How to rein in an iPad that hogs the e-mail

QI just bought an iPad and connected it to my home Wi-Fi network, which already had two Windows PCs on it. But when the iPad is using the wireless network, we can't receive any e-mail on the other computers. What's the cure?

JERRY LEITH, EAU CLAIRE, WIS.

ARein in your iPad, which is trying to monopolize your e-mail account, and, as a result, is locking out your two PCs.

Why? The iPad is set up to use your e-mail account continuously, or at least to access the e-mail account often in order to update your list of received mail.

But, if your e-mail account uses a common technology called "POP3" (Post Office Protocol version 3), only one your three computers can access the account at a time. Because the iPad gets to the e-mail first, the two PCs don't stand a chance.

There are three solutions to this lockout problem.

Close the iPad's mail application when you aren't using it. This ends its connection to your e-mail account and gives the PCs a chance to access the account.

If your iPad isn't constantly connected to e-mail, another alternative is to change its settings so that it checks your e-mail less frequently. You can do this by going to the iPad's Settings, then to Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and then to Fetch New Data.

The last and most obvious solution is to disconnect the iPad from the Wi-Fi network when you want to use one of the PCs to get your e-mail. (Since you're accessing your e-mail via Wi-Fi, I'm assuming your iPad doesn't have a cellular connection to access mail from outside the Wi-Fi network.)

QMy laptop PC recently became infected with the Google Redirect Virus. This happened even though I have Norton security software installed.

How do I get rid of the virus?

JIM KENNEDY, HUGO, MINN.

AFortunately, it's rather easy to get rid of the Google Redirect Virus, which takes people to malicious websites when they click on legitimate search results. Security firm Symantec provides a free downloadable virus removal tool; see tinyurl.com/2dmtozz.

And you really do want to get rid of this virus, because in addition to redirecting you to wrong websites, it hides itself from antivirus software, displays advertisements and opens an electronic doorway that allows other malicious software to enter your PC.

The virus, sometimes called "Backdoor.Tidserv" by computer security professionals, apparently was intended to make money for its creators by generating traffic for certain websites, collecting data about you for marketers and trying to sell you worthless software.

E-mail tech questions to steve.j.alexander @gmail.com, or write to Tech Q&A, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488. Include name, city and telephone number.