Last month I wrote a column about backing up files to the “Cloud” or online on someone else’s servers.  You could back up these files.  Then if you needed them at any time from any computer you could quite easily get them.  Maria wrote and asked me if there was a way that she could get actual files from her desktop computer using her own notebook computer.

You know that if I am writing about it here I have an answer.  However, I still strongly suggest using Microsoft’s Live Mesh to copy your files up to the cloud and sync them with all of your computers.  It is very simple to use.

If you don’t choose to use Live Mesh you may want to consider a VPN application.

A VPN is a network which can make use of public Internet connections that allow you to connect to a computer in another location.  The really good thing about them is that if you VPN to your desktop computer from your notebook in a public place all of the files you send and receive are heavily encrypted for security.  This encryption means that no one else can intercept information sent between your two computers.

So what does that mean?  Well, if you are checking your email on your computer while at the local coffee shop or an airport someone “could” hack into the system retrieving your email account’s username and password.  Taken a step further, your username and password for your bank account could be obtained if you logged in to check account balance.

You can picture it like this.  When you use a VPN your computer connects to any internet connection but when you start the VPN software a bulletproof tunnel is created between your two computers. Only your two systems can access it.  Now of course, someone could look over your shoulder and get that info too, so look around before you type anything private on your computer in public places.

There are many VPNs available but I have been using one named LogMeIn-Hamachi which is free.  This one does all of the above and also will let you log into the C Drive of your non-local computer and grab any file you need from it.  This isn’t really a backup system but an access and security system which I and many others recommend.

It is easy to set up if you have some computer savvy, but not for the beginner.  When you try it out let me know how you like it and how easy it was for you to use.  The site has lots of helpful information.

Last week I warned you about receiving fake emails whose goal is to get your financial credentials online.  I received a couple of emails from readers telling me about some of the horrors they have experienced from doing just what I described.  I’m sorry I didn’t get this info to you sooner.  But today I have another warning for you about something that is once again abounding on the internet.

These emails started running rampant about two months ago.  They are from some not-well-known online greeting card company.  They also make you feel very comfortable, telling you that a family member left you a greeting card and you need to go retrieve it from the internet.  Now note that there are reputable sites that do greeting cards online that your family may send you.  The Hallmark and Dayspring online e-cards companies come to mind and both are reputable

Please make sure you regularly update your anti-virus accounts since these and millions of other viruses spread through email.  Mine, Avast! worked perfectly as it caught the four that I received within a 10 minute period.  It identified them as Trojans.  Of course, receiving that many emails from an anonymous family member should be a tip off, too.

If your anti-virus software doesn’t catch them you may be able to spot them another way.  Attachments to these files often end with a “.shs” extension. This file type is commonly associated with Trojan horse files. They could also end with “.exe” but basically they can be any file type that is an executable file.  If you use a preview window of your emails you could already have a Trojan from the email.  They are not pretty.

Trojan horse files operate exactly like their namesake.  They appear to be happy little files incapable of anything but they can be loaded with devastating contents.  Most of them will automatically install themselves on your computer and will run in the background without you being conscious of it.

They most commonly collect usernames and passwords or scan computer drives for sensitive documents.  Once they have this information they will forward the data to the sender of the infected e-mail.  These are nasty and need to be avoided at all costs.

As I mentioned above I use “Avast!” anti-virus software and find it to be very effective.  And the price is good too, free.  But whatever anti-virus application you use, whether free or costly, you must make sure that it, and your windows system are updated often.

We have hit issues similar to this in the past; however, from some of the emails and my recent personal experience, I feel the need to reiterate.  I made a couple of changes to my PayPal account.  I set up a new bank account to use with PayPal and changed my password.

First WARNING; any accounts that have anything to do with your money need regular password changes.  For instance PayPal, EBay, iTunes and the like should be taken care of.  You absolutely need to change you online banking accounts several times a year.  If it fell into “enemy” hands it could cost you a lot!  Enough said about that – you have been warned.

Now, back to my story which I hope will serve as another word of warning.  It was the day after I executed my changes.  I received a very normal looking email from PayPal telling me that my charge of 145.50 UK Pounds had been charged and if I had any questions to click on the PayPal link to get it fixed.

I must have been in a daze because I didn’t think correctly.  I thought, “Oh no, I didn’t buy anything online in the last month or so, but I changed my PayPal stuff and someone must have gotten my password and made a false charge!”

I then jumped online to see if $232.37 (converted using Google’s online financial converter) had been taken out of my banking account.  Thankfully it had not.  So then I knew I had been scammed.  It was just a random scam that coincided with my changes.

Being the geek that I am I decided to have some fun so I clicked on the link supplied in the email.  It took me to an exact duplicate of PayPal’s login page.  At this phishing site their goal is to get me to login using may true PayPal credentials.  Then they can spend the little bit of money I have in my account.

I made up an email address and password and then I was sent to a screen that said thank you and that PayPal was down right now but I could come back later and check it out.  That means they now had all they needed to take my money.  However, they won’t get much from the data that I made up.  The second fake PayPal page looked absolutely real too.  They even had links to actual PayPal sites.

Do not be fooled and DO NOT EVER use links in an email to get to a financial site.  This is the last warning this week:  Only go to sites that concern your finances by typing in the actual link in your web browser and pressing Enter.

I receive many questions about movies services online.  Before I go any further, I will state that I only have experience with Netflix (www.netflix.com); although there are others out there, like Blockbuster (www.blockbuster.com).  Others may be similar, less or more expensive with more or less features. So don’t email me about how I missed the best one.  I only write about things I have actually used and am acquainted with.

Basically, you obtain a membership at the Netflix site then start building your video “Queue” which contains movies you want to see. Next, depending on the plan you have, check the site for prices.  They will ship the movie(s) to you via snail-mail.  After you view the movie you send it back in a prepaid mailer.  Upon receipt they send you the next one in your movie queue.

I have written about this before comparing Netflix’s shipping speed to my pharmacy.  I won’t get into those details again; however, if I return one on Monday before the mail is picked up, I will usually receive the next DVD by Wednesday.  At the latest I will have it Thursday.

Netflix states that they have over 100,000 movies to choose from, so selection shouldn’t be much of a problem.  This includes movies and TV shows.

Now let’s talk about Netflix with your computer.  You have the option of watching a movie online using your computer.  We have done that several times around our house.  I know the computer screen is small compared to larger screen TVs but a 22- 25 inch screen is much larger than the TVs I watched when I was in college and first married so I won’t complain.  You also have the option of buying a broadcast box for less than $100 and watching the movies on your TV.  All of you Xbox 360 owners out there can use that to watch them, too.  There is one drawback with this feature, they only have 12,000+ videos to watch online – though, I doubt I have that many years left.

When you watch your first movie on your computer you will have to install a viewer to see them; however, that only takes a few minutes depending on your internet speed.  I doubt that a dial up modem will be fast enough to stream the movie, but hey, try it if you like. It is included in your Netflix subscription price.

My first experience with it was when I started watch the first season of the NBC show, “Heroes“.  It worked well and kept track of which show I watched last so I could go back later and start where I left off.  I have since watched movies and enjoyed the experience.  This way you don’t even have to mail anything back.

Well, I have to go now. My wife wants to watch the pilot episode of “Murder She Wrote“.  Oh boy, I can hardly wait.  I’m starting to snore already.