A digital signature—a type of electronic signature—is a mathematical algorithm routinely used to validate the authenticity and integrity of a message (e.g., an email, a credit card transaction, or a digital document). Digital signatures create a virtual fingerprint that is unique to a person or entity and are used to identify users and protect information […]

Modern email spam filters are very powerful and can keep many common threats at bay without them ever hitting your inbox. Still, it’s advisable to periodically take a look at your spam folder to see if the filter is too aggressive and is blocking mail you want to see. Marking items as spam or not […]

There’s a common technique of sending direct mail disguised as courts summons or other official documentation, to make a response more likely. Many phishing emails take basically the exact same approach, only in digital form. That is, they might use all-caps subject lines (e.g., “URGENT:”) to make it seem like action is required. It isn’t. […]

Email attachments are risky. They might contain malware, or be so large that they eat up too much space in your inbox. The best approach is to not open them and delete them, unless they come from a trusted sender. Encourage your contacts to share via cloud links instead.

It’s a good idea to have a separate email account just for mailing lists. That way, you lower the risk of getting offers in your inbox that are actually attempts at phishing. Keep one account just for emailing trusted friends, family members and contacts, and another for everything else.

Not to be confused with the closing salutation at the end of an email, an electronic (or digital) signature proves that a message hasn’t been tampered with. It’s the digital equivalent of a wax seal on an envelope. Some email providers like Outlook have built-in signature capabilities, and there are also third-party tools like Chrome […]