My 95 year old Mother who still lives in her own home has for years
ignored advice to change to a more recognisable broadband provider because she just would not accept that after several changes of ownership it was
no longer the same small local provider she started with over 25 years
ago.
Well it has happened the latest owners have issued notice that her
email account and address is ceasing because the third party provider is closing. Unfortunately due to having to go digital
my less technical Brother who lives closer than I do allowed her sign a
new contract back in July
rather than restart with someone reputable so I expect changing providers
now would involve a lot
in cancellation fees/ penalty charges.
She isnrCOt a great user of email but the odd important contact needs to be maintained.
Any suggestions, is a G Mail account the answer or is a potential spam pit?
Though she is mainly savvy there is some mental deterioration setting in
and unfortunately IrCOm not in a position to pop in regularly due to living 200 miles away.
Due to poor signal it has to be a landline provider.
My 95 year old Mother who still lives in her own home has for years
ignored advice to change to a more recognisable broadband provider because she just would not accept that after several changes of ownership it was
no longer the same small local provider she started with over 25 years
ago.
Well it has happened the latest owners have issued notice that her
email account and address is ceasing because the third party provider is closing. Unfortunately due to having to go digital
my less technical Brother who lives closer than I do allowed her sign a
new contract back in July
rather than restart with someone reputable so I expect changing providers
now would involve a lot
in cancellation fees/ penalty charges.
She isnrCOt a great user of email but the odd important contact needs to be maintained.
Any suggestions, is a G Mail account the answer or is a potential spam pit?
Though she is mainly savvy there is some mental deterioration setting in and unfortunately IrCOm not in a position to pop in regularly due to living 200 miles away.
Due to poor signal it has to be a landline provider.
GH
Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
My 95 year old Mother who still lives in her own home has for years
ignored advice to change to a more recognisable broadband provider because >> she just would not accept that after several changes of ownership it was
no longer the same small local provider she started with over 25 years
ago.
Well it has happened the latest owners have issued notice that her
email account and address is ceasing because the third party provider is >> closing. Unfortunately due to having to go digital
my less technical Brother who lives closer than I do allowed her sign a
new contract back in July
rather than restart with someone reputable so I expect changing providers
now would involve a lot
in cancellation fees/ penalty charges.
She isnrCOt a great user of email but the odd important contact needs to be >> maintained.
Any suggestions, is a G Mail account the answer or is a potential spam pit? >> Though she is mainly savvy there is some mental deterioration setting in
and unfortunately IrCOm not in a position to pop in regularly due to living >> 200 miles away.
Due to poor signal it has to be a landline provider.
I would guess you want a company who is able to hand-hold her on the phone
if she has problems, eg if she calls to say 'X email didn't go through' then they can check the log and see what happened. Maybe is willing to do a screen-share to help her out, etc.
Gmail seems to be the antithesis of this - Google doesn't do customer support. There is nobody to phone and if there was they wouldn't be able to do anything for you.
Well it has happened the latest owners have issued notice that her
email account and address is ceasing because the third party provider is closing. Unfortunately due to having to go digital
my less technical Brother who lives closer than I do allowed her sign a
new contract back in July
rather than restart with someone reputable so I expect changing providers
now would involve a lot
in cancellation fees/ penalty charges.
She isnrCOt a great user of email but the odd important contact needs to be maintained.
Any suggestions, is a G Mail account the answer or is a potential spam pit?
Though she is mainly savvy there is some mental deterioration setting in
and unfortunately IrCOm not in a position to pop in regularly due to living 200 miles away.
Due to poor signal it has to be a landline provider.
GH
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
I would guess you want a company who is able to hand-hold her on the phone if she has problems, eg if she calls to say 'X email didn't go through' then
they can check the log and see what happened. Maybe is willing to do a screen-share to help her out, etc.
Gmail seems to be the antithesis of this - Google doesn't do customer support. There is nobody to phone and if there was they wouldn't be able to
do anything for you.
All probably true, but my gmail account rCLjust worksrCY. Never had an issue with it.
(FWIW: when I was doing it a few years ago [when Demon emails finally ceased], I just drew up a list of my contacts, with a tick column or
similar for when I was sure they had changed it. I informed them of the change, by sending an email saying something like "this is my new
address - please email it when you've changed your records"; I sent
these emails from my_old_ address, so I could see which of the replies saying "I've changed it" had actually been sent just using a "reply"
button or similar.)
On 2025-12-21 17:20, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
(FWIW: when I was doing it a few years ago [when Demon emails finally
ceased], I just drew up a list of my contacts, with a tick column or
similar for when I was sure they had changed it. I informed them of the
change, by sending an email saying something like "this is my new
address - please email it when you've changed your records"; I sent
these emails from my_old_ address, so I could see which of the replies
saying "I've changed it" had actually been sent just using a "reply"
button or similar.)
With me recently the phone number has changed more often than the email address. My way of ensuring people know my latest contact details is to print out sticky labels - each containing address, phone, email,
website home page - one of which I peel off and stick into every
Christmas card. That way, at least once a year, the family can check
that they have the correct contact details for me.
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:One advantage of g-mail is that they hold all the messages you have
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
I would guess you want a company who is able to hand-hold her on
the phone if she has problems, eg if she calls to say 'X email
didn't go through' then they can check the log and see what
happened. Maybe is willing to do a screen-share to help her out,
etc.
Gmail seems to be the antithesis of this - Google doesn't do
customer support. There is nobody to phone and if there was they wouldn't be able to do anything for you.
All probably true, but my gmail account rCLjust worksrCY. Never had an issue with it.
I suspect you aren't 95... the service may not be faulty but she may
still need somebody to hold her hand, as to how to use her client or
any difficulties she has with it. Google is not going to do that.
That's part of what you're paying a provider for.
Theo
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
I would guess you want a company who is able to hand-hold her on the phone >>> if she has problems, eg if she calls to say 'X email didn't go through' then
they can check the log and see what happened. Maybe is willing to do a
screen-share to help her out, etc.
Gmail seems to be the antithesis of this - Google doesn't do customer
support. There is nobody to phone and if there was they wouldn't be able to
do anything for you.
All probably true, but my gmail account rCLjust worksrCY. Never had an issue >> with it.
I suspect you aren't 95... the service may not be faulty but she may still need somebody to hold her hand, as to how to use her client or any difficulties she has with it.
My 95 year old Mother who still lives in her own home has for years
ignored advice to change to a more recognisable broadband provider because she just would not accept that after several changes of ownership it was
no longer the same small local provider she started with over 25 years
ago.
Well it has happened the latest owners have issued notice that her
email account and address is ceasing because the third party provider is closing. Unfortunately due to having to go digital
my less technical Brother who lives closer than I do allowed her sign a
new contract back in July
rather than restart with someone reputable so I expect changing providers
now would involve a lot
in cancellation fees/ penalty charges.
She isnrCOt a great user of email but the odd important contact needs to be maintained.
Any suggestions, is a G Mail account the answer or is a potential spam pit?
Though she is mainly savvy there is some mental deterioration setting in
and unfortunately IrCOm not in a position to pop in regularly due to living 200 miles away.
Due to poor signal it has to be a landline provider.
My 95 year old Mother who still lives in her own home has for years
ignored advice to change to a more recognisable broadband provider because she just would not accept that after several changes of ownership it was
no longer the same small local provider she started with over 25 years
ago.
Thanks all for the replies, it looks like GMail will suit. Being realistic most of her email contacts have departed so she only needs an email address for the odd Amazon or shopping order and I think she will need one to
retain Facebook and Messenger , the latter being the main method she keeps
in contact with rellies now.
Marland wrote:
My 95 year old Mother who still lives in her own home has for years
ignored advice to change to a more recognisable broadband provider because >> she just would not accept that after several changes of ownership it was
no longer the same small local provider she started with over 25 years
ago.
[snip]
Oh dear!
Probably the most important thing is to set up her system so you can
have remote control over her computer, at will, without expecting her to click any buttons or open any websites. This will overcome the
impending mental deterioration.
So:
== Ideally, ensure that the broadband provider can allocate a static
public IP address. Zen would be my suggestion. But I understand that
this might be difficult. If FTTP is available then get that.
== Configure her router and yours so that you can have a LAN-to-LAN VPN
to her house. Draytek routers are good for this; but others are
available. This avoids the need for AnyDesk or TeamViewer or similar,
and would allow management of other devices on her LAN (security camera, printer, or the like).
== Configure her router and computer so that you can use Wake-on-LAN.
That way you can start her computer even if she is unable to do so
herself. Obviously needs the computer to connect by Ethernet cable to
the router
== Install VNC client on your PC, and a VNC server on hers. I have
found TightVNC from <https://www.tightvnc.com/> good for this. Identify wehther she has a username and password required for login.
You will now be in a position to manage her computer whenever you need
to, as well as watching what she does when she needs help.
GMail exists to harvest the user's data, so if you're happy with that
then go ahead. You can buy a domain name and rent an email service that will handle a good many email accounts. You could do so for yourself,
and allocate one email address to her; thus for example
mum@marland.co.uk and son@marland.co.uk for yourself. You should be
able to find a domain name and email service for under -u100 per year.
Graham J <nobody@nowhere.co.uk> wrote:
Marland wrote:
My 95 year old Mother who still lives in her own home has for years
ignored advice to change to a more recognisable broadband provider because >>> she just would not accept that after several changes of ownership it was >>> no longer the same small local provider she started with over 25 years
ago.
[snip]
Oh dear!
Probably the most important thing is to set up her system so you can
have remote control over her computer, at will, without expecting her to
click any buttons or open any websites. This will overcome the
impending mental deterioration.
So:
== Ideally, ensure that the broadband provider can allocate a static
public IP address. Zen would be my suggestion. But I understand that
this might be difficult. If FTTP is available then get that.
== Configure her router and yours so that you can have a LAN-to-LAN VPN
to her house. Draytek routers are good for this; but others are
available. This avoids the need for AnyDesk or TeamViewer or similar,
and would allow management of other devices on her LAN (security camera,
printer, or the like).
== Configure her router and computer so that you can use Wake-on-LAN.
That way you can start her computer even if she is unable to do so
herself. Obviously needs the computer to connect by Ethernet cable to
the router
== Install VNC client on your PC, and a VNC server on hers. I have
found TightVNC from <https://www.tightvnc.com/> good for this. Identify
wehther she has a username and password required for login.
You will now be in a position to manage her computer whenever you need
to, as well as watching what she does when she needs help.
GMail exists to harvest the user's data, so if you're happy with that
then go ahead. You can buy a domain name and rent an email service that
will handle a good many email accounts. You could do so for yourself,
and allocate one email address to her; thus for example
mum@marland.co.uk and son@marland.co.uk for yourself. You should be
able to find a domain name and email service for under -u100 per year.
She hasnrCOt used a PC for some years now, her laptop if I was turn on it on is probably still Windows 7.
Everything is done on an I-Pad , IrCOll give GMail a go , for around 10 emails a year paying would not be cost effective especially as at the
moment my own is still available . But if that changes I might have to do something like that.
GH
On 2025/12/21 19:5:1, Java Jive wrote:
On 2025-12-21 17:20, J. P. Gilliver wrote:I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling them,
(FWIW: when I was doing it a few years ago [when Demon emails finally
ceased], I just drew up a list of my contacts, with a tick column or
similar for when I was sure they had changed it. I informed them of the
change, by sending an email saying something like "this is my new
address - please email it when you've changed your records"; I sent
these emails from my_old_ address, so I could see which of the replies
saying "I've changed it" had actually been sent just using a "reply"
button or similar.)
With me recently the phone number has changed more often than the email
address. My way of ensuring people know my latest contact details is to
print out sticky labels - each containing address, phone, email,
website home page - one of which I peel off and stick into every
Christmas card. That way, at least once a year, the family can check
that they have the correct contact details for me.
but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic ones
like "address books", which they may not have known _how_ to change
("add to address book" is often easier than change address book entry).
I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling them,
but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic ones
like "address books", which they may not have known how to change
("add to address book" is often easier than change address book entry).
On 21/12/2025 in message <10i9hea$2svag$3@dont-email.me> J. P. Gilliver wrote:
I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling them,
but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic ones
like "address books", which they may not have known how to change
("add to address book" is often easier than change address book entry).
Is there a "standard" electronic business card, perhaps vcf, that you can send to people and by double clicking it it creates an entry in your
address book?
Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
Graham J <nobody@nowhere.co.uk> wrote:
Marland wrote:
My 95 year old Mother who still lives in her own home has for years
ignored advice to change to a more recognisable broadband provider because >>>> she just would not accept that after several changes of ownership it was >>>> no longer the same small local provider she started with over 25 years >>>> ago.
[snip]
Oh dear!
Probably the most important thing is to set up her system so you can
have remote control over her computer, at will, without expecting her to >>> click any buttons or open any websites. This will overcome the
impending mental deterioration.
So:
== Ideally, ensure that the broadband provider can allocate a static
public IP address. Zen would be my suggestion. But I understand that
this might be difficult. If FTTP is available then get that.
== Configure her router and yours so that you can have a LAN-to-LAN VPN
to her house. Draytek routers are good for this; but others are
available. This avoids the need for AnyDesk or TeamViewer or similar,
and would allow management of other devices on her LAN (security camera, >>> printer, or the like).
== Configure her router and computer so that you can use Wake-on-LAN.
That way you can start her computer even if she is unable to do so
herself. Obviously needs the computer to connect by Ethernet cable to
the router
== Install VNC client on your PC, and a VNC server on hers. I have
found TightVNC from <https://www.tightvnc.com/> good for this. Identify >>> wehther she has a username and password required for login.
You will now be in a position to manage her computer whenever you need
to, as well as watching what she does when she needs help.
GMail exists to harvest the user's data, so if you're happy with that
then go ahead. You can buy a domain name and rent an email service that >>> will handle a good many email accounts. You could do so for yourself,
and allocate one email address to her; thus for example
mum@marland.co.uk and son@marland.co.uk for yourself. You should be
able to find a domain name and email service for under -u100 per year.
She hasnrCOt used a PC for some years now, her laptop if I was turn on it on
is probably still Windows 7.
Everything is done on an I-Pad , IrCOll give GMail a go , for around 10
emails a year paying would not be cost effective especially as at the
moment my own is still available . But if that changes I might have to do
something like that.
GH
Apple provide free @icloud.com email addresses.
I suspect you aren't 95... the service may not be faulty but she may still >> need somebody to hold her hand, as to how to use her client or any
difficulties she has with it.
ThatrCOs the job of rCLnext of kinrCY surely?
If I canrCOt cope with my email client at 95 I doubt any phone support will be helpful. IrCOll need my daughters to sort me out. ;-)
On 22/12/2025 08:43, Jeff Gaines wrote:
On 21/12/2025 in message <10i9hea$2svag$3@dont-email.me> J. P. Gilliver >>wrote:
I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling them, >>>but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic ones >>>like "address books", which they may not have known how to change
("add to address book" is often easier than change address book entry).
Is there a "standard" electronic business card, perhaps vcf, that you can >>send to people and by double clicking it it creates an entry in your >>address book?
No idea, but I would make the point that double-clicking anything attached >to an email is a bad idea. Always check it for malware first.
Perhaps that's what you intended, and I haven't seen any malware
associated with vCards for a few years. And, although unlikely, it could
be possible make something appear to be a vCard when it isn't.
On 22/12/2025 in message <10ib148$3bcpn$1@dont-email.me> Jeff Layman wrote:
On 22/12/2025 08:43, Jeff Gaines wrote:
On 21/12/2025 in message <10i9hea$2svag$3@dont-email.me> J. P. Gilliver
wrote:
I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling them, >>>> but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic ones >>>> like "address books", which they may not have known how to changeIs there a "standard" electronic business card, perhaps vcf, that you can >>> send to people and by double clicking it it creates an entry in your
("add to address book" is often easier than change address book entry). >>>
address book?
No idea, but I would make the point that double-clicking anything attached >> to an email is a bad idea. Always check it for malware first.
Perhaps that's what you intended, and I haven't seen any malware
associated with vCards for a few years. And, although unlikely, it could
be possible make something appear to be a vCard when it isn't.
Yes, understood, but if it's from a known contact should be OK,
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
I would guess you want a company who is able to hand-hold her on the phone
if she has problems, eg if she calls to say 'X email didn't go through' then
they can check the log and see what happened. Maybe is willing to do a >>> screen-share to help her out, etc.
Gmail seems to be the antithesis of this - Google doesn't do customer
support. There is nobody to phone and if there was they wouldn't be able to
do anything for you.
All probably true, but my gmail account rCLjust worksrCY. Never had an issue
with it.
I suspect you aren't 95... the service may not be faulty but she may still need somebody to hold her hand, as to how to use her client or any difficulties she has with it.
ThatrCOs the job of rCLnext of kinrCY surely?
If I canrCOt cope with my email client at 95 I doubt any phone support will be helpful. IrCOll need my daughters to sort me out. ;-)
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
I would guess you want a company who is able to hand-hold her on the phone
if she has problems, eg if she calls to say 'X email didn't go through' then
they can check the log and see what happened. Maybe is willing to do a >>>>> screen-share to help her out, etc.
Gmail seems to be the antithesis of this - Google doesn't do customer >>>>> support. There is nobody to phone and if there was they wouldn't be able to
do anything for you.
All probably true, but my gmail account rCLjust worksrCY. Never had an issue
with it.
I suspect you aren't 95... the service may not be faulty but she may still >>> need somebody to hold her hand, as to how to use her client or any
difficulties she has with it.
ThatrCOs the job of rCLnext of kinrCY surely?
If I canrCOt cope with my email client at 95 I doubt any phone support will >> be helpful. IrCOll need my daughters to sort me out. ;-)
The OP's original post said they were too far away to help.
It might be a good idea to set up Teamviewer or some other screen sharing tool so you can log in remotely, but it doesn't work for everything. In particular, the 'why is my internet not working' problem, as is trying to talk people through fixing a broken wifi connection over the phone.
Anything where Teamviewer isn't connecting and you're back to stone tools.
Of course, if you're buying just email then there's a limit to what the provider will help with. But if you are getting internet too they should in theory be able to help with some kinds of connectivity problems (not least, 'everything looks ok from our end')
Theo
With me recently the phone number has changed more often than the email address.-a My way of ensuring people know my latest contact details is to print out sticky labels-a --a each containing address, phone, email,
website home page-a --a one of which I peel off and stick into every Christmas card.-a That way, at least once a year, the family can check
that they have the correct contact details for me.
I agree. I had a Christmas card this year from someone (a nephew) who
used a postcode that was changed more than thirty years ago! And it took several goes for me to get a daughter to change that postcode.
David
An iPad can be remotely controlled via FaceTime, assuming Apple kit at both ends. I found an iPad for my, now deceased, elderly mother a boon. As the decline increased it was possible to set her FaceTime to auto answer, so
the only interaction she needed was to pick up and hold the device.
Some years ago now but when my mother died, we knew she used to exchange Christmas card with several people but we did not know who they were and what their addresses were. Took me years to find she had a cousin and
make contact with her. If I had known earlier then I might have had
chance to find out who my grandmother was and meet her and my Aunt.
Graham J <nobody@nowhere.co.uk> wrote:
Marland wrote:
My 95 year old Mother who still lives in her own home has for years
ignored advice to change to a more recognisable broadband provider because >>> she just would not accept that after several changes of ownership it was >>> no longer the same small local provider she started with over 25 years
ago.
[snip]
Oh dear!
Probably the most important thing is to set up her system so you can
have remote control over her computer, at will, without expecting her to
click any buttons or open any websites. This will overcome the
impending mental deterioration.
So:
== Ideally, ensure that the broadband provider can allocate a static
public IP address. Zen would be my suggestion. But I understand that
this might be difficult. If FTTP is available then get that.
== Configure her router and yours so that you can have a LAN-to-LAN VPN
to her house. Draytek routers are good for this; but others are
available. This avoids the need for AnyDesk or TeamViewer or similar,
and would allow management of other devices on her LAN (security camera,
printer, or the like).
== Configure her router and computer so that you can use Wake-on-LAN.
That way you can start her computer even if she is unable to do so
herself. Obviously needs the computer to connect by Ethernet cable to
the router
== Install VNC client on your PC, and a VNC server on hers. I have
found TightVNC from <https://www.tightvnc.com/> good for this. Identify
wehther she has a username and password required for login.
You will now be in a position to manage her computer whenever you need
to, as well as watching what she does when she needs help.
GMail exists to harvest the user's data, so if you're happy with that
then go ahead. You can buy a domain name and rent an email service that
will handle a good many email accounts. You could do so for yourself,
and allocate one email address to her; thus for example
mum@marland.co.uk and son@marland.co.uk for yourself. You should be
able to find a domain name and email service for under -u100 per year.
She hasnrCOt used a PC for some years now, her laptop if I was turn on it on is probably still Windows 7.
Everything is done on an I-Pad , IrCOll give GMail a go , for around 10 emails a year paying would not be cost effective especially as at the
moment my own is still available . But if that changes I might have to do something like that.
On 21/12/2025 in message <10i9hea$2svag$3@dont-email.me> J. P. Gilliver wrote:
I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling them,
but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic ones
like "address books", which they may not have known how to change
("add to address book" is often easier than change address book entry).
Is there a "standard" electronic business card, perhaps vcf, that you can send to people and by double clicking it it creates an entry in your
address book?
On 22/12/2025 in message <10ib148$3bcpn$1@dont-email.me> Jeff Layman wrote:
On 22/12/2025 08:43, Jeff Gaines wrote:
On 21/12/2025 in message <10i9hea$2svag$3@dont-email.me> J. P. Gilliver
wrote:
I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling them, >>>> but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic ones >>>> like "address books", which they may not have known how to changeIs there a "standard" electronic business card, perhaps vcf, that you can >>> send to people and by double clicking it it creates an entry in your
("add to address book" is often easier than change address book entry). >>>
address book?
No idea, but I would make the point that double-clicking anything attached >> to an email is a bad idea. Always check it for malware first.
Perhaps that's what you intended, and I haven't seen any malware
associated with vCards for a few years. And, although unlikely, it could
be possible make something appear to be a vCard when it isn't.
Yes, understood, but if it's from a known contact should be OK,
On 21/12/2025 19:05, Java Jive wrote:
With me recently the phone number has changed more often than the email
address.-a My way of ensuring people know my latest contact details is to >> print out sticky labels-a --a each containing address, phone, email,
website home page-a --a one of which I peel off and stick into every
Christmas card.-a That way, at least once a year, the family can check
that they have the correct contact details for me.
It is relatively cheap to get large numbers of business cards printed, I
did that years ago and not used them up.
I used to stick one in with things like Christmas cards, more likely to
be kept than a Christmas card.
Think I had three variants printed. One with all details but also
others without mobile phone number or EMail address.
Some years ago now but when my mother died, we knew she used to exchange Christmas card with several people but we did not know who they were and what their addresses were. Took me years to find she had a cousin and
make contact with her. If I had known earlier then I might have had
chance to find out who my grandmother was and meet her and my Aunt.
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
On 22/12/2025 in message <10ib148$3bcpn$1@dont-email.me> Jeff Layman >>wrote:
On 22/12/2025 08:43, Jeff Gaines wrote:
On 21/12/2025 in message <10i9hea$2svag$3@dont-email.me> J. P. Gilliver >>>>wrote:
I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling >>>>>them,Is there a "standard" electronic business card, perhaps vcf, that you >>>>can
but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic ones >>>>>like "address books", which they may not have known how to change >>>>>("add to address book" is often easier than change address book entry). >>>>
send to people and by double clicking it it creates an entry in your >>>>address book?
No idea, but I would make the point that double-clicking anything >>>attached
to an email is a bad idea. Always check it for malware first.
Perhaps that's what you intended, and I haven't seen any malware >>>associated with vCards for a few years. And, although unlikely, it could >>>be possible make something appear to be a vCard when it isn't.
Yes, understood, but if it's from a known contact should be OK,
That's how phishing works. It's best not to trust any unsolicited emails.
On 27/12/2025 in message <10iovvs$3is00$2@dont-email.me> Chris wrote:
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
On 22/12/2025 in message <10ib148$3bcpn$1@dont-email.me> Jeff Layman
wrote:
On 22/12/2025 08:43, Jeff Gaines wrote:
On 21/12/2025 in message <10i9hea$2svag$3@dont-email.me> J. P.
Gilliver
wrote:
I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling >>>>>> them,
but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic >>>>>> ones
like "address books", which they may not have known how to change
("add to address book" is often easier than change address book
entry).
Is there a "standard" electronic business card, perhaps vcf, that
you can
send to people and by double clicking it it creates an entry in your >>>>> address book?
No idea, but I would make the point that double-clicking anything
attached
to an email is a bad idea. Always check it for malware first.
Perhaps that's what you intended, and I haven't seen any malware
associated with vCards for a few years. And, although unlikely, it
could
be possible make something appear to be a vCard when it isn't.
Yes, understood, but if it's from a known contact should be OK,
That's how phishing works. It's best not to trust any unsolicited emails.
Sorry but that is daft, if you can't trust an email from anybody then there's no point in having it.
On 27/12/2025 in message <10iovvs$3is00$2@dont-email.me> Chris wrote:
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
On 22/12/2025 in message <10ib148$3bcpn$1@dont-email.me> Jeff Layman
wrote:
On 22/12/2025 08:43, Jeff Gaines wrote:
On 21/12/2025 in message <10i9hea$2svag$3@dont-email.me> J. P.
Gilliver
wrote:
I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling >>>>>> them,
but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic >>>>>> ones
like "address books", which they may not have known how to change
("add to address book" is often easier than change address book
entry).
Is there a "standard" electronic business card, perhaps vcf, that
you can
send to people and by double clicking it it creates an entry in your >>>>> address book?
No idea, but I would make the point that double-clicking anything
attached
to an email is a bad idea. Always check it for malware first.
Perhaps that's what you intended, and I haven't seen any malware
associated with vCards for a few years. And, although unlikely, it
could
be possible make something appear to be a vCard when it isn't.
Yes, understood, but if it's from a known contact should be OK,
That's how phishing works. It's best not to trust any unsolicited emails.
Sorry but that is daft, if you can't trust an email from anybody then there's no point in having it.
On 27/12/2025 21:09, Jeff Gaines wrote:[]
On 27/12/2025 in message <10iovvs$3is00$2@dont-email.me> Chris wrote:
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
On 22/12/2025 in message <10ib148$3bcpn$1@dont-email.me> Jeff Layman
wrote:
On 22/12/2025 08:43, Jeff Gaines wrote:
Sorry but that is daft, if you can't trust an email from anybody thenIs there a "standard" electronic business card, perhaps vcf, that >>>>>> you can
send to people and by double clicking it it creates an entry in your >>>>>> address book?
No idea, but I would make the point that double-clicking anything
attached
to an email is a bad idea. Always check it for malware first.
Perhaps that's what you intended, and I haven't seen any malware
associated with vCards for a few years. And, although unlikely, it
could
be possible make something appear to be a vCard when it isn't.
Yes, understood, but if it's from a known contact should be OK,
That's how phishing works. It's best not to trust any unsolicited emails. >>
there's no point in having it.
No, it isn't daft. Not trusting doesn't mean delete it out of hand. It
means take extra precautions to ensure that it actually does come from
whom it purports to come. I have had, even in the last couple of weeks, emails supposedly from people I know. Short messages that the persons I
know could easily have written. A quick examination of the headers
seemed to indicate that they were genuine. The From address was correct
and I had to spend quite a time examining the headers before I could
find anything wrong.
So if I get a message that I wasn't expecting from one of my contacts,
then I don't trust it until I've proved the authenticity either way.
David
On 27/12/2025 21:09, Jeff Gaines wrote:
On 27/12/2025 in message <10iovvs$3is00$2@dont-email.me> Chris wrote:
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
On 22/12/2025 in message <10ib148$3bcpn$1@dont-email.me> Jeff Layman >>>>wrote:
On 22/12/2025 08:43, Jeff Gaines wrote:
On 21/12/2025 in message <10i9hea$2svag$3@dont-email.me> J. P. >>>>>>Gilliver
wrote:
I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling >>>>>>>them,
but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic >>>>>>>ones
like "address books", which they may not have known how to change >>>>>>>("add to address book" is often easier than change address book >>>>>>>entry).
Is there a "standard" electronic business card, perhaps vcf, that you >>>>>>can
send to people and by double clicking it it creates an entry in your >>>>>>address book?
No idea, but I would make the point that double-clicking anything >>>>>attached
to an email is a bad idea. Always check it for malware first.
Perhaps that's what you intended, and I haven't seen any malware >>>>>associated with vCards for a few years. And, although unlikely, it >>>>>could
be possible make something appear to be a vCard when it isn't.
Yes, understood, but if it's from a known contact should be OK,
That's how phishing works. It's best not to trust any unsolicited emails.
Sorry but that is daft, if you can't trust an email from anybody then >>there's no point in having it.
The problem is that you can't know who its really from. Well you could >possibly could if it was digitally signed, but we generally we don't do >that.
Dave
On 27/12/2025 in message <10iovvs$3is00$2@dont-email.me> Chris wrote:
Jeff Gaines <jgnewsid@outlook.com> wrote:
On 22/12/2025 in message <10ib148$3bcpn$1@dont-email.me> Jeff Layman
wrote:
On 22/12/2025 08:43, Jeff Gaines wrote:
On 21/12/2025 in message <10i9hea$2svag$3@dont-email.me> J. P. Gilliver >>>>> wrote:
I found - with a few people - it wasn't just the matter of telling >>>>>> them,Is there a "standard" electronic business card, perhaps vcf, that you >>>>> can
but of getting them to change their records. Especially electronic ones >>>>>> like "address books", which they may not have known how to change
("add to address book" is often easier than change address book entry). >>>>>
send to people and by double clicking it it creates an entry in your >>>>> address book?
No idea, but I would make the point that double-clicking anything
attached
to an email is a bad idea. Always check it for malware first.
Perhaps that's what you intended, and I haven't seen any malware
associated with vCards for a few years. And, although unlikely, it could >>>> be possible make something appear to be a vCard when it isn't.
Yes, understood, but if it's from a known contact should be OK,
That's how phishing works. It's best not to trust any unsolicited emails.
Sorry but that is daft, if you can't trust an email from anybody then there's no point in having it.
Yes, understood, but if it's from a known contact should be OK,
That's how phishing works. It's best not to trust any unsolicited emails.
Sorry but that is daft, if you can't trust an email from anybody then >>there's no point in having it.
The reality is that email is not a trustworthy medium. Over the years I've >received many emails purportedly from a known contact which was actually a >phishing attempt.
Any email asking you to do an action needs to be treated carefully.
Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
Went with gmail my aged mother as well. Would recommend you definitely set yourself up as her legacy contact and, optionally, set up her gmail account on your phone as well.
Even (perhaps especially) if the first person you would ask is getting forgetful, then - if you're in the UK - you can probably do basic genealogy/cousin finding using freebmd.org.uk, unless you have a very
common name or are a lot younger than I (recent decades are patchy or absent). Certainly finding grandmothers, aunts, and the like, isn't that hard, usually.
My email app (emClient) shows the actual link address of any link in an email when I hover over it and I am pretty clear what emails from
regular contacts look like.
Some years ago now but when my mother died, we knew she used to exchange Christmas card with several people but we did not know who they were and what their addresses were.-a Took me years to find she had a cousin and
make contact with her.-a If I had known earlier then I might have had
chance to find out who my grandmother was and meet her and my Aunt.
On 22/12/2025 19:59, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
Even (perhaps especially) if the first person you would ask is getting
forgetful, then - if you're in the UK - you can probably do basic
genealogy/cousin finding using freebmd.org.uk, unless you have a very
common name or are a lot younger than I (recent decades are patchy or
absent). Certainly finding grandmothers, aunts, and the like, isn't that
hard, usually.
We will never know who it was, though several theories.
I did eventually find her sister's family (we did not know she had a
sister) with the help of an appeal on a radio programme, her parents separated around the 1920s (they never married) and then lived in
different parts of the country.
DNA may clear that up one day - the price is coming down all the time
(go for Ancestry, even if they're not the cheapest; they have an offer
on, though I don't know when it ends).
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