Basic Communication on the Internet: Email

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Basic Communication on the Internet Email

• Evaluating an E-Mail Program and a Web-Based
  E-Mail Service

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What is E-Mail?

• E-Mail (Electronic mail) electronic messages
  are created and transferred between computers
  connected to a network
• Mail servers hardware and software systems that
  route electronic messages to their destinations
• E-Mail Program (Mail client software) software
  that requests mail delivery from mail server to
  your PC

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E-Mail Address

• E-Mail Address uniquely identifies an
  individual or organization connected to the
  Internet
• User name account name that identifies a person
  or group
• Host name computer on which mail for that user
  is stored
• Usually not case sensitive
• Common to have more than one e-mail address
• One for personal or business use
• Others for online subscriptions, online
  purchases, and mailing lists

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Common Features of anE-Mail Message
New Perspectives on The Internet, Sixth
EditionComprehensive Tutorial 2
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Other E-Mail Features

• Business E-mails follow rules of formal letter
  writing salutation proper spelling and grammar
  signature
• Automatic signature can set an e-mail program
  to automatically insert a signature into every
  message
• Internet Etiquette (Netiquette) commonly
  accepted rules that represent proper behavior on
  the Internet

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Netiquette Rules

• Do not use all Caps this is like shouting
• Keep message simple, short, and focused
• Include descriptive subject and signature
• Avoid sending unsolicited messages, especially
  those with attachments
• Use spell checker for misspellings
• Read message carefully for proper grammar and
  logical flow
• Use common courtesy, politeness, and respect

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E-Mail Storage and Filters

• E-Mail is held on mail server until you retrieve
  your e-mail, then
• Servers copy is deleted or
• Servers copy is preserved but marked as
  delivered or read
• E-Mail can be stored in standard folders that are
  created with the e-mail software
• E-Mail can also be stored in Personal Folders
  that you create (on your local computer)
• Filters automatically move incoming mail into
  specific folders based on content of the e-mail

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E-Mail Address Book

• Benefits of Address Book
• Save e-mail addresses
• Associate email addresses with nicknames
• Organize information about individuals or groups
  (contact information, personal information, notes)

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Web-Based E-Mail (1)

• Email account that is accessed through a
• Web browser
• Interface is implemented through a Web site
• E-mails are not typically downloaded to PC but
  are stored on providers mail servers
• Provide way for people without ISP to access and
  use e-mail
• Can be used anywhere in world where there is an
  Internet connection

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Web-Based E-Mail (2)

• Protected by password and functions like an
  e-mail program running on a PC
• Basic e-mail service is free but upgrades are
  often available for a fee
• Free e-mail is provided because of advertising
  links and ads

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Web Logs (Blogs)

• A Web site that contains commentary on
• current events written by an individual
• Not new but recent presidential campaigns
  catapulted them into the mainstream media
• Very popular and easy way to disseminate
  information
• Should be viewed as personal opinions and not
  hard news

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Spam

• Unwanted solicitations, advertisements,
• or chain letters sent to e-mail addresses
• Wastes time to download, manage, and delete
• Takes up PC disk storage space
• Consumes bandwidth on company networks and space
  on e-mail servers
• Consumes large amounts of Internet capacity

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How to Control Spam?

• Install client-based filtering programs
• Run software on e-mail servers to limit the
  amount of Spam that is delivered to an
  organizations email addresses
• Continue strengthening governmental legislation
  and prosecution
• Make changes to e-mail transport system mechanism
  (Internets infrastructure) to make it easier to
  identify spammers

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Individual Controls Over Spam

• Reduce likelihood that a spammer can
  automatically generate individual email addresses
• Control exposure of e-mail addresses
• Use multiple e-mail addresses (stop using ones
  with Spam problems)