While I was considering the implications of this, I did a search of my email for the word “password” – I found several email messages that contain Userid and password information. I have auto-archive turned on and every now and then my email folders are archived into .pst files. Although the locations for these files are in system folders and as such hidden, the actual location is easily found.
Consider another situation; I don’t have proprietary information other than my Userid and password information in my emails, but attachments are also archived into the .pst files. This would allow me to recover the .pst archive and restore any document that was attached to an email. Anyone that has gotten access to my archive .pst files, copied via unscrupulous means could restore it to any other computer that has Outlook or Outlook Express installed on it and opens any of my stored attachments.
Taking into consideration what has been previously discussed, there are a couple of things that can be done to protect yourself and your computer email, attachments, contacts and tasks. Each Outlook mail folder has an option for auto-archive. Right click on the folder and select properties, click on the AutoArchive tab and you will see the archive options. The archive properties pop-up gives the option turn auto-archive off.
After you select archive options, your email, attachments, contact and tasks can be archived and stored on your computer. After the archive is complete copy the archive.pst to a USB flash drive or CD ROM storage and delete the “on-computer copy”. Store the USB flash drive or CD ROM in a protected place, away from the area of the computer.
If a disaster were to occur and you needed to restore you email, contacts, attachments and tasks, you would have a relatively recent copy to restore.
More details about archive can be found at: Kellog Northwestern Edu
Safe surfing,
Darrell Mishler
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