DMK:: 30-plus websites for new computer users

Ok, my mum and dad are finally getting a computer and getting online — and I’m putting together a list of 30 sites I think would be useful for them!

eBay and finance

Especially for these sites, “real” emails will NEVER have a link in them, and will suggest you visit the website by going into your web browser software and going to the address you already know. Phishing is a way of a low-life criminal tricking you into giving them your login details so they can take your money.

eBay — online auction marketplace
www.ebay.com.au

Commonwealth Bank
www.commbank.com.au

PayPal – online payment system, very popular and an eBay company. Paypal is a good way to pay for something without having to provide credit card details, or even do a bank-to-bank fund transfer (especially for eBay payments). Usually an “instant” payment method, without delay.
www.paypal.com.au

Internet Services

People Telecom — your ISP (Internet Service Provider) — for peoplenet login
www.peopletelecom.com.au

People Telecom Webmail — read/send email through a web browser, from anywhere
webmail.people.net.au (encrypted/secure website)

Google Mail (gmail) — a popular email service, good for mailing lists and things where you want to keep your own email address private. Need to be “invited” to be a user. Free service.
mail.google.com

SpamBob — free “disposable” email addresses — hide your real address from spammers.
www.spambob.com

Communicate via the internet

Skype — internet talk system: Skype to Skype is free
www.skype.com

Searching

Australia Post — find a postcode
www.auspost.com.au

Google — world’s number one search “engine”
www.google.com.au

Google Maps — online, world wide street directory — often with both maps and satellite pictures
maps.google.com

Route Planner — driving directions/distance between two Australian locations
www.visitvictoria.com.au
Or just go to the Visit Victoria site, then click on to “getting here” under Planning A Trip and click on the Route Planner

Online Street Directory — online Melway plus other cities
www.street-directory.com.au

TV Guide — see what’s on without the Green Guide
www.yourtv.com.au

White Pages — all directories, not just your local version.
www.whitepages.com.au

Yellow Pages
www.yellowpages.com.au