The document provides an overview of email, including what it is, how URLs differ from email addresses, tips for creating strong passwords, different types of email accounts, how to access email, common email functions, etiquette, and how to handle unwanted emails like phishing, spam, and bulk mail. Key points include that email is a digital message sent over the internet, a URL contains "www" while an email address contains an "@" sign, and the importance of using strong, unique passwords and knowing how to identify and handle phishing attempts and unsolicited emails.
2. Email
‘Electronic mail’
Digital message sent over the internet
Primarily text but can include pictures, sound or
other ‘attachments’
Instant
Additional resources from Workforce Center
3. URL vs. Email address
www.google.com
No @
Includes www. Or http://
steve@google.com
Personalized (steve)
Includes @ sign
No www.
Google.com is the domain name
We recommend using a professional e-mail
address (for example, your full name)
4. Passwords
Most importantly, make sure you can remember it!
Must be at least 8 characters
To be safest, include at least one lowercase letter,
UPPERCASE letter, $ymbol, and number
Ex: T3@mwork, H3ll02U!
5. Types of Email Accounts
Assigned:
By internet provider: Comcast, att
ex: name@comcast.net
By work/website:
Ex: georgen.charnes@vc.edu
Will be discontinued if you change your provider
Created on internet site:
Gmail.com
Yahoo.com
Hotmail.com
6. How to Get Your Email
Software program on your computer
Ex: outlook
Internet on any computer
Phone app
7. All messages are not all “email”
Facebook messages
Text messages
Comments on websites
Forums like reddit or listservs
Blog posts
Phone message voicemails
9. After it’s in your INBOX
Check the box next to it
Delete it without reading it
Move it without reading it
10. Or OPEN the message
Reply
Delete
Move to a folder
Report Spam
Look for
dropdown menu
11. Other common functions
Forwarding: sends on a message that you received
to someone else
Automatically inserts “FW” into subject field (this is the
polite way to forward)
Reply
Reply all (sends a message to all recipients as well
as sender)
Be careful with this one…
Folders, trash, organizing
12. “Threads”
Your old email is automatically at the bottom if you
reply.
Results in long lists of responses, called “threads”
Start a new thread with a different topic!
13. Writing a new message
Compose, New, pencil
icon
To: one or more valid
email addresses
Subject: a title, short and
meaningful
CC: also send to
Bcc: also send to, but no
one can see the other
email addresses
14. Attachments
Indicated by paper clip icon!
Like paperclipping a form to a letter…
A file separate from the email but sent along with it
Must have file available!
Image file
Document file
15. Email Etiquette
Don’t use all CAPITALS!
Fill in subject line
Use correct capitalization, grammar, punctuation
Professional greetings and closings (Dear ___, Thank
you, Best, etc.)
19. Beware!
You receive an email from a Nigerian prince who
needs you to help get $50 million out of Nigeria. He
must leave in secret and transfer the money to your
account. He promises you $5 million after he gets to
safety.
You get an email from PayPal wanting to confirm
your information is correct.
You get an email from your credit card company or
bank threatening to cut you off unless you click or the
link below.
20. Phishing
Phishing: a trick to get you to enter personal
information such as:
Credit card information
Banking info
Social security number
Passwords
Email or physical address
Legitimate businesses should NEVER ask you for
your personal or financial information via email.
21. Do not send your
personal information
via email.
22. Spam
Spam is unsolicited commercial emails—
unwanted ads in your inbox
May be to phish for information or transmit a
virus
Sample subjects:
RE: Pharmacy sale 80% off!
Ama-zingly fresh sk!n with n0 wrinkles
We renamed your account
From an old friend
Your mistake
Don’t even open these emails
23. Anti-spam
Delete without opening!
If you open it, don’t click and don’t reply
Gmail has really good spam filters that catch most
spam. (Demo)
Spam filters include “mark as spam” buttons: future
email from that address will be filtered out
Don’t buy anything from companies that email you
randomly! Especially not medicine!
24. Bulk Mail
Actual companies sending you an electronic catalog
Newsletters from companies you actually purchased
something from
Be careful – someplace you clicked “send me updates”
25. Unsubscribe?
The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 mandates that
companies include an unsubscribe link or clear
instructions on how to do so in every commercial e-
mail. Thanks to the law and policing by e-mail
services, clicking on “Unsubscribe Me” is a safe and
effective way to remove yourself from a list. (If an e-
mail strikes you as fraudulent or is unfamiliar, drag it
to your spam folder.)
26. Delete or Unsubscribe?
Three types:
Phishing
Delete &/or Report
Spam
Delete &/or Report
Bulk mail from companies
Unsubscribe