5 Useful Tips for Fighting Spam

To reduce the chances of your e-mail address getting on a spammer’s list, here are 5 simple preventative measures you can take:

1. Use a disposable e-mail address. If you buy products online or occasionally subscribe to web sites that interest you, chances are you’re going to get spammed. To avoid your main e-mail address from ending up on their list, set up a free Internet e-mail address or use a throwaway e-mail address when making purchases or subscribing on websites (see #4).

2. Pay attention to check boxes that automatically opt you in. Whenever you subscribe to a website or make a purchase online, be very watchful of pre-checked boxes that say, “Yes! I want to receive offers from third party companies.”
If you do not un-check that box, your e-mail address can (and most probably will) be sold to every online advertiser.

3. Don’t post your main e-mail address on your web site, forums or newsgroups. Spammers have special programs that can get e-mail addresses from web sites without your permission. If you are posting to a web forum or newsgroup, use your disposable e-mail address instead of your main e-mail address.
If you want to post an e-mail address on your home page, use “info@” and have all replies forwarded to a folder in your in-box that won’t interfere with your main e-mail address.

4. Create throwaway e-mail address. If you own a web domain, all mail going to an address at your domain is probably set up to come directly to you by default. For example, an e-mail addressed to anything@yourcompany.com will be delivered to your inbox.
This is a great way to fight spam without missing out on important e-mails you want to get. The next time you sign up for a newsletter, use the title of the web site in your e-mail address. For example, if the web site is titled “www.freewidgets.com,” enter "freewidgets@yourdomain.com" as your e-mail address. If you get spammed, look at what address the spam was sent to.
If freewidgets@yourdomain.com shows up as the original recipient, you know the source since that e-mail address was unique to that web site.

5. Don’t open, reply to or try to opt-out of obvious spam e-mails. Opening, replying to, or even clicking a bogus opt-out link in an obvious spam e-mail signals that your e-mail address is active, and more spam will follow.
The only time it is safe to click on the opt-out link or reply to the e-mail is when the message was sent from a company you know or do business with (for example, a company that you purchase from or a newsletter you subscribed to).

If you have a specific question about e-mail setup, anti-spam solutions, or other computer issues, please feel free to contact me at www.blueprof.ca