How to Block Unwanted IMs and Spam

E-mail and instant messaging help you communicate with friends and family, and many people use an e-mail address when shopping online. But sharing your personal contact information can lead to e-mail and instant message spam, unwanted junk messages.

About spam

Spam has become an epidemic. Recent research estimates that 80 percent or more of all e-mail sent these days is spam. That's an astonishing number, yet you may see only a tiny portion of that deluge because many Internet service providers (ISPs) or e-mail programs provide junk e-mail filters that serve as the first line of defense against spam.

About instant message spam

Instant messaging, commonly referred to as IM, is another method of online communication. Using IM, you and your friends type what you want to say in a box and you can see each other's messages almost instantly.

Unfortunately, just as you may receive unwanted e-mail or spam, you and your family also may receive unwanted instant messages. These IMs can be from complete strangers or from people you know but don't want to communicate with, and they may contain viruses or spyware.

How to Avoid Spam

Spam filters help reduce the amount of unwanted e-mail. You can improve their effectiveness by following these simple tips.

Five ways to fight spam

1. Share your primary e-mail address only with people you know. Avoid listing your e-mail address in large Internet directories and job-posting Web sites. Don't even post it on your own Web site (unless you disguise it as described below).
2. Set up an e-mail address dedicated solely to Web transactions. Consider using a free e-mail service to help keep your primary e-mail address private. When you get too much spam there, simply drop it for a new one.
3. Create an e-mail address that's tough to crack. Try a combination of letters, numbers, and other characters, for example, Don2Funk9@example.com or J0e_Y0ung@example.com (substituting zero for the letter "O"). Research shows that people with such addresses get less junk e-mail.
4. Disguise your e-mail address when you post it to a newsgroup, chat room, bulletin board, or other public Web page, as in "SairajUdin AT example DOT com." A person could interpret your address, but the automated programs that spammers use often cannot.
5. Watch out for pre-checked boxes. When you buy things online, companies sometimes pre-select checkboxes to indicate that they can sell or give your e-mail address to responsible parties. Clear the checkbox if you don't want to be contacted.

Tip: When you sign up for Web-based services such as banking, shopping, or a newsletter, carefully read the privacy policy before revealing your e-mail address so you don't unwittingly agree to share confidential information. The privacy policy should clearly outline the terms and circumstances concerning how the site will share your information. If a Web site does not post a privacy statement, consider taking your business elsewhere.

How to Avoid Instant Messaging Spam

One way to reduce instant messaging spam is to create a contact list that contains only your friends and associates. Most IM programs allow you to do this, and you can choose to block incoming messages from everyone except the people on your list.

Tips for safer instant messaging

• Never give out personal or sensitive information, such as a credit card number, social security number or passwords.
• Only communicate with people on your contact list.
• Never agree to meet a stranger in person just because you have met online and chatted on IM.
• Never accept files or downloads from people you don't know.
• Never accept files that you weren't expecting even from people you do know.
• Choose a screen name that doesn't give away your personal information.
• Monitor and limit your children's use of IM.
• Don't post your screen name online - people may use it to send unsolicited IM messages.
• Don't send personal or private instant messages at work - your boss may have a right to view them.
• Be careful how you reveal when you are online.