Safe Email Practices

Why?

Unsafe computing can corrupt your files, expose the contents of your internal drive to strangers, cause other computers to become compromised, and even allow your computer to be used by spammers to send millions of unsolicited emails.

Using safe email practices helps you:

Here are recommendations you should follow to protect yourself when using email.

1. Set up your email client correctly.

Many email clients have features that seem like they enhance your convenience, but sometimes these are at the cost of your security and privacy.

2. Sign Up for SSU's SpamAssasin - Graymail Filtering.

SpamAssassin is an automated mail filter that tests incoming messages to identify unsolicited commercial email. SpamAssassin looks at email headers and text content and assigns points for spam-like characteristics. Messages with too-many points are tagged as spam and can be filtered.

Graymail is generally questionable email, usually spam. At SSU, you can sign up for a server-based Graymail filtering service which will move all SpamAssassin-tagged email into a "Graymail" folder in your email account. Each day you will receive an automated message listing the incoming graymail items. You can view the items in your graymail folder at any time.

Go to the SSU Email Tools page to sign up for Graymail filtering, customize your SpamAssassin preferences, and manage your Graymail folder and messages.

3. Screen messages before viewing them, and delete anything that appears suspicious.

  1. Carefully examine your list of unopened messages.
    Do any of them come from people or addresses you don't recognize? Do the subject lines have words with too many spaces, or long random numbers? Do they seem too good to be true, or somehow odd? If so, it's probably best to just delete the message along with any attachments.
  2. Wait! Don't open that email yet...
    If a message has attachments don't open it unless you know the sender and are expecting the attachment. If you're not sure what it is, contact the sender before opening the message and ask exactly what the message and attachment is.
  3. Don't be fooled by Dirty Tricks.
    Most computer worms (a kind of malicious program) spread themselves via email by spoofing addresses found in the infected computer's address book and sending copies of itself to other addresses in the address book, so it's very likely that an infected message can appear to come from someone you know. Many of these messages will use vague or generic subject lines like "Re:     " or "Hi." Others will try to look like they come from a technical support service, or even from Microsoft. Be careful about opening these.

4. Open your messages, but beware the Next and Previous buttons.

Using the Next and Previous buttons to open and move from message to message is convenient but dangerous, especially if you don't screen messages thoroughly, or if new messages come in while you're reading other screened messages.

5. Handle Attachments Safely.

6. Install and Use Virus Detection software.

Virus detection software can help identify and eradicate viruses that might slip through the cracks of your email security, or sneak onto your computer in files transferred by disk or download. Even if you use a Macintosh (which aren't adversely effected by viruses to the degree of computers using Windows), virus detection is an important part of protecting yourself and being a good internet citizen.

Information Technology provides a free installation of McAfee Anti-virus to all students living in the residence halls.

7. Don't Unsubscribe.

Spammers often include an "unsubscribe from this list" link in their messages. This makes them appear more responsible and reputable, but they often use this as a way to confirm your email address so they can send you more spam or sell your email address to other spammers. If you don't want it, mark it as junk and delete it.

8. Be a Good Internet Citizen.