The Phantom Menace ---

     "E-Mail Do's and Don'ts"


DO:

o  Institute a written company E-mail policy.
    Include warnings that E-mail can be read
    by company officials at any time.

o  Establish E-mail retention periods and
    centralized archives.  Experts say 90 days
    is long enough to keep most messages.

o  Read the updates from your company's
    network and security managers.  You don't
    want to miss the warning about the latest
    virus that will destroy your hard drive.

DON'T:

o  Reply to junk E-mail.  A reply only lets
    spammers know they have a live address.

o  Give your E-mail address in Internet chat
    rooms or discussion groups.  Programs
    automatically collect addresses from them
    for direct E-mailers.

o  Execute attachments of uncertain origin.
    If in doubt, contact the sender or your
    network manager.  (Viruses are frequently
    propagated by E-Mail.  However, receivers
    must execute the attachment sent with the
    message to activate the virus.)

o  Send confidential messages over an insecure
    network.  E-mail sent over the Internet is
    the equivalent of postcards; any hacker with
    a little know-how can intercept messages.