Newsletters delivered by email, just like regular newsletters, can keep you informed on the latest news and information on topics that interest you. Many businesses distribute company information through automated newsletter messages. However, you should be careful about which newsletters you sign up for.
Protective Measures
Practices
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Protect your email address: When filling out registration or subscription information in a Web form or email, be sure you know who is getting your email address and whether it will be used for any purposes other than what you expect. Many companies state that they will only disclose your information to their affiliated companies and partners. What you may not realize is that those affiliates could be spammers.
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Subscribe to only the information you want: To the extent possible, make sure that you sign up for only the information you want to receive and block other information, such as unwanted advertising.
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Unsubscribe if necessary: Most newsletters offer an option to unsubscribe by clicking on a link in the newsletter email or by sending some type of written confirmation that you are no longer interested in their service.
- At work, only subscribe to company newsletters. If you are using email at work, we recommend that you only subscribe to and read newsletters intended for employee use. Avoid subscribing to external newsletters; you can use your personal email account for this.
Connect Safely from Different Places
Office
Contact your company's system administrator or IT department to get information on the most recent phishing attacks to be aware of.
Ethical Issues
It is unethical for newsletter providers to sell or distribute email addresses, unless they clearly state in their policies and license agreements that they will do so. Even though such a practice is objectionable, many still engage in it, and you need to think carefully before you enroll to receive an email newsletter.
Legal Issues
Currently it is not illegal to distribute personal information about subscribers, although there are efforts to make spamming illegal.
Privacy Issues
Before subscribing to any newsletter, read the privacy policy and license agreement thoroughly. Check the provider's policy on sending you other information in addition to the newsletter you have subscribed to. Some providers may need you to sign up (opt-in) to receive additional information, emails, or newsletters; others may automatically subscribe you to other mailing lists if you do not specifically request that they don't (opt-out). If you suspect that your personal information is being given out by the newsletter provider, check the provider’s privacy policy and take the steps necessary, such as opting-out of other mailings or contacting the person in charge of privacy, to request that your personal information not be made available to other parties.
You should be careful when signing up for newsletters, since many newsletter providers are less than honest in their dealings. When you sign up for newsletter services, you are asked to give information about yourself, including your email address. Newsletter providers may be trying to get you to share important information about yourself in order to steal your identity. Never give a credit card number or your social security number to someone or some organization just because they ask for it.
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