techtips
Tired of Being Spammed?

Most Internet and email users have received spam at one time or another. Spam is unsolicited email that usually contains commercial advertising, get-rich-quick schemes, or some other shadowy service you have not requested.

Spam targets individual users with direct messages. User lists are often created by scanning Usenet group postings, stealing Internet mailing lists, or searching the Web for addresses. Your email address most likely resides in at least one of these locations, making you a spam target.

So you’ve received spam. Should you hit the “remove from list” option at the bottom of the email? More often than not, the “remove” instructions don’t work. They only serve to demonstrate to the spam solicitor that your email address is valid. They can then add your email address to their “hot” list and sell it to other spammers! Soon, you could be inundated with spam – and pornography as well.

What to do? You can simply delete the offending email or, depending on the application you use, set up a rule for junk email. Most of today’s email applications have built-in methods for identifying and placing offending messages into a “Junk Folder” so that you can determine what you do or do not wish to see. Click “Help” on your email application, then enter “junk mail” or “spam” in the search window for assistance in dealing with this most frustrating, intrusive, and costly irritant. If you would like more information on dealing with spam, you can visit one of many excellent websites, for example: spam.abuse.net.

Tech Tips provides information on the use and maintenance of computers. PREL provides no guarantee against any loss that may occur to your computer system as a result of using this advice. Professional assistance should be consulted as appropriate.