Electronic postcards are customizable greetings for various occasions. They can be free or require a fee, and offer graphics, animations, and sounds. Personal information is required to send them, and caution should be taken to avoid phishing scams. E-cards are a fun way to bring cheer to someone’s day.
An electronic postcard is an electronic greeting card that can be designed or personalized for a recipient. There are eCards for every occasion, from birthdays to anniversaries, from holidays to greeting cards or just to say hello. Once an e-card has been created, an announcement is automatically generated by the website hosting the service. The announcement includes the sender’s identity and is e-mailed to the recipient, informing them that a greeting card is waiting at an included hyperlink. By clicking on the link, the recipient will be directed to their e-card.
Most e-card services are free, although some require membership and a monthly fee. All services provide a simple point-and-click interface for customers to scroll through available listings organized by category. E-cards typically include eye-catching graphics, animations, and sounds, and allow the sender to type a personalized message that appears on the e-card. Paid services might offer more advanced types of ecards, such as allowing the sender to write dialogue for a speaking character that appears in the card.
To send an electronic postcard, the sender provides personal information to the website hosting the service. This includes your name and a valid email address, as well as the recipient’s email address. Generally this information is sent in plain text (unencrypted) format and should not be treated as private. Before giving out the email address of a friend, family member, or co-worker, make sure the person doesn’t mind you compromising their address by giving it to a website. Some people use “disposable” or free web-based email addresses for the Internet.
Phishing schemes have used the cloak of popular e-card services to trick people into clicking an email link that actually installs malicious software or has another nefarious purpose. If you receive an email notification that an e-card is waiting for you, look for the identity of the sender (donor) in the email and make sure you recognize this person before clicking on the link.
An e-card can be a great way to bring some cheer into someone’s day, whether it’s for a special occasion or just an opportunity to let someone know you’re thinking of him or her. The huge range of e-cards available is greater than you’ll find in any brick and mortar store, and supplies are growing every day. Even if you don’t have anyone in mind, looking into e-card services can be a lot of fun.
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