Malware/Virus Warning

[Jimbuna]

Spybot Search and Destroy is another useful freebie.

[swamprat69er]

And update, update, update. If you don't update then your a-v is about as useful as a tits on a bull.

[Penguin]

Apart from the already mentioned tips, using an email client rather than webmail adds an additional layer of security. Most clients have loading stuff from external sources turned off by default, this also prevents tracking. Furthermore you are also able to see the real domain/address of the sender.

[swamprat69er]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Apart from the already mentioned tips, using an email client rather than webmail adds an additional layer of security. Most clients have loading stuff from external sources turned off by default, this also prevents tracking. Furthermore you are also able to see the real domain/address of the sender.

Please tell this stupid old Canuck what the difference is between 'webmail' and an 'e-mail client'.

[Jimbuna]

Webmail (or web-based email) is any email client implemented as a web application accessed via a web browser. Examples of webmail providers include AOL Mail, Gmail, Outlook.com and Yahoo! Mail. Practically every webmail provider offers email access using a webmail client, and many of them also offer email access by a desktop email client using standard email protocols, while many internet service providers provide a webmail client as part of the email service included in their internet service package.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webmail

I use Microsoft Outlook

Like most client programs, an email client is only active when a user runs it. The most common arrangement is for an email user (the client) to make an arrangement with a remote Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) server for the receipt and storage of the client's emails. The MTA, using a suitable mail delivery agent (MDA), adds email messages to a client's storage as they arrive. The remote mail storage is referred to as the user's mailbox.

Emails are stored in the user's mailbox on the remote server until the user's email client requests them to be downloaded to the user's computer, or can otherwise access the user's mailbox on the possibly remote server.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Email_client

My ISP 'Virgin Media' has this facility and I can access it from any computer.

[swamprat69er]

Thanks. I use gmail right now, but I think I will go back to incredimail.

[Jimbuna]

Had a lot of fun with incredimail in years long past

[Penguin]

Here is a link to some good software: https://prism-break.org/en/ - including some email clients.
Even if you don't mind surveillance, remember that hackers might also be able to exploit the interface the "intelligence" agencies use to gain access to private data or spread malicious code.

As an email client, I personally use Thunderbrid, together with the lightning calender extension and some additional add-ons, e.g. enigmail for encryption. Sadly it's missing some functions im comparison to Outlook, but both my private and company communication are nobody's business:http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...tion-user-data

Not giving away your email adress to everyone and their son is imo the key for spam avoidance, for registration at non important or fishy-looking sites, I either use a throwaway address or the bugmenot addon for the webbrowser.

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Apart from the already mentioned tips, using an email client rather than webmail adds an additional layer of security. Most clients have loading stuff from external sources turned off by default, this also prevents tracking. Furthermore you are also able to see the real domain/address of the sender.

Both Outlook.com and Gmail als allow you to configure whether external content is loaded and also reveal headers for domain information, should you choose to do so. Their spam filtering is also top notch.

Mail client programs do have the disadvantage of taking up HDD space for both the program and the mail payload.

You can also use a mail client on both gmail and outlook.com.

[swamprat69er]

I had incredimail picking up gmail for a while, then I had a bunch of conflicts which was my bad. I had two anti virus programs running at the same time and they were fighting. I just haven't gotten around to reloading incredimail again. Gmail is working out pretty good for me.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by TarJak

Both Outlook.com and Gmail als allow you to configure whether external content is loaded and also reveal headers for domain information, should you choose to do so. Their spam filtering is also top notch.

I checked out the webclient of my hotmail-addy, took me a while to figure it out: right clicking reveals the source code. However I found no option to show the SMTP header of all mails by default . And I agree, MS's spam filter is great indeed.

Originally Posted by TarJak

Mail client programs do have the disadvantage of taking up HDD space for both the program and the mail payload.

Yes, but if space is a problem you can opt to load only the mail header and dowload only the mails you regard as important.
I download all of my business mail for backup reasons - while of course also leavinging a copy on the server - since I am obliged to keep them for 6 years. That's why I tend to neglect the additional space.