TFN is only one of a whole host of other networks on the "Net." As such there are many other networks out there you can send mail to. As a result, we have compiled a list of the common domains that people send mail to. The list below is by no means complete, and is subject to update from time to time

AMERICA ONLINE: "user@aol.com" Use all lower case and remove spaces.

APPLELINK: "user@applelink.apple.com"

AT&T MAIL: "user@attmail.com"

BITNET: "user@host.BITNET"

BIX: "user@bix.com"

CONNECT: "user@dcjcon.das.net"

DELPHI: "user@delphi.com"

FIDONET: "firstname.lastname@p#.f#.n#.z#.fidonet.org".

GENIE: "user@genie.geis.com"

IGC, or "PEACENET": "user@igc.org"

INTERNET: "user@domain"

MCI MAIL: "user@mcimail.com"

PC LINK: "user@aol.com".

PRODIGY: "abcd12a@prodigy.com"

WELL: "user@well.sf.ca.us"

GMAIL: "user@gmail.com"

YAHOO (US): "user@yahoo.com"

MSN HOTMAIL: "user@hotmail.com"

ABOUT E-MAIL, ADDRESSES, AND ADDRESSBOOKS I have been a user of the Internet for over 10 years. Over this time, I have learned that the best way to get an address for a user is to ask that user directly for it - This is simply because there are too many ISP's to list here, and since users of the internet can change ISP's in a heartbeat, it is ALWAYS ADVISABLE to check your addresses in address books to make sure that you have the right address for the user in question. If you find that you do not have the right address, the best course of action is to either telephone the individual directly for the address, or send a snail mail letter to the recipient to obtain the address.

This will eliminate the problem of getting mail bounces back because the user does not exist. The other thing to be aware of is that sometimes users have mail or disk quotas, and some ISP's send back messages when that mail quota has been exceeded. Still others may send messges that say that file attachments are too big and could not be delivered. Sometimes mail may not be deliverable to a destination mailbox for a period of hours or even days or weeks, or may be still in cyberspace somewhere, and may take a while to deliver to the destination mailbox.

One thing I have noticed over the years is that there is a marked increase in email-borune viruses and worms. These are typically of the @MM variety, meaning that the virus is a "Mass Mailer" This type of a virus is received, looks like a ligitimate email, and because it has a familiar address, the recipient will open the message because the subjet line says something like "Open Immediately, this is Important" or will look legit because it comes from some company that is well-known. The user is curious, and opens the email, and the attachment and the machine is infected in seconds. Further, the @MM variants will grab email addresses out of all addressbooks, and will start mailing itself to the people listed in them.

What is even more sinister are the virus payloads that you don't even have to open to be infected - The mere fact that you download it and don't open it is enough to cause problems.

TIPS TO HELP YOU STAY VIRUS FREE

First: DO NOT open an email from anyone you do not recognize

Second: Invest in a Good Antivirus program and firewall. The best thing you can do is to get AV/Firewall software, configure it properly, and KEEP IT UPDATED: It can't work right if it is not used to scan and eliminate viruses

Third: Try NOT to keep email addresses on your windows machines. Viruses and worms will search for them, and if they are not there in the address book, it cannot spread. This means that you should have them in a place where windows viruses can't get to them. If you can, have them on a non windows host (such as TFN) but remember, that you should consider backing up your home directory files from time to time. Linux/Unix Hosts like TFN do not get affected by these type of viruses unless users save the attachment and physically download it to their home PC.

Fourth: Use TFN to check local email using IMAP: That way you do not download messages from the server, only the header information. Then you can delete the messages without downloading them from TFN.

Fifth: Update antivirus and other security software as often as possible. Most AV programs have daily updates, and sometimes they update themselves more then once in a day. Also use programs for spyware and adware removal, and keep them updated.

Sixth: If you decide to download any attachment, SCAN it first BEFORE downloading it, and SCAN AGAIN when it is downloaded. There are many files that may look harmless, like a *.jpg file or a *.zip file, but they could be malicious - Be on the watch, and be on your guard - Files are not always what they claim to be!

If you follow the advice above, you can lessen your chance of having an email bounce because you have the wrong address. Also, you can hopefully prevent yourself from being the victim of a trojan/virus or adware/spyware attack.