Email Overview
This page will help you find information related to setting up and using your USC email account. For information about computer accounts and password changes, see the Computer Accounts Overview page.
- Activate your email account (First Login)
- Email Help
- Email Programs (Clients) Supported by ITS
- Electronic Mail Retention Policy (PDF)
- Saving Email to Local Folders
- USC Web Mail Login
- USC Web Mail Overview
- Mail Lists (List Proc)
- Newsreaders
Google Apps at USC and Gmail
If you are a USC student and would like to create a USC-branded Gmail account, you will first need to activate your Google Apps at USC account. The Google Apps at USC activation site is accessible at getgoogle.usc.edu.
If you are a USC student with a Google Apps at USC account, please visit the Google Apps at USC Support site for support documentation.
About Email, Antivirus, Firewall, and Antispam Programs at USC
USC's Information Technology Services (ITS) scans all email and attachments for viruses and worms. Infected files are deleted from USC's email servers.
It is imperative that all faculty, students, and staff install and maintain an antivirus program to protect their computer equipment. ITS provides antivirus software free of charge to USC faculty, students, and staff.
To detect, remove, and prevent the spread of computer viruses and worms from desktop computers, ITS currently distributes Symantec Antivirus for Microsoft Windows and Norton Antivirus for Mac. They are available for download.
ITS also encourages the use of a firewall for all equipment that connects to the Internet. Symantec Client Security for Microsoft Windows is a combination Firewall and Antivirus client made available by ITS for those users wishing to improve their PC's security. It can be downloaded from the ITS software download page.
ITS also maintains a centralized spam detection system called Brightmail. Under current policy, ITS tags all email identified as potential spam by inserting <<SPAM?>> into the subject header of the email. Users may decide whether or not to automatically delete tagged email from their inbox or to move it a JunkMail folder. See the Antispam Overview page on the ITS website for more information. For instructions on how to report spam, see the Reporting Spam page.