Are e-mails vulnerable to hacking?

Question

I'm just wondering because I hear about people submitting their social security numbers via e-mail, e-mail attachments, or both for their respective purposes. Personally, I'm uncomfortable, period, doing it because I'm paranoid about identity theft.

Answer 1

Yes, in fact, anything transmitted over the Internet is vunerable for attacks! Although, if you send an e-mail directly to someone, that possibility is very slim. The identity theft arises when you are solicited and you respond to a spoofed e-mail that looks exactly like the site that you normally go to, like eBay or PayPal - which are major targets for these spoofs. I usually get 14 a week - as I am a Power Seller on eBay. The link that you are redirected to is not the one that you think it is, but to one that is collecting your personal data.

The point is to NOT send sensitive data via the Internet without encryption wherever possible - both parties must have the password to open the files, however. The password should be sent in a separate e-mail on a separate day.

You are right to be afraid and paranoid - because it is a scary world out there!

Answer 2

E-mail accounts, just like anything are hackable. Anything that has a computer chip (even devices such as calculators, and higher-end cars) can be hacked. There are a lot of scanning and safety precautions out there to make sure that viruses don't hit your computer... BUT just putting a social security number on an Internet-enabled computer puts you are risk of being hacked. It is better to not even put that type of information on your computer, AT ALL. But if you must, only enter stuff like that into SSL encryped sites. The URLS usually will say something like http://secure.somethingsomething.com.

Answer 3

1) Don't open attachments from people you don't know.
2) Don't access a website via a link in an e-mail.
3) Install a reputable anti-virus system.
-MM

Answer 4

needless to say it somewhat is. yet could you please clarify how the Democrats are in charge for this while her digital mail develop into hacked in September of 2008? throughout the time of an administration who crapped on the form making us all project to examination from any damn team who could make a reason stick as to why we could be a danger or bore gazing for despite reason they theory up. That blasted the door open for abuse and this is in ordinary terms getting worse. the only difficulty that I easily have with the Democrats is they have not accomplished something approximately it, and with a Constitutional professional in the Oval place of work, that could desire to have been between the 1st themes he took on. that does no longer mean i do no longer keep in mind who started us down this somewhat slippery slope and that develop into the GOP - lock, inventory and barrel.

Answer 5

You should never send anything in an email that you wouldn't write on the back of a postcard. However, the number one source of identity theft is stolen wallets so don't carry your SSN in your wallet.

Answer 6

while sending emails, using sniffers hackers can obtain the emails.. but the major email service providers encript the emails highly..but still it is not recommended to send highly confidential stuff through emails.. however using SSL secured websites would not be much of a problem (sometimes errors occur)

Answer 7

Your doing the right thing.Never give personal info.over the net.

Answer 8

yes they are.... not all companies or e-mail servers have good hack protection unfortunately.