 |
How can I combat spam as an end user?
Some suggestions on how to combat spam from your office and/or home are below.
# |
Never, ever reply to a spam message: This includes buying a product that is for sale or clicking the often-misunderstood “unsubscribe” link, which actually informs your spammer that you exist. If you can tell from the subject line that a message is spam, don't open it, delete it. Spam subject lines usually promise you a better sex life, a more youthful appearance, prescription drugs without a doctor’s approval, love, thicker hair, or a better mortgage rate. They also use attention-demanding punctuation, such as exclamation marks or all caps. |
# |
Don’t click any links in a spam e-mail: Spammers often have multiple, unique pages on their sites. Often times, when you click a URL in a spam message, this tells the spammer that you -- and only you -- received the message they sent. |
# |
Don’t forward an e-mail from someone you don’t know to a list of people: You remember those “forward this e-mail to 20 of your friends” messages? They are perfect for spammers to harvest e-mail addresses, even if the sender of the original e-mail did not have this intent. These types of sign-and-forward e-mails often appear in the form of a petition -- and they don’t work. |
# |
Don’t use your home or business e-mail address: when you register on a Web site or in a group. If you must sign up for services, want to receive more info, register for newspapers or domains; use a free e-mail address from a site like Yahoo to create an address especially for that purpose. This also goes for posting to the Web, in a listserv, newsgroup, on a contact page for a Web site, or on a resume that is posted on the Web. |
# |
Before you join a list: make sure the list owner or Web master will not sell your address. |
# |
If you work in an office: forward spam to your IT department so they can adjust the filters. |
# |
Never use your e-mail address as your screen name: in chat rooms. It will give spiders or human e-mail harvesters an absolute yes to a questionable e-mail address. |
# |
Don’t give your real address to a Web site for registration: If you must register with a real e-mail address, make sure you can opt out of receiving unsolicited e-mail from the site where you're registering. If you are unsure about this, read the site's privacy statement. |
| |
