SPAM is email that you didn’t ask for. They usually are looking to sell you something. Although SPAM is usually just plain aggravating, it can include malware like viruses or can redirect you to phishing sites in an attempt to obtain your personal information. You can’t stop all spam, but you can reduce it.
1. You can be protected from malicious spam with antivirus software. Make sure that your computer has antivirus software installed. (There is antivirus software that has tools to filter out spam after it is downloaded to your computer). However, you might try to spot an email that has a dangerous attachment without opening it up; an email than includes a picture or is written with a Word document might be loaded with a virus — be careful.
2. Never give your email to someone you do not trust. If you have to give your email address to get something from a website, it is best to set up an email address just for the purpose of receiving junk. Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and other web based email are good for this.
3. Don’t answer anything in your email unless you have asked for the email.
4. A lot of spam messages include directions at the end of the message requesting that you answer the message if you desire to be taken off their mailing list. Don’t do it, since this will only ensure them that this is a real email address, and you will probably receive more spam. For the same reason, you shouldn’t give your address for opting-out or removing it from a list.
5. Initially examine any email messages by considering the subject line prior to opening it.
6. If you are sent email messages requesting funds, don’t send it along to anyone. Chances are that it is a scam and an effective method of gaining email addresses used by spammers. A lot of emails warning about viruses are hoaxes too. Prior to letting your friends know about them, you ought to investigate virus alerts so you won’t pass the scam along to them.
7. If you pass along emails to multiple parties, address them through the BCC field, which safeguards their address by keeping it hidden. Ask people to send you emails in this manner as well.
8. Avoid getting your name listed anywhere by using a ‘throwaway’ address for purposes other than close acquaintances (addressed in #2 previously).
9. If your website gives your email address, see if your developer can encode it to prevent spammer’s web crawlers from being able to decipher it. “Enkoder” is an excellent free encryption program. Search for Enkoder on Google to find it.
10. You may make a complaint to the spammer’s ISP or web hosting service via an email message to their administrator or potmaster. The majority of servers feature an email address provided in the WHOIS part of the IP address. You can look in the email’s header, locate the origin of the IP address, and then start a WHOIS lookup. There should be an abuse email address. There is a no-cost lookup service at http://whois.domaintools.com online.
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