Email is such an integral part of our lives now that many of us can’t imagine how we would manage without it. So here are a ton of things to do, not to do, and keep in mind as we use this wonderful and maddening essential tool we call email.
Always log out properly from your email account. Don’t just click the little “X” in the upper right corner. Yes, this will actually appear to close your email client or program. But your account may still be active. The next user on your computer can click on your shortcut or icon for that program and go back to your account.
If you use a public or shared computer, never leave your PC while your email account is open. Also, don’t use your primary email account to sign up for things unless it’s from a trusted and respected source. Get a free web-based email account from Yahoo! Windows Live (Hotmail) or Gmail. Don’t believe the email subject lines that say “You requested this.” Most likely, you haven’t.
Here’s something I hope everyone knows by now. If you are sending a message to a list of people, but do not want each recipient to see who the other recipients are (or their email addresses), do the following: In the To: box, enter your own address in another of your mailboxes. Then put all the real addresses in the Bcc box. Each recipient will receive the email with their address in the From: field, but they will not see the multiple addresses. Go to that other mailbox of yours to confirm that the email has been sent in the correct way.
When mailed to a group, it is considered common courtesy use Bcc. Email looks neater and easier to read. And the recipients can’t see any of the email addresses.
Has this ever happened to you in Outlook Express (OE)? Your list of folders on the left side of the screen suddenly disappears in action. Don’t pull your hair out; the solution is simple. See that word Inbox in the upper left corner, with the little down arrow next to it? Click on it and your folders will reappear. BUT, now you have to click on the little pushpin in the Folders window, or they will soon disappear again.
You should change your OE password regularly, just like you change all other passwords (I hope!). Yes, there is a password in OE, even if you have the program set to remember it and completely forgot it. In principle, you can change your password by clicking File, Identities, Manage identities, Properties. Click Change password. Or you may have to click the Require a password box and then click Change password.
However, this can be a tricky business and you could lose OE altogether. So your best bet is to call your Internet Service Provider and ask them to help you with this change.
To browse the web more safely, obtain a proxy. A proxy server is between you and the Internet. Websites you visit through the proxy will think that the proxy server is your personal computer and will not be able to see their own information. For example, websites will try to place cookies on the proxy, not on your computer. Go to the search engine of your choice and search for the proxy server. You should have no problem finding a free one.
Finally, if you want to find someone’s email address, just enter their name into your favorite search engine. If that doesn’t work, add any other information you may have such as your physical address, profession, etc.