| Spam, another name for unsolicited e-mail, is illegal to send and often used by companies offering questionable products, get-rich-quick schemes or illegal services. Keeping it out of your inbox is easier than you think!
If you have an email address, you will be fed up with the unsolicited mail you receive. The increase in spam has virtually relegated email as an adult only facility. Spam is a waste of our time. Many spam emails are obscene, many are offensive or insulting to one's intelligence e.g. "I have a zillion pounds that I want to put into your bank account, please fax your bank account details to me...This is not a scam, honest!".
The first step in combating spam is to know it when you see it. If the subject line is offering a lower mortgage, a date with Trixie or free $$$, you know it’s spam. But be careful, because spam is often disguised by intriguing or mysterious subject lines, such as “FWD: great punch line” or “Information you requested.” So, even if the subject looks harmless, your best bet is to delete the e-mail if you don’t recognize the sender’s address.
Types of spam
Harvested address spam
What is it: This is probably the most common type of spam. The spammers use a computer system (spider or spam-bot') to check almost every website on the internet (including yours). The 'spam bot' looks at the code of every web page, it looks for the '@' symbol. When it finds an '@' it knows its found an email address. It then collects the bit either side of the '@' symbol to capture your email address and add it to the spammers database of millions of harvested addresses. From then on that address will receive lots of spam!
Virus Spam
What is it?
This is perhaps the 2nd most common type of spam.
Someone else's computer (not yours) gets infected with a virus. The address book on their computer has your email address. The virus sends a spam to every address on the address book. The virus 'spoofs' the 'from address' in the email it sends i.e. the spam does not appear to have come from the senders email address, instead it says it came from another address taken from the address book.
There is no point replying to the spam e.g. to say 'don't spam me' or 'your computer has a virus' - as the 'from address' is wrong, which means it will go to someone who didn't send the spam. (note this is why you might receive emails from people saying you sent a virus to them, when you know your computer is clean).
Domain name spam
What is it?
If you own a domain name for a website you are probably getting domain name spam. Spammers use the whois database to obtain a list of most of the doman names in the world (ie .com, .net. org). The spammers expect most website owners to set up generic email addresses such as sales@... and info@... They simply send spam to all of the standard generic words at email every domain name in the world.
Dictionary spam
What is it?
You can sometimes receive dictionary spam when you use a well known email service. The spammers know that there is going to be a janesmith@bigmail.xyz. They setup computers to spam billions of names at that mail service simply by targeting every persons name.
How to prevent it: Hopefully your email service provider has put anti spam systems in place to prevent this kind of spam. If they havn't then you may have to find a better email service provider.
Windows Messenger Spam
Do you get pop up boxes on your screen with the words "Messenger Service" in the title bar? If so you may be getting Windows Messenger Spam. Follow this link to learn how to turn off Windows Messenger Service.
Hacked mail service spam
Some ISPs or web mail services may be hacked by spammers or the addresses may be sold to spammers. Read the small print when signing up for an email account. Look hard for that box that says 'we might give your address to a 3rd party, tick here if you do not want to receive marketing info from other companies
There are two sides to preventing spam:
Stop them getting your email address: The rest of this page is about how the spammers get your email address and how to stop them from getting it.
What to do if they have got your email address. If the spammers have already got your email address I recommend that you change it to a new address - after you have read the rest of this page and taken the appropriate action to stop them getting your new address. If you can't change your email address here is an excellent and free spam filter.
Many spammers fake the identity of the sender by using a common name such as “Bob.” Is this an e-mail from Uncle Bob? Or maybe from your co-worker? You can't know for sure and the spammer counts on your curiosity. But don’t open it. Some spammers even use the names of trusted institutions, such as a bank or well-known online retailer.
It’s up to you to exercise appropriate caution and help in preventing spam mails!
This article has been compiled by the content development team at Pegasus InfoCorp which pulls subject matter specialists from different work domains. They can be contacted through the Pegasus InfoCorp website at info@pegasusinfocorp.com. Pegasus InfoCorp is an India based web design, web development and online/ offline software development company. Please visit http://www.pegasusinfocorp.com to read more articles and know more about us!
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