One question I get asked the most is "How do I avoid spam?"

Avoiding spam isn't as hard as one might think. Here are some ideas:

• Use multiple email accounts. Give out one email address to those you trust; give out a different email address to those you may trust less. Whenever I sign up for "free" offers online, I use my "do-not-care" email address. Of course, this is NOT the main email that I share with friends or business contacts. I refer to one account as my "junk email" and one as my "main email." Once my "junk email" account starts getting too many spam messages, I can delete it and start another one but I don't have to notify my friends and important contacts of any changes. How do you manage more than one email account with the same amount of effort you would one account? You can allow one email to collect messages from both accounts. Here's a helpful article about managing more than one email account: How to Manage Multiple Gmail Accounts
• Manage your SPAM filter. One great improvement in email is that most email providers (even free ones like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) now use spam filters. Messages that are obviously spam go straight to a "spam" folder instead of your inbox. Managing this spam filter option can allow you to block specific email addresses or subject topics. Look under "options" or "help" in your email program to find out more information about the spam features it offers.
• Avoid Saving Account Passwords. Yes, it is nice to just open your email program and see your email, but if you get a virus or someone else uses your computer, then they too can automatically log in. If you are using a public wifi connection, then (depending on how your computer is configured) it may be possible for hackers to access your system and automatically log into your email account. Having to type in a password is one extra step against someone hacking into your email account (or any account). Besides, if you don't use your passwords, you will likely forget them!

People also ask me "How do I avoid getting viruses or malware from email?"

Again, following a few basic rules will help you avoid most attacks via email:

• Don't click on links in an email. One of the most common email virus methods is to send out an email from a hacked person's account that says something like "Check out this link" or "This made me think of you" type of message. Since it is often from a person we think we know, we naturally want to click on it. IF that person has been hacked, he or she may not even be aware that it was sent out! Sometimes you can copy/paste the link into a browser and this is usually safer.. but avoid going to links unless you know they are safe. If someone sends you a link, reply back to them before you click to be sure it is safe. If you send others links, include a message that includes information that assures them you are sending a safe link.
• Never use email to log into your online accounts. It's easy to hide where you are really going in an email link. The link in your email could appear as www.facebook.com but actually send you to www.32facebook.com --a site someone might have set up to try to steal your facebook login. The same goes for bank accounts or credit card accounts. Go to account links by typing in the website name you know --"searching" could even send you to a bogus login. Once you know you are on the correct website, remember you can use bookmarks to return to that same site. I get notices all the time from banks where I don't even have accounts, so I KNOW they are attempting to steal login information!

My motto is "helping you navigate your technology" so let me know what it is you want to learn how to do! Email me suggestions for a class about email. I do a class that is pretty basic... what concerns you?

In the past we have had what we call "Open Sessions" on Fridays where people who have taken a class can come and work on a project while I am around to troubleshoot with them. We ask that you give Sunburst $10 for this 1.5 hour session --pretty cheap tutoring option! We also require a minimum number of people, so if you are interested in an Open Session option, please let me know. I'll arrange sessions when we have enough people to fill our minimum. Don't forget that I offer private tutoring options also --bring a buddy and you each get a small discount if you opt to take tutoring lessons together! See extraworksheetsconsulting.com for information.