5. Emails & webmails

Good Practice

Here are some good practices in protecting yourself as you use emails:

• Don't open attachments from sources that you don't trust.
• Don't open attachments without checking them for viruses first.
• Do choose the option to view and send mail in plain text. This means that your email client will not automatically load graphics and images (which may be embedded with malware) and other executable files (which usually contain viruses).
• Do select an anti-virus software that automatically filters your emails and stamps each message with a note telling you that it is virus-free.
• Keep emails private. Don't forward unless you get permission from the person who sent it.
• Assume that everything you post on a mailing list is public - unless you double check with the email administrator. So be careful what personal information you post there.
• If you use an online email service, such as Gmail, make sure you log OUT of your email before you surf or search.  If you stay logged-in your searching habits will be associated with your email and possibly your identity.
• If you use an online email service, make sure you have activated the option for a "secure connection" so that your password and emails will be encrypted as they travel over the internet.

Use a Secure Email Client:

• Stop using the Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express! As far as email clients are concerned, they have proven to be most vulnerable to virus and other malware (programmes that install themselves into your computer without permission with the intention of causing damage).
• We recommend Mozilla Thunderbird, instead. You can download and find out more about Mozilla Thunderbird here

Encrypt Your Emails (PGP):

• PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) is a military grade encryption program that is used to scramble (encrypt) and unscramble (decrypt) data so that it can only be read by those intended to read it.
• You can encrypt e-mail you send to others and decrypt mail sent to you. You can encrypt and decrypt files on your computer that you don't want others to read. PGP is the best way to protect data that is available to the general public.
• Thunderbird also has a plug-in called Enigmail that let's you encrypt your emails very easily. Enigmail uses PGP to encrypt and decrypt emails.