This is our frequently asked questions section of the IFM site. We will be adding questions and answers to this section as time goes on.

Got a questions and don't see the answer here, please email us and we will send you the information you have requested. Your question may even make it on to this page!

What is an IP?

Each domain on the Internet is associated with a numerical address such as 68.251.582.62 (this is a fictitious example). It is much easier to remember domains with characters such as ifm.ca rather than the numerical IP.

What is POP3 and SMTP anyway?

Post Office Protocol - This is the protocol used by mail clients to retrieve messages from a mail server.
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol - standard protocol on the Internet for delivering e-mail. This is just technical stuff required to communicate with email servers so that we can download and send email.

24 Hour support - is it really available to me?

Absolutely. We have several options available to our clients. You can reach our office during normal business hours, or you can use our support page to contact our 24hour technical support representatives. For more on this...
Click here...

Spamming - What's it all about?

To cross-post to newsgroups with no regard for whether or not the subject matter is relevant to that being discussed on the group. Often, these sorts of postings are blatant advertisements with titles such as Make money fast!. Spamming can also be associated with individuals sending bulk email to random email addresses, filling our in-boxes with useless junk. Suffice it to say its bad! - and no one should do this!

What type of browser should I be using?

It is all a matter of preference. Most users install and use Microsoft, however a small percentage of users will use any other browser available. Both browsers interpret code with subtle and sometimes great differences. Designing for both Internet Explorer and Netscape takes additional time and development costs. We develop mainly for IE users, but ensure our sites react and display for Netscape as well.

What are viruses anyhow?

Viruses are tiny bits of code that can wreck havoc on our computers. Some are just nuisances and others are downright destructive - wiping out operating system files and worse, deleting files on our drives. To protect yourself get the latest Anti-Virus programs and update your virus definitions often - every two weeks is recommended.

How do I protect myself against these viruses?

To protect yourself get the latest Anti-Virus programs and update your virus definitions often - every week is recommended. Some programs are automated in that they prompt you to download updates - a good thing these days.

I have been thinking about selling my products online, but the expense has turned me off?

A complete e-commerce solution can be expensive, so at IFM we ask our clients to walk first and run later. What does that mean? Well, if you are a small business and the budget is strained, we have a couple of low cost solutions that allow you to test the waters without testing your budget. For a more detailed explanation, please contact our office - we'd be glad to save you time and money!

Can I have some control over my site?

Sure! As much as you want, er..as much as you are capable of handling. We offer a complete solution for site management, but if you want to manage certain aspects, we can enable whatever level of comfort you wish.

What do I need to know about managing my site?

Well, first of all, it does take some experience and skill, but you can manage your email accounts and passwords, FTP, and several other functions. Keep in mind, managing these aspects of your site can be time consuming.

What is FTP?

FTP is an acronym which stands for File Transfer Protocol. Normally we use an application or FTP 'client' that allows us to upload or transfer files from a local computer to the webserver.

I know very little about the Internet, can IFM manage my site completely?

It is recommended that only experienced personnel be responsible for the management of the webserver files and functionality. This is what we do best - day-in and day-out. Leave the work to our dedicated team of qualified support specialists.

Why all these domain name extensions?

The dot com names have pretty well been exhausted so that there are few, if any, meaningful .com names available. Keep in mind that you can purchase an already registered name from some sites, but the owners are typically speculators, and trying to make money. We recommend registering what is necessary to protect your business name, within reason. For more info on this, please contact our office.