Password Protecting Documents On The Web

Prevent users from opening sensitive documents by password protecting PDF files.

Most PDF creators can be used to add security to documents. A good free program I use is PrimoPDF - it installs as a 'virtual' printer on your computer and allows you to create pdf files by 'printing' documents to PDF. It will convert to PDF any file you can print. In the process you have the option of adding a password to protect access to the file. You can also prevent people from copying text and printing the PDF.

Try opening this document - you could also try downloading the PDF but you would be unable to open it without the password...

5 Essential Free Software Programs

Don't buy software. Reputable, free software (see below) is available which is as good or better than bought software.

• Mozilla Firefox - it is faster, safer and better than Internet Explorer.
• AVG Free Edition - free anti virus for the home user.
• Mozilla Thunderbird - better than Outlook Express and Windows Mail.
• Open Office - why buy Microsoft Office, when Open Office is free.
• Picasa - Best all round photo editor.
  

Photo Backup Strategies

Make the assumption that your computer will fail - and you will lose everything. Your most precious memories are photo's - they are irreplaceable. In times past we had physical negatives - today we don't even have these. Our 'negatives' are computer image files. We cant physically touch them. As a result our photos are more fragile than ever.

So what to do?

• Downloaded images from your camera become your 'negatives'.
• DO NOT DELETE the images off your camera until they exist in two other places i.e. your computer and another backup destination (e.g. USB drive, External Hard Drive or CD/DVD).
• Create a structure in your computer such that you don't touch your original downloaded image files (and inadvertently lose/delete them!). Always use copies. Or use a program like Picasa which doesn't change the original image when editing.
• Consider printing out your images - paper still is one of the best forms of preserving your memories. At 10 cents a print it is a small price to pay. Plus it doesn't lock up your images on a computer. Remember when we used to show people our printed photos!
• Buy an external Hard Drive (now less than $100) and regularly backup to it. If you have nothing to do - backup! Consider online backup e.g. Carbonite