1. How to get an e-mail address: Usually your ISP (Internet Service Provider) will give you a free e-mail account. What is the e-mail address? Typically it's your username@thenameofyourISP for example [email protected] or you can set up your own FREE account at Hotmail or Yahoo. In order to do this, go to their site and pick a username and password. Again, your username will be part of your e-mail address. Ex: [email protected]
2. Make sure that your e-mail address is written EXACTLY the way the provider tells you to. When it comes to usernames and passwords, it does matter if you use spaces or big or small letters.
3. You can e-mail anyone in the universe for for no extra charge, no matter where they are. There are no long distance charges, etc.
4. E-mail should be private but NEVER give out your personal information like Credit Card Numbers, etc. via e-mail.
5. SPAM is unsolicited e-mail or e-mail that anyone sends you that you didn't ask for. In programs like Outlook Express you can set up a filter so that the program automatically deletes the spam. Be careful that you don't set it up to delete the things you want to keep. And if you get a lot of SPAM, report it to your E-mail Provider.
6. To send an e-mail, open Outlook Express or go to the website of your e-mail provider. Click on Inbox. Then click on Compose or New Message. In the TO: section, fill in the address of the person you are sending the e-mail to. In the SUBJECT: section, put a little note about the e-mail (Ex.: hi, picture for you, Happy Holidays, etc.). In the large white box in the middle, write your message. When you are done, click SEND.
7. To send a picture or even a document that you wrote in WordPerfect, for example, you must send it as an Attachment. To do that, click on Compose or New Message and then type in the TO address and then click Insert. Choose the file/picture you would like to send. Just make sure you know where you have saved it. I often save pictures that I have scanned in or put on my digital camera to one folder that I called Pictures. I keep this file on my Desktop (the screen with all of the icons like My Computer, etc.) so I always know where it is. Then type a message if you like and click Send.
8. To open an Attachment, click on the paper clip symbol in Outlook Express or open the e-mail and click on the file name. It should open automatically. **Right click on the file and a menu should appear. Click on Scan and your anti-virus protection will scan it for viruses.
9. SECURITY: Never give out your e-mail address to anyone you don't know. Get a separate e-mail address like Hotmail or Yahoo to give out to mailing lists, websites, etc. Choose an e-mail address that does not include your name, like your favorite color or a fake name to keep your identity a secret. Never send spam, it could get you in a lot of trouble. Never open e-mail when you don't know the sender and NEVER open an attachment if you don't know what it is or who it is from. Beware of viruses that are sent as attachments. Visit an anti-virus website like Symantec to find out more.
10. KIDS - Your kids may want their own e-mail account, which is fine as long as you monitor it. You should know the username and password, but remember, they can still delete what they don't want you to see. If you have concerns, don't let them have their own account. Make them use the family e-mail and check it regularly.

Bottom Line: Above all, if something makes you nervous, don't do it. Use your gut instincts and be kind to your friends and family. Don't send X rated jokes to people who may have their kids check the e-mail and don't forward everything you read. There are a lot of hoaxes so check them out at www.symantec.com before you forward.