| These days email is a necessary part of | | | | Email content and subject lines can be your clue to |
| communication. However, this also means that email | | | | phishing. Instead of using your name the subject line |
| is one of the most popular ways for a virus to infect | | | | might say something like "To our valued customer". It |
| your computer. You need to protect yourself from | | | | isn't hard to find some variant for personal names so |
| the threat of fraud and infection. | | | | be on the alert. |
| Viruses | | | | Less of clue to phishing is when a link is included that |
| Email attachments often contain viruses so you need | | | | has nothing to do with the text in the email. You can |
| to be careful whenever you open any type of | | | | verify this by highlighting the link and paying attention |
| attachment even if you know the sender. There are | | | | to the status bar. For example, if the email text is |
| some viruses that can infiltrate your address book | | | | something about Microsoft, and the URL is you have |
| and then send email that is infected to everyone on | | | | a good clue that the message you've received isn't |
| your list. This means that you can get a virus from a | | | | really from Microsoft. |
| colleague or a friend. The best thing to do is to | | | | There is software that can detect whether phishing |
| communicate with the sender so that you know you | | | | is occurring. Even though this software isn't fully |
| are expecting an attachment. | | | | mature yet it can at least identify if an email is fraud. |
| Software for virus protection is your best bet | | | | Whenever you are asked for your credit card |
| against viruses. This software will scan all your email | | | | number or a password you should be suspicious. |
| attachments when they are received on your | | | | Always keep in mind that no legitimate banking |
| computer. All computers that have Internet access | | | | institution will ask you to give personal information or |
| will need to have antivirus software so that all | | | | to verify any passwords in the content of an email. |
| systems are protected as one big whole. There are | | | | E-mail Backups |
| some viruses that will start with one computer | | | | Your email, just like other data on your computer, |
| system and then spread to the rest of the network, | | | | should always be backed up. Most email programs will |
| eventually encompassing all the hardware that is | | | | be easy to back up. All you need to do is export |
| needed to access the Internet. | | | | your email messages to a selected folder and then |
| Phishing | | | | do a backup on this folder. You can use a backup |
| Email can lead to fraud, which is yet another type of | | | | program and put your email onto a writeable CD, |
| security risk. Phishing, is one type of fraud that will | | | | DVD, removable disk, or any other type of media. |
| try to trick you into giving out personal passwords or | | | | You also have the option of buying backup software |
| banking information. This type of email will use the | | | | that is specialized for backing up email. This software |
| logo from a well known banking institution or online | | | | is moderately priced and eliminates the need to |
| business after which they will ask you to update | | | | export your email to a folder. |
| your banking information or your password. | | | | You can automate most backup software so that |
| Phishing provides a link that looks as though it is | | | | backups happen at a time that is convenient without |
| legitimate but that in fact will lead you to a false | | | | you having to lend a hand. You'll have to find time in |
| website. If you provide them with personal | | | | your busy schedule to configure this type of |
| information you become a victim of theft or fraud on | | | | software. However, you'll be no more busy doing the |
| your credit card. This is also known as "identity | | | | configuring as you would be if you need to replace |
| theft". | | | | an email that you needed. |