Weaknesses of global free-of-charge email services – analysis and recommendations

Abstract:

Global free-of-charge email services have, on average, lower security level in comparison with institutional email services. Nevertheless, they are significantly more used by medical doctors than economists and engineers. Email users are highly recommended to keep their professional email communication strictly separate from personal one and to use “the model of three email addresses”. In this model, the first email address is institutional and used only for professional communication, the second one is used for personal communication only and the third one is temporary and used only occasionally. Also, it is advisable to use the website of CERT security organisation (under CARNet) for information on actual security threats to email and Internet itself and for the recommendations on protection.

Key words:
communication; computer security; electronic mail; Internet