Website browsing security when using a 3rd party email address

[HelluvaGuy]

Hi Everyone,

I'm an independent consultant with my own laptop but have recently acquired a new client who wishes for me to use their email address (as opposed to my own company's email address) when communicating with customers as if I am an actual employee of this client. If I set the new email address up in my Outlook program, how secure is the information on my laptop? E.g. since the new company email will be communicating via their server, can this company view data on my laptop such as websites visited or even have access to my files?

I hope I have explained this question clearly and would welcome any advice.

Thank you.
HelluvaGuy.

 

[lunarlander]

By just setting up an email address in Outlook will not enable the client company to do much except send you your emails.

But if you have to join their Domain, then they would have more powers.

 

[HelluvaGuy]

Thanks for the reply lunarlander. Can I just confirm....are you saying that as long as I don't have to connect to their server (or domain) to access email i.e. I continue to access the internet / email through my own provider, my privacy and laptop data is protected? I was just concerned that when I send email it will go via their server and this would give them access to my laptop content?

 

[lunarlander]

I think you can have more than 1 email server defined in Outlook. So for your client's email, you connect to their email server. And for your private email, you connect to whichever email server (like your ISP's server) (or gmail )

Joining a domain is an entirely different thing, not email related. It is like a company Workgroup. (if you understand what is a workgroup in a home network scenario ). Except that domains have a server. (like Windows server 2003, Windows server 2008 ) By joining a company domain, your machine can be managed by a Domain Administrator. And he can log into your machine. Typically, a domain joined machine requires you to press CTRL-ALT-DEL to begin login, that is one indicator that you have joined a domain.

 

[HelluvaGuy]

Thanks for the advice which is appreciated.

 

[valis]

Rather key question; why not use webmail and eliminate all questions?

 

[HelluvaGuy]

Forgive me as I am a complete novice when it comes to IT. Will webmail totally eliminate any privacy / security issues? i.e. no chance to access laptop data or web browsing history?

 

[valis]

Nope. You access via the web. Any exchange server should have one. We use that for our crosscompanycontacts. Ask if they have one. Worst they can say is no.

 

[HelluvaGuy]

Sorry, maybe you misunderstood me. If I access email via webmail (as opposed to Outlook), does this totally protect my privacy / security in that the mail server of my new client will NOT be able to access my web browsing history or files stored on my laptop?

 

[valis]

Yes.

 

[HelluvaGuy]

Thanks.

 

[valis]

no worries.

To give you an email account, they are going to have to get you an AD account. Once you have an AD account, IMO, it is quite a bit more secure to use their OWA than to allow them physical access to your box. Just my opinion, though. Plus it's a TON more convenient for all involved. We use a site in Canada, and once we came to that junction (have the users have to exchange addresses, or just set them up with OWA and let them run), well, those are the kind of meetings I enjoy. Very short.