PC Help: Error messages when sending emails

Q I’ve been using the computer in the public library to study and have found items that I wanted to send by email to my PC at home. But every time I try to send one, an error message comes up saying that it can’t find my POP3 server, and to check that the email address is correct, which it is. What am I doing wrong, if anything?

A The POP3 server is used by email programs to send a message from the computer to the server, so that it can be sent out on to the internet. What this message suggests is that you are using Outlook Express or a similar program on the public computer to send messages.

This is a bad idea because it means putting your personal email account details – including the name of your ISP’s POP3 server – into the public computer, where anyone could access them and send emails from your account. Because you haven’t yet done this, the message appears saying it doesn’t know where to send the email.

A far better option is to use a webmail service such as Hotmail or Lycos, to which you can log in using a web browser. Most ISPs offer this as part of their services, so check your ISP’s website for details of how to access it. Alternatively, some public internet access points will allow you to plug in a USB key or use a floppy disk to transfer data.

If you have the server details of your email service to hand, a website called www.mail2web.com can be used to access your webmail. This can take your ISP details and display your email in an internet browser. For the best security type https://www.mail2web.com – with an extra ‘s’ at the end of ‘http’. This is important because it makes sure that your details cannot be intercepted.