account (like shazbot@kryzzampfghm.com).  Click the "submit" button, and see.

3. Obtain a "throwaway" e-mail account for receiving "free offers" and "free reports".  Why?  Once you are on these lists, it can take months to be removed.  You don't want to clog your main e-mail address with this junk.  We suggest using yahoo or hotmail.  Keep in mind, however, that a number of sites won't send mail to these addresses.

4. If the offer seems too good to be true, IT IS.

5. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have your virus protection software and firewalls ENABLED, and UP TO DATE!

6. Make a WEEKLY (or daily) backup of your system, especially any web sites or critical data you are working on.