E-mail Don'ts


Cyber-Sierra Workshop 2002: E-Mail Power

E-Mail Don'ts: \| Start \| Do's \| Don'ts \| Manage \| Outreach \| Spam \|
There should be nothing casual about sending and receiving e-mail. It is a business communication. It's a useful communication tool. Use it wisely. Don't use sarcasm. Humor may not be well communicated via electronic mail (e-mail). There are no nonverbal cues from which other people can infer any underlying meaning to your message. Don't reply when mad. E-mail is often misinterpreted. Never, never respond when angry. Your e-mailed words live forever. They get forwarded. They'll practically outlive you and take on a life of their own. Never, make an angry reply. Don't Open Attachments! If you simply have to open an attachment, be sure to save it to a holding folder and scan it with your antivirus before attempting to open. Become aware of what file extensions are most commonly used to mask viruses and make sure your computer is set to show all file extensions. Don't send attachments without scanning them for viruses. Basically, don't send attachments if you can possibly avoid it. Too many viruses are transmitted through attachments. Don't forward unverified virus warnings. Check first to see if it is a hoax. Memorize this: "I will not send out a warning about a virus unless I have personally checked at antivirus or hoax buster web sites to confirm it's authenticity." Don't forget to update! Make sure your e-mail program, your antivirus program, your operating system and your work back ups are all up to date. Plus, have a plan to restore your computer system should you accidentally get a virus in your system. Don't use office e-mail for personal use. Get a free web-mailbox and send messages through that if you must send a personal message from work during breaks or lunch. However, there are very few times that is justified. Know your office e-mail policy and abide by it." Don't send sensitive e-mail unencrypted. Many documents are confidential. E-mail is not private and shouldn't be used as a substitute for the privacy of traditional mail. Don't send anything in e-mail that you wouldn't want your boss, your spouse, your mother or your kids to read. E-mail is not private. Could your e-mail damage someone if forwarded? Reference Sites: HoaxBusters Interspersed among the junk mail and spam that fills our Internet e-mail boxes are dire warnings about devastating new viruses, Trojans that eat the heart out of your system, and malicious software that can steal the computer right off your desk. Added to that are messages about free money, children in trouble, and other items designed to grab you and get you to forward the message to everyone you know. Before you add to the confusion, check it out at HoaxBusters. ScamBusters Free money from Nigeria? - not likely. Protect yourself from internet fraud. Snoped.Com Legends, rumors, and other tall tales that infest the www. McAfee MacAfee's Threat Center: Up to the minute advisories. \| Start \| Do's \| Don'ts \| Manage \| Outreach \| Spam \|
WORKSHOPS: \| E-Mail and Outreach \| Web 101 \| Building Accessible Webs \| Web Security \| Workshops Location: http://www.cyber-sierra.com/workshops/ 2002 copyright © Cyber-Sierra.Com, on-line since 1997


Cyber-Sierra Workshop 2002: E-Mail Power

E-Mail Don'ts: \| Start \| Do's \| Don'ts \| Manage \| Outreach \| Spam \|
There should be nothing casual about sending and receiving e-mail. It is a business communication. It's a useful communication tool. Use it wisely. Don't use sarcasm. Humor may not be well communicated via electronic mail (e-mail). There are no nonverbal cues from which other people can infer any underlying meaning to your message. Don't reply when mad. E-mail is often misinterpreted. Never, never respond when angry. Your e-mailed words live forever. They get forwarded. They'll practically outlive you and take on a life of their own. Never, make an angry reply. Don't Open Attachments! If you simply have to open an attachment, be sure to save it to a holding folder and scan it with your antivirus before attempting to open. Become aware of what file extensions are most commonly used to mask viruses and make sure your computer is set to show all file extensions. Don't send attachments without scanning them for viruses. Basically, don't send attachments if you can possibly avoid it. Too many viruses are transmitted through attachments. Don't forward unverified virus warnings. Check first to see if it is a hoax. Memorize this: "I will not send out a warning about a virus unless I have personally checked at antivirus or hoax buster web sites to confirm it's authenticity." Don't forget to update! Make sure your e-mail program, your antivirus program, your operating system and your work back ups are all up to date. Plus, have a plan to restore your computer system should you accidentally get a virus in your system. Don't use office e-mail for personal use. Get a free web-mailbox and send messages through that if you must send a personal message from work during breaks or lunch. However, there are very few times that is justified. Know your office e-mail policy and abide by it." Don't send sensitive e-mail unencrypted. Many documents are confidential. E-mail is not private and shouldn't be used as a substitute for the privacy of traditional mail. Don't send anything in e-mail that you wouldn't want your boss, your spouse, your mother or your kids to read. E-mail is not private. Could your e-mail damage someone if forwarded? Reference Sites: HoaxBusters Interspersed among the junk mail and spam that fills our Internet e-mail boxes are dire warnings about devastating new viruses, Trojans that eat the heart out of your system, and malicious software that can steal the computer right off your desk. Added to that are messages about free money, children in trouble, and other items designed to grab you and get you to forward the message to everyone you know. Before you add to the confusion, check it out at HoaxBusters. ScamBusters Free money from Nigeria? - not likely. Protect yourself from internet fraud. Snoped.Com Legends, rumors, and other tall tales that infest the www. McAfee MacAfee's Threat Center: Up to the minute advisories. \| Start \| Do's \| Don'ts \| Manage \| Outreach \| Spam \|
WORKSHOPS: \| E-Mail and Outreach \| Web 101 \| Building Accessible Webs \| Web Security \| Workshops Location: http://www.cyber-sierra.com/workshops/ 2002 copyright © Cyber-Sierra.Com, on-line since 1997

E-Mail Don'ts:

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