 Tech Tips - SPAM 101
One of the biggest frustrations Internet users today have to deal with is unsolicited bulk email, or as it's lovingly referred to, spam. We've all got them in our inboxes at some time or another, emails from strangers offering us suspiciously low mortgage rates, or prescription medication from dubious sources. For most of us, it's not a problem to delete the few messages we get each day, but spam is a much more serious problem than it may seem. It is estimated that two-thirds of all the email that travels through the Internet today is classified as spam.
Many users are surprised when they receive spam, having never given out their email address to anyone who would deliver such messages. Spammers are clever though, and have many ways of acquiring your email address. Here are some tips to help you avoid letting your email address get onto the Spammers' list.
Never reply to spam. Spammers will often direct mass mailings at a specific domain, going through a list of common names in the hope of stumbling upon a real address. By replying, you are letting them know that they have succeeded. -
Unless it comes from a reputable, well-known
company, never “unsubscribe” from spam. More
often than not, the unsubscribe link will be another method
for the Spammer to confirm that your email address is
indeed valid.
Turn off images in your email client (ie. Outlook). Images will often have special code attached to them that reports back to the Spammer when the image is viewed. Set up another email account with a free provider, such as Hotmail or Yahoo. Give this email out to sources that are likely to generate spam, such as websites that require you to “register” with them before accessing their functionality. This will allow you to receive necessary information, while keeping your primary email account safe.
Most spam is relatively benign, mostly advertisements for questionable products or services. However, there is another type of spam, known as “phishing” which attempts to trick you into providing personal information such as credit card numbers or banking information. These scams can be very well designed, with emails and websites that are indistinguishable from the legitimate ones. If you have any doubts about an email's authenticity, contact the company it allegedly came from and confirm its origins before providing any sensitive information.
For more information about spam and phishing, please click
on the following links:
www.spamhaus.org
www.antiphishing.org
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