Ariel Lassiter
Many Pierce College students make it a routine to run into the Freudian Sip, grab a snack and rush to a computer to check their latest e-mails from providers like Yahoo!, Gmail or Hotmail – unaware they might be preyed on by advertisers, spammers or even hackers.According to an article on www.computerworld.com, some of these popular Webmail services are vulnerable to hacking and insecure privacy. Webmail services are the leading victims of hackers, and most users are oblivious as to where their personal information is being used or transported, and for that matter, whether it is even being protected, the Web site said.Most general e-mail accounts can be set up free of charge with the input of personal information at the time of registration online. While the account appears to be set up for free, users are exchanging their personal information for the use of the services.”POP3 e-mail accounts are safeguarded more efficiently than basic Webmail accounts,” said Vladimir Paransky, information technician at Pierce College. “Here at Pierce College, we use our own server to prevent hackers and spammers from getting access to personal information.”According to the Computerworld article, when users sign up for free services from providers, there is a licensing agreement that has to be checked. What most users don’t realize is the licensing agreement asks in return for their services allowance to collect personal information from the account. This information can be turned over to advertisers and spammers legally.Most e-mail accounts are now making attempts to heighten security measures in order to keep users from cancelling accounts. Many have spam blockers and junk-mail filters to make it harder for spammers and viruses to be accessible to consumers.”With Yahoo! you get a lot of spam, about three or four a day, which bothers me,” said Erian Curitana, 18, dance major.On the contrary, Jose Rodriguez, 18, mathematics major, said Yahoo! has a spam guard he keeps on which keeps him “spam-free.”Aram Nishanian, 19, sociology major, said Gmail is very efficient with the services it provides and that spam and junk mail hardly ever come through.Paransky said that a Microsoft Exchange Server, which routes e-mail through Microsoft Outlook, is a secured way to get Webmail without fearing information laundering. The server is secure enough to be accessible anywhere without hackers being able to tamper with it.Using POP3 e-mail providers such as SBC Global, provided for a cost through Time Warner, give more options and tools to fight off unwanted hacking and spam that can bring about viruses.Paransky offered up some safety tips that can minimize harm to personal information and computers while using Webmail: ?Always log off properly when accessing Webmail from a public computer shared by others. ?Delete temporary Internet files, which are downloaded from personal files kept on personal computers.?Delete cookies, which track sites that have been previously visited. Spammers and advertisers use this info to solicit products and services they think will cater to those users likings based on cookies. ?Lastly, never open up or respond to unidentified, suspicious senders. More than likely, it’s a trap door to more spam once opened.