Hi <<First Name>>
With Bigpond / Telstra migrating all of its customers to a new email system (read, new servers etc.) yet again, many people are choosing wisely to ditch them and go to web mail of some kind.
Now I know the detractors will cry out about privacy issues and security etc. etc. but really, do you think Bigpond is any less susceptible to problems?

Based on experience, I'd strongly suggest they are more likely to stuff up.
If you are truly worried about email security the best answer is to stop using email. But that is a whole other story.
The other key to email; frustration is your email client e.g. Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird or similar.
It seems that, sooner or later, these all become bloated and painful at handling your emails. I have explained this in detail in previous emails so I won't repeat it here (email me if you'd like to hear the detail).
But of course, you have a lot of email in "Outlook" that you now want in "Gmail" (these are in quote because I am now using them as generic terms for your email client and your web mail of choice. I am lazy, I'll stop with the quotes from now on too.
Gmail provides uploader tools to get your emails, contacts, calendar and other bits and pieces from your PC and into the cloud (Gmail).
These do a pretty good job and even allow you to pick and choose the subset of emails and data you upload e.g. between specific dates, from certain email accounts or data files etc.
Of course you'll keep your Outlook data files for at least a while as a backup, but once your data is up there you needn't go near Outlook and its issues ever again.
If I was to judge Outlook (and other email clients) against my personal use of Gmail (within Google app's), I can honestly say that it has more than significantly reduced the email problems I have.
I've had less than a handful of Gmail problems over 8 years or so, I would have had that many problems with Outlook in a week.
These email uploaders exist for a variety of email clients and platforms.
Just Google your combination to see what is available.
But be wary of third party tools that offer to do this "as a trial" and then demand money from you. Most of them are less than legitimate. I'd suggest you only use genuine Google tools.
Take care, have fun, David
All the Ways Your Wi-Fi Router Can Spy on You

If you are the paranoid type and want to know just how much spying on you is possible using your home wifi and router,
check this out.
While experimental at this stage, it is very interesting to consider that a new form of virus could know more about us than we ever imagined.
Viruses and your backups...
If you ever even suspect you have a virus...
DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT plug in your backups and external drives in an attempt to get your data back.
You'll only end up infecting them and losing all your backups too!
You backups should only ever be connected to a known clean machine.
The whole point of backups IS that they AREN'T taking the same risk with your data as other locations for your data...so don't "connect" the risk until there is NO RISK :-)
...and even then...take EXTREME caution...
...and if you aren't sure, ask your computer expert.
Facebook snippets...
If you need help implementing any of the things I've discussed here...
Then please give us a call or send us an email.
Products are discussed here to get you inspired and help those who can help themselves. For everyone else, we are happy to do these things for you.
T: +61 3 9016 0454
M: 0410 318 325
david@ihatemypc.com.au
Have fun - love your computer.
Thanks and regards,
David Moore
twitter.com/ih8mypc
www.facebook.com/IHateMyPC
http://ihatemypc.com.au/