If Your ISP Sinks, Don't Go Down With the Ship

Be ready to save your e-mail address, as well as the rest of your online identity; disable IE's Content Advisor.

Scott Spanbauer

The Buddha taught that all is impermanent, and broadband Internet service providers exemplify his teaching perfectly. Many of us traded in our dependable dial-up service for a broadband connection, only to be left scrambling during the DSL shakeout. More recently, the collapse and consolidation of cable ISPs marooned thousands of others--and don't get me started on the folding of free ISPs (see February's Consumer Watch for information on how to deal with their demise).

When your broadband ISP pulls the plug, you may lose more than just your Internet access; your e-mail addresses and Web sites could wink out as well. And the shakeout isn't over.

So how do you keep a failing ISP from taking your online identity down the drain with it? Don't put all your eggs in one basket: Get your Internet connection, your e-mail address and server, and your Web site hosting from separate providers. That way, if one of the companies goes belly up, the other services will carry on without interruption. If DSL suddenly becomes a better deal than cable for high-speed Internet access in your area, you can dump one service in favor of the other without having to print new business cards or losing Web site visitors.

E-Mail With Legs

Start by signing up for e-mail from an ISP with a long, unbroken track record, such as EarthLink, Sprint, or AT&T WorldNet. America Online and MSN are also likely to stick around for a while, but limit your choice of e-mail readers to Netscape Mail if you choose AOL and to Outlook Express if you opt for MSN.

All your service providers should rely on standards-based protocols, such as POP3 and SMTP for e-mail, and FTP for uploading Web pages. The trick is to use the Big Name ISP's POP3 server for receiving e-mail (which will usually work even if you're connecting through a different ISP in Timbuktu), and use your local access provider's own SMTP server for sending e-mail. Changing your access provider won't affect your receipt of e-mail; you simply enter the new provider's SMTP server address in your e-mail program to continue sending e-mail.

Companies that specialize in Web hosting often charge as little as $5 per month, and sometimes less. You may find that a local hosting company has what it takes to weather the ups and downs of the Internet economy, though it may not offer browser-based e-mail or toll-free access numbers for uploading files. Internet.com's The List is a good place to start looking for a hosting service or any other kind of ISP you may need.

Of course, as the Buddha would tell you, no ISP--not even AOL--is guaranteed to last forever. If you want to be completely sure that an ISP meltdown won't also vaporize your mail or Web site, consider creating your own domain. In addition to making your e-mail and Web site addresses more personalized and memorable ("Just send that message to idiot@spanbauer.com"), domain names are easily transferable from one ISP to another.

Splitting up your services among different providers and employing a domain name will probably cost more per month than going with a single $20 all-in-one service. But if flexibility and a consistent online presence are important to you or your business, the few extra dollars per month may be money well spent.

Kill the Content Advisor

Here's a frequently asked question (and answer) you may want to tuck away for future reference, especially if you have kids: How do you disable Internet Explorer's Content Advisor censorware when you've forgotten the password?

It's easy. First, launch the Registry Editor (select Start, Run, enter regedit, and click OK), press F3, enter ratings in the 'Find what' field, and select Find Next. Regedit's search should land on the \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Ratings branch, which contains a binary value called Key (see FIGURE 1). Right-click the Key value and choose Delete, then exit Regedit and restart Windows. Finally, in Internet Explorer, choose Tools, Internet Options, Content, click the Disable button, enter a new password when prompted, then click OK.

Send your questions and tips to nettips@spanbauer.com. We pay $50 for published items. Scott Spanbauer is a contributing editor for PC World.