Naturally you have your anti-virus installed, updated almost daily and running to automatically screen all your e-mail in and out. That’s a given these days! Here’s a neat trick to head them off at an outer perimeter and you can set this up in 45 seconds without adding any software!

Viruses for the most part are contained in attachments (not always though) making for larger messages. Because of this many security specialists suggest that you limit the size of the messages you initially bring down from your providers server to about 30K in size. By doing this you can take a quick look at the content and either bring the remainder of the message down or delete it from your providers server attachments and all! Set this up in the “Options” section of your e-mail software (you can always reset it to whatever limit you choose). Once done you will find that your antivirus software alarm will go off a lot less saving wear and tear on the nerves! (And as a side benefit you'll also screen out a lot of spam!) Remember --don’t forget to keep the anti virus software up to date and running and back up back up back up!

Rate your passwords

How good are your passwords? Are you protecting yourself with a bulletproof set of armor or a paper-thin shield?

Security Stats lets you test your passwords, rates them on a scale of weak to strong and makes suggestions to help strengthen the password you entered.

Fun, easy and effective way to protect your hard earned and valuable or sensitive information! And the price is right --it's free!

Government simplified

Who’d have imagined that someone would come along and simplify the U.S. Government! And surprise of surprises, who’d have guessed that the folks to do it would be --- the U.S. Government! First Gov was a great place when we reviewed it two years ago. Now it’s a super great place! Now you can save time by going straight to the new Citizen's Gateway home page, which among many other features showcases "Get It Done Online." Want to buy a surplus government car? Apply for Social Security? Get a passport application? With this great place there’s no need to wait for government offices to open or to stand in line to apply, get forms, or find answers to your government questions. It's all here - all the time.

This great place is brought to you by the folks from the U.S. General Services Administration who have been charged with accelerating the move to electronic government.

You'll find it hard to believe that your tax dollars are hard at work here -- looks too easy!

Dumb laws in your town

If you travel to Boston, remember that it is illegal to cross the Boston Common without carrying a shotgun. And in Marion, Oregon ministers are forbidden from eating garlic or onions before delivering a sermon.

Want to check on silliness in your state or hometown? Dumb Laws is a fun place has them all - even crazy laws from around the world.

PS If you move to France, don’t name your pig Napoleon! You may end up in la chambre de prison!

Published: June 3, 2003

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

John M. "Jack" Peckham is the Executive Director of REcyber.com (the Real Estate CyberSpace Society). In that capacity he oversees the development and delivery of the latest up to the minute Real Estate Cyberspace tools, strategies, networking structures and services that the Society provides its members to leverage their effectiveness, visibility, professionalism and earnings. As host of Real Estate CyberSpace Radio, he provides over 40 hours of programming to help listeners integrate the power of the Internet into their daily business lives. He is the author of several real estate books published by Prentice Hall and Harcourt Brace Jovanovich including his latest Master Guide to Income Property Brokerage from Wiley Publishing. A columnist for the Boston Herald for nine years, his syndicated columns have appeared in over 100 papers nationwide. Jack loves to sell real estate has been involved directly in the sale of over one billion dollars in Real Estate. Today he sells in his jeans and fuzzy slippers as a one-man shop and has closed over $40,000,000 in sales on the Internet recently in 20% of his working time. The balance he spends directing the affairs of the 10,000 member Real Estate CyberSpace Society. The Society awards the RECS (Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist) Designation to members based on the current criteria. He served as Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), is a Past President of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and has been honored as the Massachusetts State Realtor of the Year. You can reach Jack at or by calling 617-523-4441.