USCNi Support

Safe Email Practices

Keep your computer safe by using the safe email practices below.

Anti-Virus

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS use an anti-virus program (we recommend Norton Anti-virus) and keep it updated and running at all times. (Norton Anti-virus has a setting that allows it to automatically update itself.)
Make sure that your anti-virus program is set to check your email as it comes in and goes out.
Don't rely exclusively on anti-virus to completely protect you. Remember, they can only detect what they already know about.
Set up your anti-virus to scan your computer automatically at least once per week. For example, you can schedule Norton Antivirus to run the scan at a time while you are sleeping (as long as your computer is left on). The next morning, when you check your computer, Norton will let you know what it found.

Handling Attachments

If you receive email with an attachment from someone you do not know, delete the email without opening it. If it is from someone you do know but you were not expecting an attachment, check with the person to confirm that they sent you the attachment on purpose. NEVER EVER open an attachment unless you know exactly what it is, who sent it, and have verified that they sent actually it!

If you receive an attachment, have verified that the sender is legitimate, do not automatically open it. Save the attachment to your hard drive and run an anti-virus scan of the file before you open it.

Before you send a message with the attachment, ALWAYS send the recipient a message telling them you are about to send them an attachment. Describe what the attachment is and why you are sending it. Remember, viruses can do this too, so try and include something unique in this message so the recipient will know its from you and not some automated virus.

Specifically scan any file you are going to include as an attachment in an email before you send it to someone else.

Avoid sending messages with attachments that contain executable code (codes that run things), like Word documents with macros. You can use Rich Text Format, or RTF, instead of the standard .DOC format. RTF will keep your formatting, but won't include any macros. There is, however, a couple of viruses out there that will fool Word when you save as RTF, so while you cannot completely trust .RTF files it is still good practice. This may avoid the embarrassment of you sending them a virus if you are already infected.

Before Reading, Pre-screen Your Emails:

Before you open your email, check the subject line, the sender, and the recipient (your email address) carefully.

If you receive email from someone you do not know, regard the email with suspicion.
If the recipient email address is not your own, carefully examine the subject line and sender to verify that the email is legitimate.
If the subject line has random characters, delete the email.
If the subject line is just one or two words long, regard the email with suspicion.
If the subject line has a picture name it, regard the email with suspicion.

Reading Email

Beware of the "previous/next" trap: When you open a message (by double clicking) it opens in a separate window. That window has "previous" and "next" buttons. When you click one, the previous or next message is opened automatically. If you have not prescreened all your messages before starting to read them, you stand the chance of opening a malicious one before you realize it. The best idea is to prescreen all your new messages before starting to read any of them. If you don't though, close the message window, and then open the next message from the message list.

If the email asks you to click a link, especially if the link is supposedly from a financial institution or a company "updating" its information, DO NOT click the link. It's very easy to "spoof" links in email messages so that they look like they are legitimate, but actually take you to a counterfeit or hostile Web site.

It is better to read your other email offline (not connected to the Internet), even email that's ostensibly from someone you know. That will block any hostile content that requires an online connection to take action.

Update Your Software

If you are using Outlook or Outlook Express, consider using a different email program. Outlook has security holes that may enable spammers to access and read your outlook address book and send spam to all e-mail addresses in your address book including yours.

If you keep your software up-to-date and use good security practices, Outlook's security holes get fixed and should not be a problem. Visit Office Update to update Outlook. Visit Windows Update to update Windows, Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express.

USCNi recommends Outlook for email, but we also strongly urge you to keep your Outlook updated (Office Update) as well as other anti-spam (Ad-Aware, SpySweeper, Zone Alarm) and anti-virus measures (Norton Anti-virus) up-to-date.

Sending Email

If you are sending an email with an attachment, see "Handling Attachments" above.
If you are sending an email to a list of people, never put everyone's email address in the To box. Instead, put the first address in the To box and the rest in the Bcc box. That way, only one email address is visible. It helps to protect everyone.
Never send financial information via email.
Never send a login or password to a vendor who requests it. ISPs (the company you use to connect to the Internet), financial institutions, and other legitimate companies DO NOT request your login information via email.

Program Settings

Turn off the preview pane in your email program. To turn off the preview Pane in Outlook Express: Go to Menu > View > Layout... and uncheck the box for "Show preview pane".

Layers of Protection

Consider using several types of protection. Anti-virus is the first and most important level. You might also want to use other programs as well.

Firewall or a Router

A firewall protects against hackers, viruses, worms, identity theft, security breaches via instant messaging "holes," access to offensive Web content, and more. We recommend ZoneAlarm. The free version should be sufficient unless you have specific need for the features of the paid version.

If you have a broadband ("always-on") connection, you should consider getting a router that uses NAT. A router with NAT helps hide your computer from the Internet while allowing you to surf the Net.

Anti-Ad/Spyware software

Sometimes just browsing the web can be dangerous. Some unscrupulous sites install software on your computer without your knowledge. This software may cause various effects.

pop-up advertisement problems
slower Internet connection
reduced computer performance
the loss of private information and identity theft.
allow hackers to access your computer to delete everything or use it for other purposes
data mining - tracking everything you do

Anti-Ad/Spyware is designed to provide advanced protection from known Data-mining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, tracking components, slower Internet connection, pop-up advertisement problems, reduced computer performance, or in the worst case, the loss of private information and identity theft. It also helps protect some of your most important Internet settings.

We recommend:

To purchase any extra services or to contact USCNi,
please email support@usconsumernet.org or call toll-free 1-888-999-8726.