Email on the Road

>which means it could be intercepted by an evildoer.
If you are anything like me, then you've come toNow that you've got a service you can pick up your
depend on email. In fact, Imust read my email severalemail. Be sure to checkthe box which says "leave
times a day or I feel very uncomfortable. Thisappliesemail on server" or "do not delete messages"
to both my email from work (which I check a feworsomething like that, unless you are absolutely sure
times after I gethome and on weekends) and myyou want to delete them.
personal email (which I might check once ortwiceWhat this does is leave the messages on your POP
from the office.server until you read themwith your normal email
Why is it important? Well, email is communication, andclient.
I love tocommunicate. I write emails at home toOkay, now what? Well, when you travel you can find
discuss my articles and web site, totalk to family anda place to read youremail. Let's say you are at a
friends, and to order products or get support. Atconvention. You could find a kiosk whichallows for
work Iuse it constantly to deliver tasks to the peopleinternet access and viola, you can read your email.
who work on my team, answerquestions from theSometimes thesalespeople will let you use one of
boss, and keep in contact with my vendors, userstheir screens if they think you might beor might
andpeers.become a customer. Airports, libraries and other
One of the problems that I face when attempting toplaces alsocommonly have computer and internet
get to my email in eitherlocation is how to access theaccess for a fee.
POP server (a POP server is the place whereyourSome cautions are in order here. By their very nature
messages are stored until you read them in yourthese kinds of publicsystems are not secure. Just be
email client).sure you use your common sense and don't
What you need to do is use one of the web baseddoanything you would not want to broadcast to the
email services which allowyou to read your emailentire planet. Also, be surethe email service that you
messages from any POP server. See "Free stuffchoose stores the password for you - never
Headquarters - Email" for a list of services which areenteryour email account password on a public
available. Inaddition, your own ISP or web host maysystem. Thus, you should enter yourpassword once -
provide this functionality for you.when you set up the email account.
It's easy to set this up once you've settled on aIt's also a good idea to change your POP email
service. They will needyou to enter your emailaccount password more often,most especially after
address, account name, password and POP serveryou return from your traveling.
name.Personally, I prefer to carry a laptop or handheld
Before you enter this data, you may want to bedevice (such as a palmpilot or Jornada) with me when
sure your service is securewhile you are filling out theI travel. This way I can pick up my emailfrom the
form. Basically, before you press the SUBMITbutton,hotel room or anywhere I can find an ethernet jack,
see if the URL begins with "https" or the little lock iswithoutworrying about the inherent security issues of
shown in alocked position. If so, you are fine. If not,using a public system.
you may be transmitting yourpassword in the clear,