In 1996, Microsoft launched one of its earliest email services, Hotmail, which was later acquired by the tech giant in 1997 for over $400 million. Hotmail quickly became popular and was considered a major competitor in the email market, alongside Yahoo Mail.

However, in 2005, Microsoft released Windows Live Hotmail, which offered more storage space, flexibility, and speed than its predecessor. But Gmail, introduced by Google in 2004, put significant pressure on both Hotmail and Yahoo Mail with its free service for individual users.

Hotmail was subject to updates over the years, but ultimately, it would not last forever. In 2012, Microsoft introduced a new standard for email, which led to the eventual retirement of Hotmail. Today, users can sign in to Outlook on the Web (OWA) and choose between two security options: public or private computer.

Security Options

When signing in to OWA, you are presented with two security options:

* Public or shared computer: If you're using a public computer, such as a clinical workstation, a computer in a public place, an office-shared computer, or a kiosk, select this option. The system will log out of your email after 30 minutes of inactivity for security reasons.

* Private computer: If you're the only person who uses a particular computer and it's managed by Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), select this option. This setting does not save email addresses when sending messages, but logs out of your email after eight hours of inactivity.

Choosing the Right Option

Your choice may depend on where you are and what type of device you're using. If you're unsure which option to choose, please review the behaviors below:

* Public or shared computer: Logs out after 30 minutes

* Private computer: Logs out after eight hours

By choosing the right security option, you can ensure your email account remains secure while signing in to Outlook on the Web (OWA).

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