Worst Security Threat: Your E-mail!

Having the latest security programs doesn't seem to help much. One of the biggest threats to your security is your own hand, so to say…well, I'm actually talking about your e-mail. Maybe you think that I'm paranoid, but I bet you won't say the same after reading this article!

Based on the fact that hackers can do just about anything if they have the right skills/tools for it and exploit the right flaw or use the right tactics, your e-mail address is your worst liability, and here's why. If you're using the web for a lot of purposes, then you're bound to have a lot of accounts. Many sites send your account credentials to the e-mail address you specified. Also, I guess that you've used the password recovery option more than once. So, basically, if you do don't delete these e-mails, your inbox is filled with your own personal details. Should one user get a hold of your e-mail password, then he gets a hold of your whole web identity!

So, the best thing to do is to delete credential-based e-mails, right after you read them. Also, I would advise you to delete any other important e-mails you might get, after reading them. If it's something really critical, then just print it and then delete it. It's a lot safer than just letting it lie around in your inbox. You could have a lot of problems, should one hack your e-mail and get their paws on your sensitive information. Do not store important data on your mail! Cleaning unimportant messages every once in a while won't hurt either.

Also, another important thing I would advise you to do is not write your e-mail address on the web, using an @. Spammers use bots that crawl the web in search of e-mail addresses. So, if you must post it somewhere do it like this "email [at] address [dot] com". Learn to protect your email address and you'll be safe!