In most situations, when you host your information online, whether it is licensed music, photos, email, or business contracts, you host with a private party (i.e. not the government).

SmartPlanet: Why nothing is private: How the FBI can read your emails That tin-foil hat really isn't going to help. Take it off, you look silly.

Want to know if your email has been read? Here's how. (Credit: iStock) (mheim3011) You write an email. No reply. You send another email. No reply. You’re halfway through a third email and you stop.

If you're online these days then you probably have at least one email address at your disposal, to keep in touch with friends, and sign up for other online services. Most internet users have more ...

Scroll down to the Email Read Receipts section, where you’ll find this wordy option: "Allow email read receipts to be sent to all addresses in my organization as well as the following email ...

Then, once they open your message, they are asked by the system to confirm that they've read through the email. Once they do that, you receive confirmation that your message has been read on your end.

Sarah Palin's email was hacked during the 2008 presidential campaign. Looking back in her recent memoir, she wrote "I was horrified to realize that millions of people could read my personal messages, ...

Some email platforms, like Gmail and Apple Mail, for example, do not officially support the sending of read receipt requests. Related: Can you spot a fake email? Take my phishing IQ test.

Step 4: Always read your email twice before you send it. Just because it is not a letter does not mean you get to ignore grammar as you might in instant messaging or social media status posts.