Use an Anti-Spam software program such as Mailwasher
Do not respond to suspicious spammed emails. A response only confirms the accuracy of your email address, and may result in even more messages filling up your In-box
If you are suspicious, do not click on the link asking to be taken off the sender's list, as the senders often use that as a ploy to confirm the recipient's address, resulting in even more spammed email
Never submit your credit card details or other personal information to non-secure Web sites (there should be a locked padlock icon that appears in yellow, or in a yellow box, on the bottom bar of the order form Web browser).
Use Spam filtering or Spam blocking software
Do not send your email address through chat rooms, instant message services or Internet bulletin boards and newsgroups. If you need to use E-mail for such activities, create an E-mail with your ISP that you do not use.
You may connect with the local contact of the Business Software Alliance (check the contacts list at http://www.bsa.org) In the US, you can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about a Spam email that you have received. Visit the FTC online to file a complaint, or forward the Spam email to the FTC for investigation. (Just make SURE that the message you received was not from a list you joined previously)
Do not give out your primary email address for online registration or on e-commerce sites. Have another free email address to use more publicly
Do not forward chain email. This special type of email is considered Spam. It is unsolicited, intrusive and may clog up email servers and slow down Internet traffic.
Many spammers use a "dictionary" to come up with every possible combination for email addresses. These spammers then send out email to all possible combinations of usernames and domains. If they don't receive a reply indicating an address is invalid then they assume that this email address is valid. Hence, they add this email address to a list that they use and/or sell.
One method of getting around this spamming tactic is to create a totally unique email username. This can be done in two ways. First, avoid using your first name or last name as your email username. For example, if your name is John Smith or Jane Doe, don't use john, smith, jane, or doe as your email username.
Instead use a combination of your first and last name, or add text that references your title. For example, you can use jsmith, smithj, jdoe, doej, mrsmithj, drjdoe. These combinations make for a more unique username that makes it harder for spammers to find you.
You can also combat spamming by substituting numbers and symbols in place of letters. For example:
Instead of the letter "b/B" use the number "8".
Instead of the letter "e/E" use the number "3".
Instead of the letter "g/G" use the number "9"
Instead of the letter "i/I" use the number "1".
Instead of the letter "l/L" use the number "1".
Instead of the letter "o/O" use the number "0".
Instead of the letter "s/S" use the number "5".
John Smith could use j5m1th, Jane Doe could use jd03
While changing your e-mail address is strictly voluntary, it is one way to eliminate SPAM. Many Internet providers allow you to have additional e-mail accounts. Be creative and develop your own unique email address to keep the spammers out of your inbox!
Q. What is Spam?
A. Unsolicited commercial e-mail advertising typically sent to people who do not have an existing business relationship with the sender. Spam is flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it. Spam costs the sender very little to send using the Internet as the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to peddle goods, including pirated software.
Q. What are the dangers of responding to spammed e-mail messages?
A. Any response only confirms the accuracy of your e-mail address, and may result in even more messages filling up your e-mail In box. By giving them your credit card number, you are at risk of fraud.
The Anti-Spam Solution
MailWasher Pro is an anti-spam program that effectively filters unsolicited commercial e-mail, more commonly known as spam. Protecting users from e-mail borne security threats, MailWasher Pro stops all unwanted mail from reaching inboxes and inconveniencing users.
Why was MailWasher Pro developed?
MailWasher Pro was created to let users reclaim control of their e-mail. The overwhelming amount of spam on the Internet is set to increase exponentially over the next few years, with users already facing serious security threats, families being exposed to objectionable content and product scams bombarding inboxes worldwide. MailWasher Pro protects users from these threats and allows safe, secure management of their e-mail. Previewing messages on their mail server, MailWasher Pro lets users delete any harmful content before it reaches their mail program and wreaks havoc on their computer. Created for home users who deem their online privacy and security as paramount, MailWasher Pro has already become a highly regarded e-mail security solution.
How does MailWasher Pro work?
MailWasher Pro automatically detects spam by scanning the body text, consulting online databases of known spam, together with blacklists users have created and optional user-configured filters.
The software has a simple three-step process:
1. Check incoming mail
2. Mark mail for deletion and/or bounce
3. Process mail
The software then assigns incoming mail with a status determining what action the user should take. MailWasher Pro has a unique bounce feature, which sends a message back to the sender appearing as though their e-mail address does not exist. Safely previewing mail from the ISP’s server, MailWasher Pro eliminates spam before it can pose a security threat to a users system. Users then process their mail, and can open their mail program from the MailWasher Pro window if desired. MailWasher Pro supports the POP3 protocol - which is the most common way to access e-mail. MailWasher Pro also supports Hotmail’s 110 million users who receive around 80% of all spam according to reports.
Because the software utilizes human intelligence, legitimate mail is never blocked and only messages that have been bounced are added to the users Blacklist. Trusted senders can be added to the Friends list ensuring messages from family, friends and colleagues are never flagged. The beauty of MailWasher Pro is that it’s FREE to download and won’t ever expire. MailWasher Pro is simple in design and very user-friendly, it takes only minutes to configure and learn how to use.
Features and Benefits of Using MailWasher Pro It’s Easy
Simple in design and layout, MailWasher Pro is easy to configure and highly customizable. It only takes a few minutes to learn how to use and the simplistic design allows users of all capabilities to utilize this extremely effective software.
It’s Quick
As MailWasher Pro leaves the body of the message on the ISP server, it works extremely quickly - having clocked amazing speeds of 25 e-mail headers per second – thus saving valuable time and resources that would otherwise be wasted manually filtering e-mail. This security feature also allows only legitimate mail to reach the recipients’ mail program, blocking harmful attachments and viruses before they can infect the user’s computer.
Unique Bounce Feature
MailWasher Pro returns a message to senders informing them that the recipient’s address is invalid. As spammers think the address no longer exists they will remove recipients from their bulk-mailing lists.
Support For Hotmail
MailWasher Pro provides an effective spam-filtering solution for Hotmail’s 110 million users, who are the major targets of spammers and receive around 80% of all spam messages.
Advanced Filtering
MailWasher Pro’s advanced filtering automatically spots spam using customizable blacklists and/or regular expression filters to eliminate potential spam messages.
Inboxes are no longer cluttered with unsolicited advertising and unwanted junk, users receive only legitimate mail and experience e-mail the way it should be!
Top Level Support
Our support desk provides thorough and prompt technical help via e-mail. The support team’s rapid and individualized responses ensure MailWasher Pro users experience optimum effectiveness of their software.
The sad facts about spam and viruses
