There are many ways to protect the valuable
information on your computer from invaders and
heartless spammers. Most of them cost money and
require more money on a regular basis for updates.
Many of them are quite good and worth every penny.

Here are 5 ways you can add to your protection at
no cost. With ther addition of a freebee you can
double or triple your protection.

These are not demo programs, untested or free-for-
a-limited time, but unlimited forever free real
working applications.

There are options to purchase with each free tool,
however, you can use them all for an unlimited
time in their free mode.

NOTE:
BIG Mike has no financial interest in, or
incentive program with, any of the vendors whose
tools and programs are offered here. They are
presented in the spirit of better, more effieicent
eMail.


Freebie #1 MAILWASHER

MailWasher is a program that wil let you inspect
the FROM address and the SUBJECT LINE of
every eMail waiting for you, BEFORE it is loaded
into your computer. If you choose to "Bounce" any
message,it is returned to the sender as a "hard
Bounce", computer talk for "This address does not
work". The hard bounce increases the possibility
your name will be removed from that spammer's list
because most have equipment that automatically
removes "Hard Bounced" addresses. You can
also delete messages before they are sent to your
computer.   It takes about two minutes to download
and install and is free (unless you want to send
the developer $3 or more as a tip (his word).

Here's how to get MailWasher
http://www.mailwasher.net

Go to the MailWasher address and read all
the goodies on the first page. Become dutifully
impressed. Control your new case of "The Hardly
Waits" until you can get it downloaded and
installed.

At the top of the page, click "Free Download" on
the left hand side of the page (second button)

Download the Beta version, it’s newer

Follow your normal routine for downloading
and installing programs (Most computers have a
folder "My Downloads", save it there).

To install the program go to your eMail program
and look up;
your POP3 Mail Server address for incoming mail
your SMTP Mail Server address for outgoing mail

That information is stored in the "preferences" or
"options" sections of your eMail program (In
Outlook Express it is under Tools/Accounts)

You will also need your log-on name and your
pasword.

When the program opens automatically looks
at the eMail waiting to be delivered to you.
Bounce what you want (you can also mark some
messages to be deleted) then click on "Process
Mail" and let the bouncing begin. When MailWasher
has logged off, click on "Mail Program" to bring
up your eMail program so you can load and read
regular eMail. In no time at all your SPAM load
will be much less.


Freebie #2 HOUSECALL

HouseCall is Trend Micro's FREE on-line virus
scanner. This site will scan your computer for
viruses directly from the web. Many times a
virus can infect your computer through eMail,
especially if you open an attachment from someone
you don’t know. Even if yoou have a virus checker
installed and working in your computer, I urge you
to use Housecall every day.

Here's how to use Housecall
http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall

The first time you use it it will ask for
permission to load and store load a small file on
your computer. Entirely OK, then each time you use
it, it will update that file with the latest
checking informaton.

Most hard drives are drive C:   Select that drive
and click on Scan. It is a good idea to do this as
you go to lunch each day as the time it takes is
dependent on your connection speed. When HouseCall
finishes, it will tell you how many files were
found with viruses, and of those the ones that can
be cleaned and sill used and the ones that should
be deleted. Do not hisitate when asked to delete.
A virus is a bad thing.

HouseCall does not provide virus protection. It
provides virus DETECTION, and only while you are
connected to HouseCall. So your computer is still
vulnerable to virus attacks in between online
virus scans, you need protection all day long,
every time you download a file from the Internet
or copy a file from a floppy disk

Trend Micro will offer to sell you their popular
program PC-Cillin (which is a very good one) or
you can use one of the others. Some savy computer
people use Norton or McAfee automatically in their
machine and scan with HouseCall daily at lunch.
Like getting a second opinion at the doctor’s.


Freebie #3 AVG Anti-Virus

Here's an excellent, freeware anti-virus utility
that also offers you free monthly updates. An
easy-to-use program, AVG features resident
protection, an eMail scanner and automatic
healing of infected files.

AVG 6.0 Free Edition
http://www.grisoft.com

Download, install and use AVG 6.0 Anti-Virus
system to reliably protect your computer and data
free of charge. Go to Free Download Page to get
more information.

They sell a commercial version, but offer a free
version for all single home and office end users!

Free Updates!
AVG continuously  adds new viruses into the virus
database,as well as new functions and features.
All these improvements can be downloaded by
clicking on Updates. To download Update files, go
to Free Updates Page

Note:the programs we list here will either clean
and/or scan your computer for viruses. Be sure
you check with the provider of the anti-virus
program that you download for periodic updates, as
new viruses are appearing all the time on the Web


Freebie #4 AntiVir Virus Checker

This easy-to-use freeware antivirus utility
detects over 40,000 viruses and includes a
resident monitor and desktop program. Scans for
DOS, Windows, macros and Java viruses. For Windows
(ME & 98 & 95) and XP (XP & 2000 & NT)

Go to this website and follow the directions
http://www.free-av.com/


Freebie #5 Eudora

As Microsoft gets bigger and bigger, most of the
eMail today is sent and read by two programs
created by Microsoft and delivered as a part of
Windows. Outlook and Outlook Express.

Because of their wide-spread use, the virus bugs
(pun intended) target them almost exclusively. A
bit of email insuirance is to use an eMail program
OTHER than Outlook or Outlook Express.

Eudora® is a great eMail program for people who
get lots of eMail and for those who get only a few
messages a day. Best of all, it is rarely targeted
for virus attacks. Most virus developers go after
the Outlook Address book and send bogus mails to
thousands. Eudora is easy to use and has many
features not found in either of the Outlooks.

Best of all, a full-featured version is free for
the downloading. So, take control of your email
before it takes control of you. Eudora 6.0 is more
than a way to send and receive messages - it's a
powerful eMail management tool with features to
increase your productivity and enhance your
communications.

Everything you need to know about how to download
it, set it up and use it is at the Eudora Website.
http://www.eudora.com/

Additional reading: Get my article 
-10 Ways to Fight Spam-  by sending a blank eMail to
MailTo:Spam@BigIdeasGroup.com