Having a personal e-mail ID makes surfing the Web more convenient.
The Internet is a household necessity and many people have as many as a dozen e-mail IDs. Having your own e-mail ID can make surfing the Web easier, because many shopping Web sites and message boards require registration with e-mail addresses. There are several free e-mail providers on the Internet, and creating your own ID can be done with minimal effort.
Providers
Compare different e-mail providers to determine which service best fits your needs and experience level. Choose a free service from a provider such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL or Mail.com. Compared with other e-mail providers; these providers offer user-friendly formats and easy sign-up pages. Ease of use and an organized interface make Gmail a prime choice, and Gmail offers free POP access, as opposed to Yahoo, which charges a yearly fee for POP e-mail. Save the provider you choose in your bookmarks or as your home page to have convenient access to it at all times.
Sign up
Go to the sign-up screen of the provider of your choice and read it thoroughly before proceeding. Read the terms and conditions on each provider's sign-on page to make sure you are not going to be violating any terms with your e-mail usage. Providing personal information on the Internet is not always a good idea, and using an alias or your initials in your e-mail is acceptable. Choose a nickname based on your interests, your name, your pets or anything at all. Picking a password requires a little thought, because you need it to be secure to prevent identity theft and hacking. Choose a password that is made up of numbers, letters and other characters instead of choosing dictionary words, a pet's name or the name of your partner. Fill out the rest of the information form and submit to create your e-mail ID.
Miscellaneous Information
Signing up for an e-mail ID with Yahoo, MSN or AOL gives you access to other features of their sites such as messenger, chat and forums. Getting an e-mail address with Gmail gives you access to any of the services Google has to offer, as well as good security. Exercise caution when using your e-mail ID on the Internet, and avoid giving your e-mail address to Web sites that may send spam e-mails. Use caution when clicking links or files in emails from people or organizations you do not know and trust, because viruses and worms can travel via these attachments.
