TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPIC: IDENTITY THEFT / INTERNET TELEPHONY

Are you worried about Identify Theft? Learn the simple steps to protecting yourself from scammers, both online and offline. Also in this issue, get the scoop on Internet Telephony, and an easy step by step guide to backing up your email. Read on!

Identity Theft

Remember that 1995 movie "The Net", starring Sandra Bullock? Okay, I didn't see it either. Somehow I couldn't imagine Sandra as a geek after watching her in "While You Were Sleeping". But I digress... the movie was a story about a growing problem today - identity theft.

If the phrase "identity theft" conjures up images of evil plastic surgeons, you need a crash course on what it is, how it happens, and how to protect yourself. Learn how to protect against Evildoers who want to invade your privacy, run up a tab at your expense, or even commit crimes in your name.

http://askbobrankin.com/identity_theft.html

What is Internet Telephony?

Seems like everybody, and everything, is getting connected to the Internet. Have you heard about Internet Telephony? If you have high-speed Internet service, you may be able to save on telephone charges by connecting the phone to your Cable or DSL modem instead of the phone company's wall jack.

And depending on your affinity for wires and gadgets, you may even be able to make free long-distance calls all over the world. Read on to learn more about using the Internet to make phone calls.

http://askbobrankin.com/what_is_internet_telephony.html

Backing Up Outlook Express

A reader recently asked this question about making email backups:

> "How can I backup my Outlook Express emails and address book? I
> tried the Export function but that doesn't work. I can't even
> drag and drop from the Inbox folder to a diskette or CDROM. Help!"

It's really too bad that Microsoft didn't include a simple one-click backup option in Outlook Express. And after attempting it myself, I began to think that they PURPOSELY made it hard to make a backup of your emails and address book. But after a bit of digging, I was able to come up with a workable solution. Here's a step by step guide to burning a backup CD with your Outlook Express goodies...

http://askbobrankin.com/backup_outlook_express.html

That's all for now, see you next time! -- Bob Rankin