Even if you are using email on a standard email client and even if you have some secure authentication (not all providers even have that!) the actual text of the email including the headers is sent in the clear. This means any information in the email is potentially susceptible to interception. If you are using a site that solely works in HTTPS secure mode (like Gmail) at a wi-fi hotspot then your conversation with the webmail site cannot be intercepted within the hotspot or at least what is intercepted is just pseudo random noise generated by the secure connection. However, again after that the email will be sent through the Internet in the clear as plain text. This is fundamentally the reason why putting credit card details and other sensitive information is not advised because although most of the time one can hope it is not being monitored it could be. Attachments of one kind or another are a major point at which key loggers can be installed but by no means the only ones. The best way to secure again these is not to open them at all, or at least only deal with those you know the source of is genuine. Adobe Reader documents are a major source of exploit so treat these with a great deal of caution and update Adobe Reader wherever possible. There are also certain features that can be turned off which enhance the security. One day somebody will invent secure email but until they do you have to consider the traffic unsecured and exercise some caution. Regards. Tristram Llewellyn Sight and Sound Technology Technical Support www.sightandsound.co.uk Mail: Tristram: tristram.llewellyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Technical: Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx General - info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Phone: Support line: 0845 634 7979 Sight and Sound Technology Limited is a company registered in England and Wales, with company number 1408275. Sight and Sound Technology Welton House North Wing Summerhouse Road Moulton Park Northampton NN3 6WD VAT Number - GB 860 2121 66. -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of George Bell Sent: 29 November 2010 10:50 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Emails security Hi Derek, I was watching a TV program only this weekend where they demonstrated how easily one could be caught with things like "Key loggers". These can arrive in what appears to be an innocent e-mail message and send every keystroke to press to some wallie on a beech in Argentina via a circuitous internet route which is hard to trace. Also, for a hacker, intercepting e-mail is often child's play/ The program also surveyed users who were using wireless hotspots here in the U.K. and found an alarming number of people who had absolutely no anti-virus protection at all. George. -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Derek Hornby Sent: 29 November 2010 10:13 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Emails security Hi All I am aware that it's not a good idea to put credit card details in an email. But what's the actual reason. I mean surely the chances of an email correctly addressed, Going to the wrong address, is less likely compared to postal mail Being delivered to wrong address! 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