Privacy concerns dictate that _.
a. You always enter mass email addresses into the BCc
b. Memorandums be sent without a From header.
c. Business letters should be sent from a Post Office
d. E-mails are deleted after they are sent
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: a. You always enter mass email addresses into the BCc
Explanation (300 words):
Privacy concerns are very important when communicating via email, especially when sending messages to multiple recipients. The key principle is to protect the personal information of the recipients, such as their email addresses, from being exposed to others without consent.
When sending a mass email to multiple people, entering all email addresses in the To: or Cc: fields reveals each recipient’s email address to everyone who receives the email. This can be a significant privacy issue because people might not want their email addresses shared with others, especially strangers or a large group.
To safeguard recipients’ privacy, it is best practice to use the Bcc (Blind Carbon Copy) field. Email addresses placed in Bcc are hidden from all recipients, so each person only sees their own address and the sender’s information. This prevents accidental disclosure of private contact details and helps reduce the risk of unwanted spam or phishing attempts.
Other options in the question are incorrect for the following reasons:
- b. Memorandums be sent without a From header: This is not practical or professional. The “From” header identifies the sender, which is necessary for accountability and clear communication.
- c. Business letters should be sent from a Post Office: While traditional business letters can be sent via postal mail, privacy concerns apply equally or even more in electronic communication. Sending letters physically does not solve email privacy issues.
- d. E-mails are deleted after they are sent: This is inaccurate because emails do not automatically delete after sending; they remain stored in the sender’s and recipients’ mailboxes unless manually deleted. Privacy is not guaranteed by deleting emails post-sending.
In summary, using the Bcc field for mass emails is the correct and widely recommended approach to protect recipients’ privacy, ensuring their email addresses are not disclosed without permission.