By Stephanie R. Conner
ASU Web Devil

As congressional hearings continue on the evils of snail mail sweepstakes, it's time to get addicted to Internet sweepstakes.

Most ‘Net contests are free to enter. Your only cost is time, although you will likely receive excessive junk electronic and snail mail once contest sponsors get your address information.

Then again, you could also win great prizes.

For example, you could a trip for four to Walt Disney World from Go2Orlando. Prize includes admission to the park, transportation between the theme parks and accommodations for five days and four nights. Just hand over your name, address and e-mail address.

If you like to travel, you could also win a trip for two to Redmond, Washington for a tour of the Microsoft plant.

Who cares, right? Well, after your tour, you spend three nights at the Rosario Resort on Orcas Island; the resort visit alone is valued at $3,200. You can enter up to three times, but enter soon, because the contest ends March 30.

You could also win a trip for two including two nights hotel accommodations in Los Angeles or New York City from Max Factor and In Style. Also included in the prize package is a designer outfit, tickets for two to a film premiere, a beauty makeover and hairstyling by a Max Factor makeup artist and Max Factor make-up products. Sweepstakes ends April 30.

Vacations are great, but we are college students. We'll take just about anything.

And what college student couldn't use a new computer? You could win a Compaq Presario personal computer, a flat panel monitor or a color printer. The only catch is that you must register for "My AltaVista."

But forget merchandise. What college student couldn’t use some cold, hard cash? Enter the Mining Co. sweepstakes for $5,000 cash. Or visit Deliver E for up to $50,000.

To access more sweepstakes contests, visit Sweepstakesonline.com, Sweepsadvantage.com or Loopy.net for extensive lists of available contests.

And if keeping up with all these sweepstakes are just too overwhelming, you can download a free demo of AutoSweep Desktop. This program will allow you to automatically enter many sweepstakes easily. It fills out sweepstakes entry forms using your saved profile information. You only have to type in your information once. However, if you choose to keep this service, it is not free. There is a monthly subscription fee.

Sweepstakes are simple. No brainpower is required, and there are countless contests online that only require your name and e-mail address. (Be wary of ones that ask for more information, though, like your Social Security or credit card number.)

Although there is no cost, there is one risk: It's addicting.