Internet Safety

Spam

Video: Understanding Spam and Phishing

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Spam is another term for junk email or unwanted email advertisements. Today, the majority of emails are spam. That's because it's very easy and inexpensive for a spammer to send an email to thousands of people at the same time, and they can do it anonymously, making anti-spam laws difficult to enforce. Phishing scams and malware are often included in spam, so it is important to be able to effectively manage the spam we receive in our inbox.

Tips for dealing with spam:

• Use a spam blocker. A spam blocker can greatly reduce the amount of spam that ends up in your inbox. Most online email services like Yahoo! or Gmail have built-in spam blockers. You can also use a separate anti-spam program such as MailWasher, which can be used with Outlook or any other email program. Unfortunately, even with a spam blocker, some spam may still get through.
• Don't reply to spam. You may be tempted to reply to a spam email or click on a link within the email to unsubscribe. This may work with legitimate emails that you have subscribed to; however, spammers will rarely honor these requests. In fact, by replying or clicking a link, you are confirming to the spammer that your email address works, which means you may end up getting more spam.
• Turn off images. An email can contain images spammers can track. When you open the email, the images will load, and the spammer will be able to tell that your email address works, possibly resulting in even more spam.

• Turn off your preview pane (if your email service has one). You cannot avoid viewing spam when your email automatically displays it in your preview pane. Once you view a spam message, it may actually lead to receiving more spam. Therefore, you will need to weigh the convenience of using your preview pane with your desire to avoid spam.
• Regularly check your spam folder. Sometimes spam blockers block legitimate emails. It's a good idea to regularly check your spam folder to make sure you are not missing important emails. Check your email program for settings that will allow legitimate emails that are being blocked.