Considerations When Sending Mail
Is your mail
secure? Private? Unless your e-mail application provides encryption
features such as the use of digital signatures, your messages are about
as private as a letter sent in an unsealed envelope. Although it is
highly unlikely, it is possible for someone to intercept and read a
message.
For those messages that require
strong security, numerous encryption options are available. If you use
Microsoft® Outlook® or Outlook Express, you can turn on the
application’s security options. Even though most communications
don’t require this level of security, when in doubt, encrypt it.
It is important to know who will be
receiving your mail. Do not send personal information or a
photograph of yourself--particularly if you're a child--to anyone you
don't know. You wouldn't give your phone number or address to a stranger
on the street, so don't do it on the Internet.
Considerations When Receiving Mail
In most cases, the e-mail message you
receive comes from the person or group whose name appears in the From
line of the message. Sometimes, however, people deliberately provide
incorrect information--either in an attempt to fool you into reading a
message you might not otherwise read or to disguise the origin of the
message.
If you receive e-mail from someone
you don't know or from a suspect source--or a message from someone you
know with an unlikely source, content, or attachment--be wary. If the
sender is someone you know, you might want to call the individual and
make sure that it is a valid attachment before you open it. If the mail
message has a suspicious attachment and it comes from someone you don't
know, you may want to delete the message without opening it. It could
contain a virus that damages your computer just by opening the message.
Beware of Mail-Borne Viruses
It is prudent to use virus protection
on your computer that can scan your incoming e-mail messages and
attachments. Also make sure to keep the list of recognized viruses
current. Software makers routinely update their virus lists whenever a
new virus is discovered. You should keep your protection up to date by
frequently downloading the current virus list and importing it into your
virus-protection program.
Use Antivirus Software
There’s no question about this one:
You should use virus protection software on your computer--particularly
software that can scan downloaded files and incoming e-mail messages
(and their attachments). Antivirus software packages are available from
a variety of vendors--McAfee,
Symantec (Norton),
and many others--and they are well worth the investment. The major
vendors all keep their virus identification files up to date, and some
software packages will automatically install the updates on a regular
basis so that your software remains current.
Viruses and other malicious software
such as worms and Trojan horses can be extremely destructive. It is far
better to exercise prevention than to try to manage a cure after
infection.
SPAM
One final word: spam. Yes,
that unsolicited commercial junk e-mail that nearly everyone receives
and nearly everyone hates. These messages are often sent in mass
mailings to millions of e-mail addresses, so don't assume you've been
individually targeted for an incredible sounding offer. It's rarely
worth sending a reply to ask that your name be removed from the list;
the reply just confirms that you are a person with an active e-mail
address who can be plagued with unwanted e-mail solicitations.
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