http://www.itsecurity.com/features/
25-common-email-security-mistakes-022807/
The 25 Most Common Mistakes in Email Security
25 tips to bring newbie Internet users up to speed so they stop comprimising (sic) your network security.
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1. Using just one email account.
Individuals new to email often think about their email account like they do their home address, you only have one home address, so you should only have one email. Instead, you should think about your email address like you do your keys, while it may be okay to use the same key for your front and your back door, having a single key open everything is both impractical and unsafe.
A good rule of thumb for the average email user is to keep a minimum of three email accounts. Your work account should be used exclusively for work-related conversations. Your second email account should be used for personal conversations and contacts, and your third email account should be used as a general catch-all for all hazardous behavior. That means that you should always sign up for newsletters and contests only through your third email account. Similarly, if you have to post your email account online, such as for your personal blog, you should only use your third email account (and post a web friendly form of it at that).
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I have 25 active email accounts.
Not counting “shadow accounts” at gmail. For me, a “shadow account” is one that received email from a real account, allows GMail to subtract all the spam, and then me to retrieve it into my email client. (Currently Outlook or its evil twin LookOut. But, eventually Thunderbird.)
I have one dedicated to just the financial aspects of my life. This makes any phishing attempt funny when the email comes in on the “wrong account”.
The accounts represent the various personas or purposes I have. I think it makes me more productive.
Reinke Faces Life 