Ask Leo! #376 - Think email's secure? How about trusting the internet? That and more... - Confident Computing

The Ask Leo! Newsletter

*** Featured

Just how secure is email, anyway?

My business requires the emailing of some sensitive information on a regular basis. I have spoken with my boss and co-workers about all of us using an encrypted email system, but no one seems to think there is a significant threat or danger out there to require these extra steps in security. Can you offer any data to help me to convince them that this is a good idea?

Actually, I don't have hard data to say one way or the other. The risk varies too much on too many factors to really present data that'll apply in any specific situation.

But we can definitely look at some of the specific factors.

Continue reading: Just how secure is email, anyway?
http://ask-leo.com/C2458

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*** Answercast

Answercast #39 - Enlarging print, losing folders, saving email, trusting the internet and more...

Ever wonder how much you can trust on the internet or why you get "Not Responding" messages? Want to make email text easier to read, find missing folders in a network or save and backup your online email? All that and more in this Answercast from Ask Leo!

Continue reading: Answercast #39 - Enlarging print, losing folders, saving email, trusting the internet and more...
http://ask-leo.com/C5631

How do I set up a home network without internet?
You don't need to be connected to the internet in order to network your home computers. An unconnected network is put together in much the same way.
Continue reading: How do I set up a home network without internet?
http://ask-leo.com/C5632

How do I copy the contents of my Hotmail or Gmail to a CD or DVD for reference?
The first step is to download the emails to your computer with an email program; then you can back them up any way you wish.
Continue reading: How do I copy the contents of my Hotmail or Gmail to a CD or DVD for reference?
http://ask-leo.com/C5633

Is there a way of enlarging print size of email?
Learn to use your Zoom keys and browser settings and you'll find it quite simple to make text larger and easier to read.
Continue reading: Is there a way of enlarging print size of email?
http://ask-leo.com/C5634

Why does Windows Live Mail lose messages it knows about?
Windows Live Mail may be having connection and synchronization issues. We'll walk through a few troubleshooting steps.
Continue reading: Why does Windows Live Mail lose messages it knows about?
http://ask-leo.com/C5635

Why do I get 'Not Responding' from Outlook so often?
"Not Responding" is a common message delivered from Windows when it is not able to communicate quickly enough with a program running on your computer.
Continue reading: Why do I get 'Not Responding' from Outlook so often?
http://ask-leo.com/C5636

Why do I have problems accessing files and folders on my network?
Network problems can be caused by a number of things in either software or hardware. Fixing it may require a hands-on technician.
Continue reading: Why do I have problems accessing files and folders on my network?
http://ask-leo.com/C5637

Why is my Windows Installer not running?
It's hard to say why or how Windows Installer might stop running, but some simple steps ought to get you back in service.
Continue reading: Why is my Windows Installer not running?
http://ask-leo.com/C5638

How much can I trust information on the internet?
Technical information on the internet can be updated quickly, so it can be more current than textbooks, but you need to carefully analyze the sources.
Continue reading: How much can I trust information on the internet?
http://ask-leo.com/C5639

Is using a flash drive directly for heavy read/write operations safe?
Constant writing to a thumb drive is going to wear it out. I suggest a few alternatives for keeping your files safe.
Continue reading: Is using a flash drive directly for heavy read/write operations safe?
http://ask-leo.com/C5640

My machine will often crash on or after booting, how do I resolve this?
Crashing on boot can be a symptom of many different problems. We'll work through some troubleshooting steps that might help.
Continue reading: My machine will often crash on or after booting, how do I resolve this?
http://ask-leo.com/C5641

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*** Last Issue's Articles

*** Word o' the Week

sniffing

Sniffing is a term used to describe eavesdropping on network communications.

Typically communications between one computer and another - particularly via the internet - travel across several different devices that are also shared with other devices and computers. Depending on how those devices are configured it may be possible for a communication traveling across that device to be "seen" by other devices not actually involved in the conversation. The most common example is an open Wifi hotspot where all wireless communications between computers and the hotspot itself can be seen by any other computer capable of wireless communication that is within range.

The best analogy might be listening in on a conversation happening between two people near you.

Sniffing can be protected against in several ways, but the most reliable and most common is to encrypt the conversation. The data might still be sniffed, but because it has been encrypted it cannot be understood by anyone other than the parties actually involved in the conversation.

Think of it as those two nearby people speaking in a foreign language or a language known only to them - you can hear the conversation but you have no idea whatsoever what's being said.

Word o' the Week features a computer term or acronym taken from the Ask Leo! Glossary. If there's a word you're not sure of and would like to see defined, click here to let me know.

*** Thoughts and Comments

What's Next?

So the price will be going up on Maintaining Windows 7 - Backing Up this week. If you've been waiting ... don't. Smile

More importantly, though, is what's next - I have several directions I could head off in for the next volume, so I'll once again ask for your input.

Please answer this one question survey - it lists some of the options for the next volume of Maintaining Windows 7, and I'd like it to be the one you find most valuable.

And yes, it'll be available in Kindle, PDF, and epub right from the start - thanks to your feedback that little "experiment" has been a resounding success. (Buying any entitles you to access to all once you register the book.)

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HAM update: I'm now N7LEO, and passed the test to get my "General" license. No immediate plans for "Amateur Extra", but focussing instead on best using what I have. And of course what toys I really need to have. (My plans are mostly emergency communications related.)

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'till next week...

Leo
Leo A. Notenboom
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