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Identity Theft via email

Have you been getting any "returned to sender" email from addresses that you don't recognize?  Usually, when this happens and you recognize the email (but don't remember sending anything), you have a virus.  However, if you don't recognize the address, your email has probably been used by someone to spam.  How is this possible, you ask.  The same way putting your physical address on bulk postal mail.  The difference is that the post office disposes of bulk mail that is not deliverable.  The email system routes non-deliverable email back to whoever "sent" it.  Though we do NOT recommend it, you can send email from any address, known or made up (which may still turn out to be viable) by changing your email settings.  If this happens to you, we suggest double checking to be sure you don't have a virus first and then (if no virus):

1. Contact your server and explain what seems to be happening.  Some servers could care less, but many would want to know because it may effect how their domain (the last part of your address after the @) is seen - and filtered/rejected - by other servers.  This can effect how your normal email is delivered.

2. If you wish to keep your address, follow the instructions provided in Volume 2, Number 4 to set message rules to filter anything with the same subject line(s) as the bogus returned email.  This helps you sort "good" and "bad" email quickly.

3. If you feel it is necessary, ask to change addresses.

4. Email everyone you feel is important and explain what has happened.

5. If you have a website that you post your email, make sure it is hidden such as a link that reads email me rather then the address typed out.

6. If you have a website, you may want to post to it what has happened.  We added a notice page for this and other types of announcements.

Volume 3, Number 3

Look to local organizations, senior/ethnic/church centers, colleges, libraries, trade schools, etc. to see what type (if any) computer instruction/teachers they have and/or offer.  You may be surprised at what is offered (many times reasonably priced) within your community.

Volume 3, Number 4

Email is such a "quick and easy" way to communicate - no stamps or LD fees.  Because of this, many a time-squeezed researcher has dashed off an email note without much thought to the "old standards" such as punctuation, spelling, etc.  When one of these emails is received by a researcher that is just as time squeezed, they are likely to put the poorly written missives toward the bottom of their "reply to" list.  Be truthful now - when you are organizing your reply list, do you normally put folks who can't be bothered to write clearly at the top of your list?

Volume 3, Number 5

What is an email list?  It is a list of folks who share at least one common interest/theme.  They subscribe to the list.  Anyone on the list can ask or answer questions.  Though sharing many things with a bulletin board format, this is ran through your email.  When anyone sends email to the list, everyone gets a copy in their inbox.  Two places to start your email list search is on US Gen Web and http://egroups.yahoo.com

Volume 3, Number 6

Today's internet is full of people who want to do bad things - or what we as genealogists consider bad.  In addition to those who want to collect all the information they can about you to use, there are those who just want to see how much they can mess up the internet.  These folks are ever evolving that nasty bunch of programming we call "virus" or "worm".  Now, lets say sends you and email and they are 120% sure they sent a "clean" email, so you then decide to open it.  Do Not before scanning it yourself.  The reason is that some new bad programs can attach "in transit".  Always be careful, unless you like dealing with any symptoms your computer may exhibit once infected.

Volume 3, Number 7

Can't see yourself subscribing to a lot of online pay services such as Ancestry?  Check you local libraries and genealogical collections that are "online".  Many strong collections already subscribe to some extent for their patrons.

Volume 3, Number 8

Take a visit to the US National Archives.  They are making more and more available online.  While this will never take the place of research trips, there are lots of things to help you out.  For instance, several of their printed publications are available in their entirety online free of charge.

http://www.nara.gov

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Volume 3, Number 9  - print screen

Lots of computer conversations contain something like "You know when it does/looks like this/that?" Many times the answer is a no because there wasn't enough (or sometimes too much) description involved.  Use the print screen to show people what you mean - it is a several step process:

• Locate/Produce on the screen the elements/situation you wish to print out, then tap (on the keyboard) your print screen button.  It is usually somewhere to the right of your normal typing keys and may be abbreviated such as "Prt Scrn".

• Next, you need to open a blank file in a program that is graphics capable (not notepad or WordPad) such as Word, FrontPage, etc.  Print screen can also be added to a file that contains other things.

• Make sure you have a blinking cursor in the file area and left click the paste button (usually looks like a clip board).

• Save and/or print the file to use in conversation.

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Volume 3, Number 10 - change your wallpaper

Right click any empty space on your desktop (what you see when you turn your computer on).  Click "properties" - when the box comes up, click the wall paper tab at the top of the box.  There is a scroll box (with down arrow on the right side) that contains lots of options.  Once you have picked one you like (they preview in the box), you might take the time to explore the other options the box provides.  Last step is to click the OK button.

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Volume 3, Number 11 - change your screen saver

Right click any empty space on your desktop (what you see when you turn your computer on).  Click "properties" - when the box comes up, click the screen saver tab at the top of the box.  There is a scroll box (with down arrow on the right side) that contains lots of options.  Once you have picked one you like (they preview in the box), you might take the time to explore the other options the box provides.  Last step is to click the OK button.

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Volume 3, Number 12 - Alternate Searching

Stuck at a roadblock and just sure your information isn't online?  If you try different search strategies, you may "get lucky".  Especially if researching an ethnicity, consider adding or substituting the "foreign" word for English such as the Dutch word for birth or born if looking for a Dutch birth record.

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