Shunning Spam

As technology advances, so do the tricks spammers use to deliver junk mail to your inbox. Save time, energy and IT resources by following these tips to reduce the unsolicited, and sometimes dangerous, messages:

Don’t reply to spam, even to request removal. Any reply to spammers will confirm your e-mail address is active, often increasing the number of messages you’ll receive.

Remove your e-mail address from public sites. On business sites, install a Web-based mail form for potential client inquiries. On public sites, such as newsgroups and bulletin boards, use an alternate free address.

Read privacy policies. Opt out of third-party offers and avoid submitting your address completely to sites that don’t post a privacy policy. The option to receive these “partner” offers is often selected automatically, so look for a box to uncheck.

Block graphics in HTML messages. Only download pictures in HTML e-mails sent from sources you know and trust. Graphics are often linked to spammers’ Web servers, which, when downloaded, verify your e-mail address.

Source: U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, www.us-cert.gov, and Microsoft, www.microsoft.com.