Inbox

By DON McALLISTER

Welcome to InBox, where we attempt to answer your internet questions.

Dimitra would like to contact another Newsgroup user, but the user's true e-mail is not included in messages.

Due to the amount of spam mail that gets sent to news discussion group users, many hide their e-mail identity, Dimitra. Post a request for the user to contact you via an ICQ number (www.icq.com) or some other non e-mail contact program. This way you will also protect yourself from spam.

Dimitra also asks, "What is spam?"

There are two varieties: the Hormel product - a tinned meat shipped worldwide (www.spam.com), apparently very popular in Hawaii, and the annoying unsolicited e-mail type. The latter covers many types of unwanted entries in your mailbox and is often sent by a would-be internet entrepreneur who cares nothing for wastage of internet resources in pursuit of a quick buck.

Keith and Debbie followed a Herald hotlink on January 22, but found "find a street" couldn't be found.

Sometimes when a hotlink is posted on a Tuesday, the huge volume of readers entering often overloads the site and makes it unavailable (sometimes for an extended period). If starting at the suggested "street search" page fails, try www.mapcentre.co.nz and click on the "find a street" link to the left.

Therese has that annoying internet marketing tool Bonzai Buddy on her system. It has taken over her Internet Explorer settings and she is not a happy camper.

Adaware from Lavasoft (www.lsfileserv.com/index.html) scans for "spyware" and "scumware" and allows the removal of the unwanted components from your machine, Therese.

John asks, "Why is Telecom Xtra's Jetstart sometimes as slow as a dial-up?"

Telecom's data pipeline can't handle its popularity, John. Nights and school holidays tax the system beyond capacity. All internet providers feel the strain at present. Xtra will soon be forced to upgrade its system (and maybe the Jetstart price).

Frank points out that Power Defrag (Inbox, January 15) is not suitable for Windows NT, 2000 or XP, but a new version should be available shortly.

* If there's anything you want to know about the exciting world of the web, just e-mail inbox@nzherald.co.nz.