Articles in Category: Email

Email – the most used, most long lived communications medium offered by networks of interconnected computers.

How Did I Get Accidentally Unsubscribed and How Do I Undo It?

Occasionally we stop getting email we signed up for. Here are some ways that can happen and what to do next.

Why Am I Getting Email From Someone With the Wrong Email Address?

Many people receive spam that looks like it comes from someone they know but is not from that person’s email address. I’ll take a look at what’s going on and what you need to pay attention to.

An ornate smithing hammer, intricately designed with detailed engravings and elegant craftsmanship. The hammer is metallic with a polished steel head and a finely carved wooden handle. On the head of the hammer, the word 'SPAM' is etched prominently, with clear and bold lettering.

Should I Worry If Email I Send Is Marked as Spam?

Don’t worry if someone threatens to mark your email as spam. Here’s why.

A mobile phone displaying the message 'Google calling' on the screen. The screen shows an incoming call with a green answer button and a red decline button at the bottom.

How Do I Change My Telephone Number on Google?

Keeping your telephone number up to date on Google is important. It’s easy to do — as long as you can sign in.

A Windows PC screen showing dozens of overlapping browser windows, each displaying a website with a message box asking for an 'email address.'

Can I Find Out Where My Email Address Has Been Used?

It’d be great to be able to locate all the places your email address has been used. Unfortunately, “great” doesn’t mean “possible”.

Conceptual: Outlook icon, arrow, generic email icon.

How Do I Forward Outlook.com Email to Another Email?

It’s fairly easy to automatically forward Hotmail and Outlook.com messages to another email account. I’ll walk you through the steps.

7 Signs of Phishing to Watch For

A friend received a fairly convincing phishing attempt. I’ll cover the signs that showed it was bogus.

A person at a modern desk, looking frustrated while staring at a laptop. On the laptop screen, an email inbox is open with a highlighted message from an 'Unknown Sender' and a visible IP address, with a large red question mark overlayed on the screen. The background features a well-lit, modern home office with a window letting in natural light. The overall mood should convey the frustration and helplessness of dealing with harassing or abusive emails.

How Do I Find Out Who Sent Email Trying to Harass or Intimidate Me?

Both children and adults receive harassing or abusive email. Sadly, there’s no easy way to trace it back to a sender who doesn’t want to be found.

A bright, well-lit mail room with shelves filled with letters and packages. In the center, a person wearing a casual outfit is holding a letter up and examining it closely using a magnifying glass. The person has a focused expression, with the magnifying glass highlighting the details of the letter. The background includes various mailroom elements such as labeled boxes, a sorting table, and some open envelopes. The overall scene is modern and tidy, with a focus on the letter and the magnifying glass.

What Do Spam Filters Look At?

Spam filters can be sophisticated or simple. I’ll look at some of the characteristics of email that spam filters check.

How Do I View the BCC Recipients on an Email I’ve Received?

BCC is a way to send copies of email without all recipients being visible. But can you still view the BCC’ed?

What Does the “Mailbox Unavailable” Error Mean and How Do I Fix It?

“Mailbox unavailable” is a common email bounce message that tells us very little. I’ll review some of the more common causes of this message.

What Is Modern Authentication?

OAuth2, aka a “Modern authentication method”, removes the burden of authentication from the email program to the email service itself, enabling a number of important security features.

A person sitting at a computer, looking stressed and frustrated while viewing a cluttered email inbox full of spam messages. On the screen, there is a prominent pop-up window with the message 'Close Your Hotmail Account' in bold.

How Do I Close My Hotmail or Outlook.com Account?

“I want to close my Hotmail account” is a knee-jerk reaction to many account problems. It’s easy, and I’ll show you how, but it also may be pointless or even harmful.

How Do I Stop Outlook.com from Putting Legitimate Messages in the Junk Mail Folder?

Outlook.com, like most email services, tries hard to keep spam out of your inbox. Sometimes it gets a little too aggressive. I’ll look at how to tame it.

A mail clerk in a mailroom sorting mail into a collection of mail slots.

What’s the Difference Between an Email Domain, Account, Address, and Alias?

Email comes with its own set of terminology. I’ll review how email addresses, accounts, domains, and aliases relate.

How Do I Find Someone’s Email Address?

It can be extremely difficult to find the email address of someone you want to contact. To begin with, they must want to be found.

An image showing the annoyance of spam emails. Depict an overflowing email inbox with spam messages, a frustrated person looking at their computer, and various sources of spam like social media, phishing attempts, and data breaches illustrated around the scene.

8 Ways Spammers Get Your Email Address

Spam is annoying. What’s more annoying are all the ways spammers have to get our email addresses in the first place.

How Do I Unsubscribe from All These Unwanted Emails?

There are emails from which you should certainly unsubscribe if you no longer want them. However, there are emails that you absolutely should never unsubscribe from. I’ll review the difference.

A person frustrated at a computer, with clear icons of multiple email providers like Gmail and Outlook on the screen. A CSV file icon is shown transferring between two email icons. .

How Do I Move My Address Book From One Provider to Another?

Taking your contacts with you when moving from one platform to another is a clumsy process.

A photorealistic image of a semi-transparent Trojan horse. The horse is made of a glass-like material, allowing visibility inside. Inside the Trojan horse, there is a clearly labeled package that reads 'Malware'. The background is neutral and simple, emphasizing the Trojan horse and the package inside.

Are Zip Files Safe to Open?

ZIP files are useful for compressing and containing collections of files. Unfortunately, they’re also useful to hackers, spammers, and scammers.

A frustrated person looking at a computer screen with an email bounce-back message. In the background, an image of a spam warning symbol and multiple email servers connected in a network.

Why Are They Saying I’m Sending Too Much Spam?

How your email can get blocked for spam you didn’t send, and what to do about it.

How to Deal When Unsubscribe Doesn’t Work

When a legitimate email sender doesn’t respond to an unsubscribe request, they’re no longer legitimate. Here’s what to do.

What’s the Difference Between Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, Msn.com, and Live.com?

Like many Microsoft products, Hotmail’s name has changed a time or two and caused a great deal of confusion. I’ll try to make sense of it all.

Why Do I See Lots of Failed Login Attempts on My Account?

I’ll show you how to look at your Outlook.com recent activity and review why it might be full of failed login attempts.

How Do Gmail Labels Relate to Folders?

Gmail labels are similar to folders, but there are a couple of important differences to know if you use a desktop email program to access Gmail.

One person pointing accusingly at another person, saying 'SPAMMER!'. The scene is intense, with the accuser looking serious and somewhat angry, while the accused appears surprised and defensive. The background is a nondescript office setting.

I’ve Been Accused of Being a Spammer. What Can I Do About It?

It’s not uncommon for email to bounce in ways that imply you might be spamming. I’ll look at what may or may not be happening.

Image that visually represents the concept of email deletion and potential recovery in the context of Yahoo!, Gmail, and Hotmail services. The image depicts a digital environment with visual elements such as an email being deleted, a trash bin symbolizing temporary storage, archive folders, and a representation of cloud backups. Incorporate symbols or metaphors for legal access and personal backups, like a gavel or an external hard drive.

Can Permanently Deleted Email Be Recovered?

In most cases, deleted email is gone beyond your ability to recover it. As always, however, there are exceptions.

A digital battle scene symbolizing the ineffective and illegal attempts to fight spam with spam. Include visual metaphors such as email icons clashing like swords, a figure representing a regular email user transformed into a spammer wearing a villainous mask, and digital debris to illustrate the chaos and negative impact of such actions. The scene should convey the message that while the idea of retaliating against spammers is tempting, it ultimately backfires and turns the well-intentioned user into part of the problem.

Can’t We Just Spam the Spammers to Death?

Unfortunately, that turns you into, yes… a spammer! There are many, many problems with this idea. I’ll explain a few.

How Do I Change the Email Address of My Microsoft Account?

You can associate multiple email addresses with your Microsoft account. Who knew?

The scene includes a computer screen displaying an email inbox with several spam email subjects visible, such as "Account Hacked!" and "Urgent: Security Alert." A large, bold, red 'X' is superimposed over these scam emails, symbolizing rejection or marking them as spam. In the foreground, a figure symbolizing a user (not specific in appearance) confidently presses the 'delete' or 'spam' button on the email client, ignoring the scam attempts.

Has a Hacker Really Hacked My Email Account?

An email claims your email account has been hacked, possibly even including a password you’ve used. Don’t be fooled; it’s a scam.

A dimly lit room with an open laptop casting a soft glow on a table. The screen displays an email interface with an unread message icon, subtly hinting at communication from beyond. Around the laptop, personal items like a framed photo of a smiling group of friends, a wilted flower, and a candle casting long shadows, create a poignant atmosphere of loss and the unsettling feeling of receiving a message from someone who has passed away. The overall mood is one of contemplation and sorrow.

Why Am I Getting Email from a Dead Person?

It’s hard enough to experience the loss of a friend or a loved one. To get email from them thereafter can be very disturbing.

An investigator, characterized by a friendly and approachable design, using a magnifying glass to look closely at an email message on a computer screen. The scene is set in a dimly lit room, highlighting the focus on the screen, suggesting the importance of paying attention to detail. The investigator's expression is one of curiosity and determination, emphasizing the significance of scrutinizing every piece of information to uncover the truth behind the email message. This image should inspire viewers to be more diligent and thoughtful when examining their own emails.

Behind the Scam: Decoding the Secrets of Fraudulent Emails

Scam emails often have clues ranging from obvious to obscure. I’ll take a scam email and show you what I see.

What Does “Over Quota” Mean? What’s a Quota?

Being over quota means you’ve received or kept too much email. To deal with it, you need to understand where that email is being kept.

A realistic digital illustration of a PC computer screen. The screen displays a user interface with a prominent, centered prompt that reads "Enter recovery email address:". The background of the screen is a simple, user-friendly design, suggesting a security or account settings page. The entire setting conveys a modern, technological environment, focusing on the importance of security and account recovery.

What Is My Microsoft Account Recovery Email?

Your Microsoft account recovery email address is an important part of making sure you never lose access to your account.

A skilled juggler is performing an impressive feat, effortlessly juggling bright and easily recognizable Gmail icons in mid-air. The juggler is focused, with a look of concentration and joy on their face, as they stand against a simple, unobtrusive background that doesn't detract from the spectacle of the Gmail icons being tossed with expert precision.

How Do I Sign In to a Different Gmail Account?

There are several ways to be signed in to multiple Gmail accounts simultaneously. I’ll review the most common and what I find the most useful.

A magnifying glass over a maze of passages all showing various portions of text.

How Do I Tell Who Sent an Email?

It’s extremely unlikely. I’ll walk you through why that is and one way you might get lucky.

What Is the Thunderbird Email File Location in Windows?

Thunderbird stores everything in what it calls a profile. I’ll show you how to locate yours.

How Do I Recover My Outlook Account?

Outlook.com, Hotmail, and Microsoft account compromise and loss happens. Here’s how to get your account back depending on what happened to it.

A photorealistic image representing the concept of the irreversibility of sending an email. The scene is set in an office environment, where a person is sitting in front of a computer, their expression a mix of surprise and regret. The computer screen displays a generic email interface, with a sent message confirmation visible. The atmosphere conveys a moment of realization that once an email is sent, it's out of one's control. The room is well-lit, showcasing the office setting with modern furniture and technology, emphasizing the professional context in which email communication often takes place.

Can I Recall an Email From Gmail or Outlook.com?

You may have heard of a feature called “message recall”. For all intents and purposes, it’s not real.

A photorealistic image representing the evolution and consolidation of Microsoft's email services into Outlook.com. The image shows a computer screen with the Outlook.com login page prominently displayed in the center, surrounded by faded logos symbolizing their integration into Outlook.com. The background subtly reflects a timeline, indicating the passage of over 25 years, with visual elements that hint at Microsoft's changing strategies in email services. This represents the journey from multiple sign-in platforms to a single unified access point for all Microsoft email accounts.

Is There an MSN Sign-In to Hotmail?

Microsoft’s history with email and email addresses is long and reflects changing strategies within the company.

A cartoon-style image representing email transfer between two email providers. Between them, a smooth flow of cartoonish email envelopes, creating a visual path from one to the other. The envelopes should appear as if they are moving seamlessly, symbolizing an easy transfer process. The background is a digital, abstract representation of data transfer, with subtle lines and nodes connecting the two logos, further emphasizing the idea of seamless integration and transition of emails.

How Do I Move Emails From One Account to Another?

Moving email from one account to another just takes some configurating and drag-and-dropping.

Why Are My Mail Folders Not Showing In Outlook?

You’ve got your online email nicely organized into folders. Then you move to a desktop program, and none of the folders come with you. What now?

A 16:9 photorealistic image showing a magnifying glass hovering over an email icon. The scene is set on a desktop background, with the magnifying glass closely examining the email icon, symbolizing scrutiny and attention to detail. The email icon should look digital and modern, representing electronic communication, and the magnifying glass should have a realistic and detailed appearance, with a clear lens and metallic frame.

How Can Newsletter Senders Tell That I Haven’t Opened Their Newsletter?

It’s impossible to truly determine if someone opened an email, but newsletters worrying about their reputation try to get an idea.

Can I Get Malware From Opening an Email?

It used to be that simply viewing a malformed email could allow a virus to spread. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case.

How to Change Your Email Address On Gmail

You can change your Gmail address by creating a new Gmail account. If that’s not really what you want, you’ll need to see which workaround you can live with.

A digital collage illustrating the concept of email privacy and security on a white background. Centered is a large, open laptop, symbolizing a secure email service. Around the laptop, include a lock representing security, an envelope with a shield for encrypted email, and a mobile phone with a red cross, indicating the option to create an email account without a phone number. The background should be plain white, with minimal digital motifs, focusing on the clarity and simplicity of the concept of digital communication and privacy.

Can You Make an Email Without a Phone Number?

There are legitimate reasons for not wanting to give your phone number to an email service. Let’s look at alternatives.

Thunderbird: a Free, Open Source, and Powerful Email Client

Thunderbird is a robust and powerful email program that can meet the needs of both light and power users. I use it all day every day.

An office setting with a person sitting at a desk, visibly frustrated. The desk has a computer displaying a 'forgot password' error on the screen. The person is a middle-aged East Asian man in business casual attire. He's holding his head in one hand, and there's a notepad, a cup of coffee, and a smartphone on the desk. The room has a window with a view of a city skyline, suggesting an urban office environment. The atmosphere is that of stress related to forgotten credentials, with natural light coming from the window.

How to Recover an Outlook.com Account Without the Recovery Phone or Email

If you don’t have access to your account recovery phone number or alternate email address, there is a process you can go through to regain access to your account — maybe.

Why Does Email with a Lot of BCC’ed Recipients Bounce?

BCC is good for many things. Sending to many people at once isn’t really one of them.

How Do I Change My Email Name?

Changing your email name is usually easy, but changing your email address involves setting up a new account.