E-mail: strengths and risks
E-mail has six strengths. It is fast, because messages arrive in moments. It is cheap, and often free. It is easy, because one message can go to any number of receivers. It is varied, because it can carry text, files and pictures. In most cases the messages arrive reliably. And it lets you sign up for digital services. E-mail also has risks. An account can be hacked, which means a bad person gets in without permission. Spam messages arrive without being asked for. Fraud messages try to trick you. Some messages carry viruses or other harmful programs, often hidden in attachments. And e-mail is not completely private. There is no need to be afraid. Follow a few habits: do not open an attachment from someone you do not know, do not answer a message that asks for a password, and show strange messages to a trusted adult. You are not in trouble when you receive one.
| Risk | What it looks like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Hacking | someone enters an account without permission | use a strong password; tell a grown-up |
| Spam | many unwanted messages | do not answer; show a grown-up |
| Fraud message | a message asking for a password or money | do not answer; show a grown-up |
| Virus in an attachment | an attachment from an unknown sender | do not open it; ask a teacher |
| Privacy | a message may not stay fully private | never write secrets in a message |
| Strengths | Risks |
|---|---|
| fast | hacking |
| cheap or free | spam |
| easy: one to many | fraud and viruses |
Fold a page in two. Write “Strengths” on one side and “Risks” on the other. List at least four strengths and four risks from memory. Then write one rule for each risk that tells what to do. Show your page to a family member.