An easy way to encrypt a file is with 7-Zip. Although this isn’t the most secure encryption method, it is good enough for most purposes.* Between encryption with 7-Zip and transferring the file over a secure channel (such as WeTransfer) your data is will be very safe.

Get 7-Zip

Option 1: Install 7-Zip (for Windows)

1. Download either the exe or msi version of “7-Zip for 32-bit Windows” from: http://www.7-zip.org/download.html
2. Launch 7-Zip from the star

Option 2: 7-Zip without installing (for Windows)

1. Download form: http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/7-zip_portable
2. Launch the file and select a location on your computer to extract the program
3. Navigate to this location and launch the program 7-ZipPortable.exe

Encrypt with 7-Zip

1. Launch 7-Zip
2. Drag and drop your file (or folder) into 7-Zip
3. Select a location to save the new encrypted file
4. Select a STRONG password (your files will not be encrypted unless you set a password)
5. Select “Encrypt file names”
6. Press OK
7. Your files will now be contained in this single new file (*.7z)

Decrypt with 7-Zip

See the detailed instructions here

Transfer your File

However you choose to transfer, do not include the password with the file. Rather, either choose a password the other party can guess, perhaps with a hint, or communicate your password with the other party using another medium (eg via phone, txt, etc).

Email

For most purposes once your file(s) are encrypted it is safe to transfer them over email. Just make sure you are sending the *.7z file.

Transfer with WeTransfer

If you are not confident about yours or the other party’s email system, or the files you want to transfer are very large, you can transfer the encrypted file using a service such as WeTransfer. WeTransfer uploads your file to its server using a secure channel and stores the file on its server for 2 weeks, after which it is deleted. WeTransfer notifies your other party via email with a link to download the file. This link is not shared with anyone else.

1. Go to https://wetransfer.com/ for information on how to transfer using their service

More information

See detailed instructions here including more ways to transfer files and how to decrypt files.

This post by luke is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Canada License.

Luckily there are a number of services that make it easy to transfer large files over the internet. The following are some of the ones I use and am familiar with.

1) Wetransfer.com

This is where I refer people to first; it’s the easiest and quickest solution: no signup required, no annoying ads, and relatively secure. Your files are accessible to only those who have the link and they are automatically deleted after two weeks.

How to share:

1. zip/compress your files if necessary (eg if you are transferring a large number of files)
2. go to the site: https://wetransfer.com/
3. upload your file
4. share the link that is given to you with whoever you want to share the file with

2) Dropbox

This is more of an online file backup and collaboration solution, although a powerful one on which I rely heavily on a daily basis. Dropbox creates a folder on your computer, makes an online backup of the contents and syncs it whenever any file is changed.  One feature of this service is that you can share/collaborate folders and files with other Dropbox users or share files with anyone using a public link.

How to share with public (detailed instructions here):

1. install Dropbox on your computer
2. copy your file into the Dropbox folder on your computer
3. Right-click on the file and select “Copy Public Link” from the Dropbox menu

3) Google Docs

See my Instructions

Google Docs: https://docs.google.com

4) Microsoft Skydrive

See my Instructions

Microsoft SkyDrive: https://skydrive.live.com

5) Box

See their website for details

This post by luke is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Canada License.

What does this mean?
At least one of three things may be going on:

1. Your email account may be compromised. In other words a spammer has gotten a hold of your account password and is using your account to send spam to your contacts,
2. A virus/malware has infected one of the computers you use login to check your email and is accessing your account, or
3. A spammer is using an email list that has both our addresses in it and just happened to faking an email from you

What to do?
Although #3 is the most likely (and is actually quite common) you should:

• change your email account password ASAP just to be safe
• make sure your computer has the latest updates (whether Mac, Linux, or Windows). Eg run the Windows update to make sure everything is up to date
• if you have a virus scanner, make sure it is up to date
• scan your computer for viruses/malware
• speak with whoever is in charge of the computers at your work or other place you check your email from about a possible infection

Note: no Facebook app can tell you anything about who visits or how many people visit your profile. Any app that makes these claims is fraudulent.

How to remove an app

1) log into Facebook

2) click your Account menu in the top right corner of your page

3) select Privacy Settings

4) on the bottom of the Privacy Settings page select Edit your settings

5) in the Apps to use area click the Edit Settings button

6) look for any suspicious app that you have installed recently (or any other app you don’t trust) and click the X to remove it

The biggest hurdle for bloggers is how to facilitate this outpouring of gratefulness, especially when such outpouring takes the form of small donations, while maintaining a certain level of anonymity. There are several different ways to receive small donations from your blog visitors:

PayPal

PayPal is the most flexible and universal way for visitors to send money/donations. The transaction is free if visitors send a personal payment. To send a personal payment one must:

1) log into their paypal account
2) select the send money tab
3) select the personal payment tab

(there is a credit card fee if the visitor uses a credit card:  the visitor decides whether he/she pays this fee or whether it comes out of the donation he/she is sending).

Alternatively you can make a donate button ( ) on your website. Users will be directed to login or create a paypal account. Transaction costs for payments through a donate button are 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

My recommendation generally is to write a short blurb about personal payments: If you would like to support my work through a donation, please feel free to send me a money gift from your paypal account to myemail@address.com.

Other payment options:

flattr – neat micro payment scheme that is starting to take off (flattr keeps 10% of what you make)

pledgie – make a fundraising goal and allow visitors to pledge (uses paypal 2.9% + $0.30 per donation)

gift cards - visitors can buy new or load top up e-gift cards (eg starbucks, amazon, chapters)

online wish list - nice visitors might buy you books (eg amazon, chapters)

Other ways to monetize blog traffic:

ads – post ads on your site; ad companies pays per click (eg adsense)

affiliates – companies pay commission for sales/customers sent to them from you (eg netflix, cafepress, amazon, etc)

sell custom merchandise  (eg cafepress, zazzle, etc)

Luckily there is third part software!

http://www.companionlink.com/androidusb/
http://www.markspace.com/products/android/missing-sync-android.html
http://www.wavestore.co.uk/index.php/products/mylink-access.html

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