Spam is the internet equivalent of junk mail. Spam is email communication sent to individuals without their permission or consent.
Recipient addresses are often taken from Usenet postings or websites, obtained from databases, or simply guessed based on known names and domains.

Spam is used to advertise almost any product or service, from „adult“ items to website logo design. Hackers also use it to distribute viruses or links to malicious websites that collect personal data such as credit card numbers and passwords for sites like eBay and PayPal. To the normal user, these messages appear legitimate. The link even has a legitimate-looking domain name. „Phishing“ is the term for this method.

Here are some clever tactics and tips you can implement immediately to reduce spam and improve your email security.

Configure your anti-virus software to automatically scan all incoming emails for viruses. Malicious software is still routinely spread via email. Ensure that your anti-virus software definitions are up-to-date.

– If you frequently sign up for „freebies“ or other online offers, set up a separate email account just for this purpose. Yahoo!, Hotmail and Google’s Gmail all offer plenty of storage space for their accounts as standard.

– Use a free disposable email provider such as Sneak Email – http://www.sneakemail.com, if websites do not accept free email addresses from the above services.

– When you email a blog or website, format it so that only a human can understand it. For example, if your email address is johndoe@hotmail.com, write it as „Johndoe at hotmail.com“.

Never open a message from an unknown sender; delete it as quickly as possible. This is especially true if there's an attachment. Replying to a message only confirms to spammers that the email address is „live.“.

– Follow these steps if you receive an official-looking message from your bank, eBay, or any other website that you are not sure is legitimate. Log in to the website normally through your browser, rather than clicking on the link provided in the email. When you log in, you should see a notification if there are indeed any major issues. If possible, contact the website's customer support by phone.

– Whenever possible, use standalone spam-filtering software. This software looks for spam-like characteristics in your email, such as terms like „click“ or „teenager“. It also compares emails sent by senders with a „friends list“.

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