Help Desk

• How to Get Help
  • When & Where is Help Available?
  • Self-Help Clinics
  • Report a Problem
• What Do We Support?
  • Software Standards
  • Hardware Standards
• Tips & Documentation
  • Accessibility
  • Backup Tips
  • Cable Info
  • Safe Computing
    • Disinfect & Protect
    • Password Security
    • Email Safety
    • What to Watch Out for On the Web
    • Beware of File Sharing
    • Phishing
  • Email Tips
    • Quota Management
    • Set Up Email Software to Access Simmons Account
    • Simmons Antispam Filter
    • Simmons Mailing Lists
    • Thunderbird FAQ
    • Webmail
  • File Server Tips
  • Mac OS Tips
  • Meeting Maker
  • Network
  • Personal Web Publishing
  • Phone & Voice Mail
  • Printing
    • Saving Paper (and Money)
    • Printing FAQ
    • Printers: technical info
  • Remote.simmons.edu Guide
  • Usernames & Passwords
  • Windows Tips
  • Wireless Info

Email Safety

Email is an invaluable tool, which also makes it a great way to transmit viruses and other malicious software.

• Be skeptical of attachments. Even if you know the person sending you the message, if you are not expecting an attachment, don't open it.
• Be skeptical of links to web sites. Rather than clicking on a link within your email message, copy the URL and paste it into your web browser. Sometimes the underlying URL is different from what appears in the email message. Install Spoofstick if you would like an Internet Explorer or FireFox toolbar that identifies the web site you are on. This software is installed on all student computers in classrooms, and on general access computers in the Library's Information Commons.
• Never transmit financial, account or any other information you consider private via email. Sending an email message is like sending a postcard: it is easily read by people other than those for whom it was intended, including by having others forward your message to others.
• Avoid being "phished." Con artists try to trick you into providing personal information through email or onto a web page as though they were a vendor (such as PayPal or Citibank) with which you normally do business. More about phishing.
• Avoid spam (unsolicited email, a.k.a. junk mail). Simmons blocks well-known sources of spam, but much of the spam out there cannot be filtered this way.
  • never reply to spam (you are just verifying that they have found a good address) even if there is an "unsubscribe" option
  • enable your email software's spam filtering features
  • do not post your email address on any web page
  • use a free email account address (such as through yahoo.com) when filling out web forms
  • when filling out a web form, uncheck the box indicating you would like "additional information" or "production information from related vendors"
• Coming soon: SPIM, spam via instant messaging. Configure your IM client to only accept messages from people on your buddy list.