Added: 10/14/2005 |
Security Email Precautions And ProductsOn the internet, nothing is really safe anymore, especially for the good old email. There is always a threat to it whether it be viruses, spam or hackers. Here is a quick overview of what some of the threats are, some do it yourself security email precautions and some products that will help do it for you.
Security Email Threat #1
The virus. You can pick up any sort of virus through the internet and one of the most common ways to get one is through your email via attachments. Viruses have a great effect on computers and can result in anything from spyware all the way to a crashed computer and no one wants that, do they?
Do it yourself safety.
Never open any email that came from someone you don't know or a place you didn't sign up to, especially if it has an attachment. As soon as you get an email like this - delete it. If you get an email from someone or somewhere you do know but are still unsure about it run an anti virus program through it, just to make sure.
Programs.
Yoru best defense against any sort of virus attack is to get an anti virus program and have it running all the time. They will detect and rid your computer of a virus no matter if it was downloaded from a page, with software or through your email. The leading anti virus products are Norton Anti Virus and McAfee Virus Software, but there are thousands of others that are just as good. When buying anti virus software make sure that it gives you regular updates of any new virus threats out there.
Security Email Threat #2
Spam. Spam is the internet's form of junk mail, but you can get it in mass quantities, filling your inbox. But these are not just limited to advertising, it can just be inappropriate and unwanted information on a variety of subjects. Many spammers will share or sell your information to other spammers creating a security risk on your personal information. They can also carry such malware as adware.
Do it yourself safety.
Well, with spam you could repeatedly - and I mean repeatedly - use the block button, but usually that won't get you very far, because spammers are always constantly using different email addresses to do their work just for this reason. The best defense against it is using antispam programs.
Programs.
Antispam programs do all the hard work for you by the technique of using a spam mail filter among a few others. A spam mail filter does exactly the same, they go through your email as it comes in and filters all the spam it can find out and deletes it leaving you to have hassle free email. The leading antispam programs are McAfee SpamKiller! and Securence Anti Spam Software, but there are thousands on the market that can and will do the job.
Security Email Threat #3
Hackers. Hackers are the nuisance of the internet and are a real threat. They can target both your computer and your email looking for passwords, personal information, credit card numbers and almost anything else they can get their hands on that might be of some value to them.
Do it yourself safety.
Never give out your personal information, passwords or credit card information through an email. If you really need to give a person such information do it through a secure source or through other such methods like the telephone.
Programs. There are many different programs out there that offer protection against hackers usually such programs consist of firewalls that a hacker cannot get through.
The leading software against hackers is Cisco Pix Firewall Software and Check Point Firewall-1. Again, there are many others.
Security email precautions are important, no matter how much you think you are protected, you need more, because just as much as technology grows so does the threats out there on the internet. Be protected and be safe.
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