Hostway is a US-based website hosting service that I've been using since 2000. They are very reliable and have provided me with all the web hosting services I need at reasonable prices.

Free Audio Conferencing is a free conference calling service. Up to 100 callers dial-in to a US-based number (each caller pays their own long distance charges). It's more convenient than other similar services because no reservation is required. 

MindManager is a high-quality mind-mapping software package that lets you gather your thoughts into the flexible and intuitive pattern of a mind map. I use this and recommend it to my clients whenever there's an issue that requires some complex planning or visualizing. The simplest version includes all the features that most people need and there is a free trial available to download.

Harrison Assessments is a high-quality assessment system that I use for management and leadership development, and career suitability evaluation. I am a distributor, and I'm particularly interested in working with other coaches who would like to use this system to build their businesses. It is also a very good solution for recruitment needs. Please contact me for more information.

Organising Solutions offers training, services and support in Hong Kong for all aspects of organizing including information, time management, workplace usability and online communications.

Angela's internet security guy recommends the following measures for playing safely on the internet.

How to improve your Windows security and privacy - for free.

Click here to jump to the summary of the simplest set of software.

This is written for Windows 2000, XP and Vista users. Last updated June 2008.

Windows is a weak operating system when it comes to security. However, you can greatly improve your security without spending money. Except where noted, all of the programs listed below are freeware for home users. In some cases you have to hunt on software company websites to find the free version. For that reason, in some cases I've listed links to download sites that maintain links to the latest free version, rather than links to company websites. If you can't find the free version, check at www.majorgeeks.com.

In all cases, just install the basic installation without any extra Yahoo or Google toolbars, and ask it not to put you on any mailing lists. This is not intended to be a complete or exhaustive review. It's simply what works for me. Your mileage may vary.

Step 1: Anti-virus

You want a free AV program that

1. updates itself automatically
2. scans incoming e-mail automatically
3. you can schedule to scan your whole computer once a week or so, so you don't need to remember to, and
4. doesn't annoy you and slow down your computer with 'features' you don't need.

There are 3 popular free anti-virus programs: AVG Anti-virus, Avast and AntiVir. None hit all 4 of the above points.

AntiVir, in particular, has two big problems: it lacks e-mail scanning in the free version, and it has an annoying daily pop-up advertisement asking you to upgrade to the Pro version. For these reasons I don't recommend it.

AVG was the most popular free AV program, but the latest version of AVG is a step backwards. It now has built-in advertising for the pro version. And it now has several scans and features that have little to do with its core function, and are best done by a specialized anti-malware program like the ones below. If you turn some of them off, this turns the AVG system tray icon gray, which suggests that the program itself isn't working. Plus it can only be set to scan every day (which is silly for most users), or manually; there's no way in the free version to set up a scheduled weekly scan. And it has has one extremely annoying 'feature'; it adds useless "checked by AVG" messages to the bottom of all your incoming and outgoing mail. Fortunately, there's a way to turn this off. Here's how:

Open AVG by double-clicking on the yellow-black-red-green square at the bottom of the Windows desktop (bottom right-hand corner of your screen, near the clock), click 'Tools', then 'Advanced Settings', then 'E-mail scanner', then click 'Configure', then uncheck the 2 'Certify mail' boxes. Leave the 'Check incoming' and 'Check outgoing' boxes checked. Then click 'OK' to close the window. Your mail will still be scanned, but no more useless messages will be added to the bottom of your incoming and outgoing mail.

Avast has only one problem: you can't schedule scans in the free version, so you have to remember to launch a manual scan once a week. And the interface takes a bit of getting used to. But other than that, it's clean and effective. Bottom line? These days I'm using Avast, but AVG is also workable. Just remember to do weekly scans.

Step 2: Software and hardware firewall

XP and Vista come with the Windows firewall, which is close to useless. Turn it off and install a real firewall.

If you just want an easy option, ZoneAlarm is the simplest to configure and use.

Note that ZoneAlarm has unfixable problems with bitTorrent connections. A more sophisticated and secure firewall is Comodo, but it's not nearly as easy to understand or set up.

If you have a router, it usually acts as a hardware firewall, but you should still use one of the above. And if you have a wi-fi (wireless) router, make sure the security settings are properly configured! These settings are different for different routers, but basically, you want to make sure that - you have changed the default password - you have enabled the most robust encryption - you have configured it NOT to broadcast SSID - you have enabled MAC address filtering. This is all geeky stuff and may require some Googling to figure out, but it is necessary. Don't skip it.

Step 3: Firefox browser

Firefox is simply a better and safer browser than Internet Explorer. I switched and I'm never going back. Plus if you install the NoScript and AdBlock Plus add-ons, it greatly increases Firefox's security.

There's one little program that greatly improves the security of either IE or Firefox. It's SpywareBlaster.

It requires manual updating (and that's a 2-step process; make sure you click 'enable all protection' after you update) but other than that, it takes care of itself. Install this program after you install Firefox, not before. I recommend updating it once a week.

Step 4: Anti-malware

'Malware' is the catch-all term for spyware, adware and other nasties. Anti-virus programs are not always effective against these, but there are 2 excellent free programs that are: Spybot S+D and Lavasoft AdAware. You can install one or both; they don't conflict with each other. Lavasoft is the simplest to use; Spybot has the additional 'immunize' feature which can help prevent infections, and also has basic anti-rootkit scanning (don't worry about what that means, but it's a good thing to have) but has a slightly more confusing interface. Bottom line is that if you can figure out how to use Spybot, it's the better option. In both cases, the free versions require you to manually update the program and manually request it to scan your computer. I recommend to do this once a week.

The latest version of AVG Anti-virus (see Step 1, above) includes some anti-malware features, but for now I recommend also running Spybot and/or AdAware. Most new versions of Windows Vista include an anti-malware program called Windows Defender; again, for now I suggest to use this in addition to, rather than instead of, Spybot and/or AdAware.

Step 5: Keep it clean

This is more of a housekeeping issue than a security issue. Windows leaves orphan files all over the place and over time they build up, waste space and even slow your computer down. CCleaner is small, simple and effective. I run the regular cleaner once a week, and I suggest you leave the registry cleaner feature alone unless you know what you're doing (but I run that weekly, too.)

Step 6: Spam

E-mail spam is close to incurable, but you can do several things to prevent and reduce it.

Never put your 'real' e-mail address anywhere on a website or on-line forum; spammers use programs to automatically troll through millions of websites and log all the e-mail addresses they can find. Get a separate free Yahoo address, and use it for all the spam-generating stuff: website sign-ups, conference bookings, airline mileage programs, on-line shopping, sleazy guys you just met in a bar; all those things that get you on spam mailing lists.

If you have hosted e-mail for your 'real' address (as opposed to web-based e-mail like Yahoo or Hotmail), make sure it's at a host with excellent spam and virus filtering at the server level. You want a service that removes the suspect message and holds it on their server for a week or two where you can delete it at your leisure, not a service that simply send you the message marked "SPAM". I've used a small local provider (www.netfront.net) for years, and their spam filtering is very good. Of the web-based mail services, Yahoo's filtering is also very good.

If it's too late and you're getting a ton of spam every day and you can't change your e-mail address, for MS Outlook users, there's a great program, but it's not free. Qurb works as a whitelist: it allows e-mail from anyone in your address book into your Inbox, and sends everything else to a separate folder. This means you never, ever get any spam in your Inbox. Once a day or so, you check the spam folder. Anything you move from there back to your Inbox gets remembered as a non-spam sender, and the program will not flag it as spam next time. It's simple and elegant. The problem is that Qurb got bought out by Computer Associates and the program is now US$50; and it's only useful for Outlook and Outlook Express users. I'm sure there's a freeware equivalent, but I haven't found it yet... e-mail Angela if you know of a simple, effective freeware whitelist program.

You might be getting a little overwhelmed now... if so, here's the simplest set of software:

• Avast (updates automatically, requires weekly manual scan)
• ZoneAlarm firewall (set and forget)
• Firefox browser (set and forget, but I recommend adding NoScript and AdBlock Plus)
• SpywareBlaster (requires weekly manual update)
• Lavasoft AdAware (requires weekly manual update and scan)

This will give you better protection than probably 99% of the computers on the 'net. And the good news? All this software is free for home use, and in most cases as good as or better than the pay versions.

Don't forget to make sure your wi-fi router is properly configured, your Windows and programs are kept up-to-date with the latest security upgrades, and do weekly backups.

Yes, really do backups. Every week. The easiest way to do backups is with a portable hard drive, but don't leave the drive sitting beside your computer so they both can get stolen or burned up in a fire at the same time.

Angela Spaxman coaches managers and professionals in Asia to achieve career fulfillment and success.