I have a small gift shop in Elkhorn, Neb. I just bought a new computer and am interested in knowing how to back it up off site.

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September 15th, 2011 - Posted by jeff

Q: I have a small gift shop in Elkhorn, Neb. I just bought a new computer and am interested in knowing how to back it up off site.

A: If you are only looking to back up one computer, then Carbonite is the best value for you. The service offers unlimited storage on one computer for $53.10/year, which is cheaper than most other reputable services that have a storage cap. And the service is easy to use, supports both PCs and Macs, and gives you more options than other services. This is the best value for any one-computer home or business.

If you are looking for a service for more than one computer, or think you might expand at some point, then Mozy offers the best value. While the standard service is slightly more expensive than Carbonite and has a 50 GB data cap, adding additional computers only costs you $2 more a month, as opposed to Carbonite which requires a new plan for each additional computer. Mozy also supports both PCs and Macs.

If your main concern is not value or you are looking for other specific options, you can use our Online Backup Chooser to help choose the best backup service for you. Answer a few questions about your needs and the Chooser will select the best plans to fit your needs.

I'm pretty sure my identity has already been stolen. What can I do about it?

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September 15th, 2011 - Posted by Tasha

The following post is an actual user submitted question:

Q:  I'm pretty sure my identity has already been stolen.  What can I do about it?

A: We're sorry to hear about this, because we know having your identity stolen can be very stressful. The first thing you should do is follow the comprehensive steps in our What To Do If Someone Has Stolen Your Identity blog post. You should also seriously consider a top-notch identity theft protection service like Identity Guard TOTAL PROTECTION®.

Identity Guard Total Protection provides comprehensive identity theft protection, which will be especially important in a situation like yours. They start with daily 3-bureau credit monitoring, the gold standard for catching any potential identity thieves that may have opened an account in your name. But they also provide extensive fraud prevention measures including monitoring the Internet black market for the use of your Social Security number, credit cards or bank account numbers. In addition they monitor public records for changes to your name, address, license and registrations, criminal records, civil court records and bankruptcy filings.  Identity Guard subscriptions also include free anti-keylogging software, mobile security software and Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite.

Right now Identity Guard is offering a free 30-day trial and 18% off the subscription price to NextAdvisor readers. This means not only do you get free identity theft protection for a month, but you'll also receive free 3-bureau credit scores to boot. All-in-all a great deal from our top-reviewed identity theft protection service.

Looking to shed those summer pounds? Get $50 off your first week at BistroMD

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September 14th, 2011 - Posted by jeff

Ate too many hot dogs and hamburgers off the grill this summer? Looking to shed that extra summer weight? BistroMD is offering NextAdvisor readers a deal! Get $50 off your first week of food from BistroMD. Choose from four unique plans that range from five to seven days a week and cover most of your meals, which are delivered fully-cooked to your door. BistroMD meals scored four out of five stars in our in-house taste test. And the plans also include a licensed dietitian to answer any of your burning diet questions. Click here to take advantage of this BistroMD deal.

With cash back credit cards, how much cash back will I earn on grocery items and gas? Do I get instant cash back immediately after purchase?

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September 14th, 2011 - Posted by Tasha

Q:  With cash back credit cards, how much cash back will I earn on grocery items and gas?  Do I get instant cash back immediately after purchase?

A: It depends on the cash back rewards credit card you choose. If you're specifically interested in receiving cash back for grocery store and gas purchases, we recommend the Blue Cash Everyday^SM from American Express. With this card, users earn 3% cash back at supermarkets (excluding superstores and warehouse clubs), 2% at gas stations and department stores and 1% on all other eligible purchases. Users can also take advantage of a 0% APR introductory rate for up to 12 months.

If you'd rather get a nice cash bonus for spending money in the first couple of months, the Chase Freedom® Visa – $200 Bonus Cash Back card might be more your speed. This card $200 gives users cash back if they spend $500 within the first 3 months of receiving the card. Plus, users also earn 5% cash back in rotating categories and 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.

In general, cash back rewards are accrued throughout a statement cycle and cannot be used until the end of that cycle. For example, if your statement runs from October 5th through November 4th, the cash back rewards wouldn't be available until November 5th.  In addition, some cards require that you earn a certain amount of cash back before your can redeem it (ie, $25 etc).  Then you can usually use the cash back you've earned as a credit to your account, to buy a discounted gift card, or even as a electronic deposit to your bank account. However, every credit card is different (note: some cards accrue rewards on an annual basis instead) so you need to read your Terms and Conditions to determine when you can use your cash back rewards and what you can use them for.

40% off Yahoo Small Business Web Hosting

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September 13th, 2011 - Posted by Tasha

Yahoo Small Business web hosting is offering NextAdvisor readers a whopping 40% off the first 12 months.  This brings the price down to just $5.97 per month. We think Yahoo Small Business web hosting is a great solution, especially for the less tech-savvy, and this new discount makes it more appealing than ever. To see all our web hosting reviews, take a look at our Web Host Comparison page.

Which people search service would be best for locating just addresses, as many as 30 per week?

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September 12th, 2011 - Posted by jeff

Q: Which people search service would be best for locating just addresses, as many as 30 per week?

A: If you are looking for quantity over quality, Net Detective is the best place to look. The service only costs $19 for 3 years unlimited searching, with the NextAdvisor discount. The search does include address history, as well as social security number verification, professional records and estimated income, but little else. You can also get Net Detective Advanced plan which is $29.95 per month and gives you unlimited nationwide criminal background searches.

If you are looking for more in-depth information, you can try Intelius, which provides full name, date of birth, address, home phone number, home value, known relatives, income, complete address history, statewide criminal check, alias names, relatives and roommates, home value, sex offender status, small claims and judgments, marriages and divorces, average income, and more for $49.95 per search.

Our Norton Internet Security 2012 review

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September 12th, 2011 - Posted by jeff

Norton Internet Security 2012

Our Norton Internet Security 2012 review

We’ve just released our review of Norton Internet Security 2012 software, and we were impressed, to say the least. Norton focused on performance with this update, offering new tools to enhance their swath of protection while keeping the cost of your RAM down. The new interface is simplified and easy for even the most tech-illiterate users to navigate. Norton has also jumped on the cloud-loving bandwagon. Users can now manage all of their Norton software from a central system on the Norton website. While the 2012 version is not a major overhaul, it does have many user-friendly bells and whistles that will make the top-rated software easier to use. Want to know more? Check out our Norton Internet Security 2012 review.

I need info for backing up my computers. I have 5 offices and 6 computers to backup. We have about 300 GB of storage currently, with about a GB coming and going each day for 5 days a week. Can you help me out?

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September 9th, 2011 - Posted by jeff

Q: I need info for backing up my computers. I have 5 offices and 6 computers to backup. We have about 300 GB of storage currently, with about a GB coming and going each day for 5 days a week. Can you help me out?

A: Well, you have a couple of options. Carbonite offers both individual plans and small business plans, both that could work for you. They end up being around the same price, so it depends on what works best for your business needs.

With the individual plan, you can buy a year subscription for each computer at $53.10, with the NextAdvisor discount, which would total $318.60, and comes with unlimited storage. If you buy the 2- or 3-year plan, it will save you more. (2-year plan = $310.65/yr; 3-year plan = $278/yr)

With the small business plan, you can cover an unlimited amount of computers for the same $318, but you are limited to 350 GB of storage. (This combines the standard 250 GB plan for $229/yr with the 100 GB add-on for $89/yr.) So it basically comes down to whether you want unlimited storage or unlimited computer coverage. If you are unsure, Carbonite offers a free 30-day trial that will help you determine how much storage space your business will need.

I live both in Canada and the USA. Can I install VOIPo in Canada and/or the USA? What local phone number (area code) can I use? I just want the US and Canada calls. What is the total cost, including adaptor cost, other fees, etc?

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September 8th, 2011 - Posted by jeff

Q: I live both in Canada and the USA. Can I install VOIPo in Canada and/or the USA? What local phone number (area code) can I use? I just want the US and Canada calls. What is the total cost, including adaptor cost, other fees, etc?

A: VOIPo’s 7,000 service areas only include the US, but services set up in the US provide unlimited local and long distance calling to all of the US and Canada. You can set up your service in any area code included in those VOIPo service areas. Since the VOIPo adapter is portable and the service can be used anywhere that has an Internet connection, you should be able to set up your adapter (with your US number) in Canada as well, although VOIPo support staff is not equipped to troubleshoot in other countries.

VOIPo offers three different payment plans: a 2-year plan for $6.21/month, a 1-year plan for $8.25/month, and a monthly plan for $15/month. All plans are unlimited in the US and Canada. Both activation and the VOIPo adapter are including in the plan, so there are no extra fees to pay.

I am so tired of paying high phone bills. But my question is if I switch to VOIPo can I keep my phone number? I have had it for 35 years.

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September 8th, 2011 - Posted by jeff

Q: I am so tired of paying high phone bills. But my question is if I switch to VOIPo can I keep my phone number? I have had it for 35 years.

A: Yes, you can keep your phone number if you switch to VOIPo, as long as your number is within the 7,000 areas that VOIPo covers. The company allows you to transfer your number to their service free of charge. And since VOIPo doesn’t give out numbers that are active with other phone companies, there is no chance that VOIPo has already given your number to another customer. To confirm your number can be transferred you can email your number to support@voipo.com.

To transfer your number, VOIPo asks you to fill out and return a Letter of Authorization giving them permission to transfer your number, as well as a copy of your most recent phone bill, which confirms your name and phone number. The transfer usually takes about 1-2 weeks, and the number must remain active with the old phone company until the transfer is complete. Make sure the VOIPo service is working before you cancel your old service.