Email Safety

1. Email Safety By Sam Hepworth Sam Hepworth

2. Viruses • A computer virus is a small software program that spreads from one computer to another computer and that interferes with computer operation. A computer virus may corrupt or delete data on a computer, use an e-mail program to spread the virus to other computers, or even delete everything on the hard disk. • Computer viruses are most easily spread by attachments in e-mail messages or by instant messaging messages. Therefore, you must never open an e-mail attachment unless you know who sent the message or unless you are expecting the e-mail attachment. Computer viruses can be disguised as attachments of funny images, greeting cards, or audio and video files. Computer viruses also spread by using downloads on the Internet. Computer viruses can be hidden in pirated software or in other files or programs that you may download. Sam Hepworth

3. ID Fraud • Identity fraud may occur when someone steals personal information, opens credit card accounts in the victim's name without permission, and charges merchandise to those accounts. • People commit Identity Fraud when they get hold of your personal details. So never give anyone your personal details even if its something important like your bank because they might not be who they seem. Sam Hepworth

4. Hackers • A Hacker is someone who hacks into your account or a security system and corrupts data or steals money. To prevent this you can change your password regularly and don’t give anyone your personal information. Sam Hepworth

5. Phishing • Phishing is when someone is in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit a website where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, that the legitimate organization already has. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the users information. • To prevent this never open a e-mail without a subject or anyone you don’t know. Sam Hepworth

6. Spam • Email spam, also known as junk email, is a subset of spam that involves nearly identical messages sent to numerous recipients by email. • To prevent this, blockrecipients that sent the messages. Sam Hepworth