Useful links

Please note this is not a "link exchange" page. I add links here when I find information or products that will be of interest to my visitors - not because I owe a link to someone who has decided to list me on their site.

Local computer tuition
Unfortunately I am unable to provide mobile PC tuition or troubleshooting, but you may like to try Wedmore IT, or Computer Problem Solutions about training and hardware matters.

Istockphoto images and Microsoft Office photos and clipart library
Very important information about images - use these sites in preference to pinching images randomly from the web. You must make sure that you have the rights to publish all images you use on your web site (including any you send me for use in a design, which might include unlicenced material). Otherwise you may unwittingly be using an image that you should have paid for. Getty Images and other image suppliers regularly send out "picture search robots" to scour the web for unlicensed images on web sites. The first you will know about it is a bill for hundreds or even thousands of pounds with a demand for payment. Search on "getty images warning letter" in Google for more information. Avoid the threat of legal proceedings and make sure your images are properly licensed.

Popular "free listing" and "register your domain name" scam information
Look out for those who prey on novice internet users to try and trick them into re-registering domain names at inflated prices, sending official looking bills for listings in directories with extortionate pricing in the small print, seeking help getting money out of African countries, or making "advance fee" bookings using invalid credit cards or rubber cheques. Steer clear! See links below for info.

Tourist Directory (Lucerne) Hotel Guide, European City Guide (Valencia)
Domain Registry of America (DROA) / Canada Europe etc. and UK Internet Register - also Domain Registry Group
Debunking of other urban myths, chain letters, hoax viruses etc. at snopes.com
Whocallsme.com - if you are pestered by sales calls from a not-withheld number
Callercenter - similar service to report scam telemarketers in UK and USA

Parental controls and site blocking
One of the best solutions to controlling web access by your kids (or employees) is the OpenDNS service. All you do is set up a free account there, change your router or computers to use their domain name servers rather than your ISP's ones, and within your OpenDNS account you can then filter out sites by name or category. You can customise the "bounce" page with a logo too - for our home setup I've uploaded the logo of our ISP so the blocking is seen as external to our control.

Another very useful tool if you have more than one child fighting for use of a computer is TimesUpKidz, a PC time control utility that restricts use of a Windows login to a set amount of time per day / week (varying at weekends) and within set times of day (or a combination of these settings). Your kids will get warnings as they approach the end of their usage for the current sitting to give them time to log out of games and so on. We are using it at home and it has killed all the arguments about whose turn it is, stone dead.

BT Home Hub Security
Many of my clients have BT Internet as their ISP, and have been concerned about security matters regarding their Home Hub router, as the default security settings are somewhat insecure. All the information required to lock down the router from hackers are here.

Virtual Personal Assistant
If like me you work from a home-based office it's handy to have someone to pick up the phone when you are not available yourself. I can recommend Moneypenny, who will provide you with your own personal secretary / PA at a much more cost-effective rate than employing someone directly. And as they say, you would be happy to employ any of their PAs yourself. There is a free trial available too - just tell them I referred you!

Video games for children
As a parent, steering through the absolute minefield of computer and video games trying to avoid those unsuitable for under 18s is a tricky task. Whilst multiplayer games from the Disney stable such as Toontown and Club Penguin, and BBC games such as Adventure Rock are very child-friendly, others are not, and many parents of under-18s can unknowingly be allowing them to play games such as Grand Theft Auto which presses all the game classification buttons for sex, violence and bad language. For some useful guidance visit Gaming With Children and What They Play.