Spam: Identifying, preventing and reporting trouble
by Sharon Miller Cindrich
Today, more than 95 percent of all e-mail traffic consists of spam-fraudulent, dangerous and downright annoying messages that can clog your inbox and compromise your private information. While the majority of junk e-mail messages are intercepted and blocked by sophisticated filters, spam is still a big problem.
Broadly defined, spam is any unsolicited e-mail. It can be a get-to-know-you-survey of one-hundred questions or a petition to save the whales. It can be a pass-it-on warning about a health scare or a request to verify your credit card information. Some forms of spam are more dangerous and annoying than others, but identifying a spam message is the first step in avoiding it.
- Solicitations. "Need help with finances? Want to work at home? Trying to lose weight? Try our products for FREE!" This is the most common form of spam and very much like the junk mail you receive in your real-life mailbox. Categories range from adult products, health and medicine, personal finance, education and, especially this time of year, political messages.
- Phishing scams. "You've won! Click the link to verify your information!" Often phony and more dangerous, this type of spam entices you with prize winnings or tries to trick you into clicking on a link to a site that can enable online criminals to steal your private information-and your identity.
- Chain chats. "Pass this on to ten people and your wish will come true." Generally more annoying than harmful, these e-mails come in the form of petitions for a cause or friendship surveys to be forwarded to ten of your closest friends. The problem? Most people forward these messages without concealing e-mail addresses, which can put everyone's email at risk.
- Software scams. "Visit our site to download spam protection now." These solicitations entice computer users with promises of spam-blocker software. Ironically, this mass marketing itself is spam, and the message may link to a site that may infect your computer with a virus or collect your personal information.
While the majority of spam is received through e-mail, spam can also reach you through other tech avenues. Spam may show up in instant messaging programs (sometimes called spim), mobile phone texts and blogs. Watch for messages with spam markers - most often solicitations from someone you don't know - and delete them.
How can you protect yourself? As always, a multi-level protection plan that combines security software and smart habits is the best way to combat spam. Take these simple steps to be spam-free:
- Keep your e-mail private. Avoid giving out your e-mail address to anyone aside from friends and colleagues. Consider a second, Web-based e-mail and use it when signing up for online services or newsletters.
- Delete unwanted e-mail. Many spam messages look harmless, but they can contain viruses, spyware and adware that can wreak havoc on your system. Preview e-mail before opening it and avoid opening e-mail from anyone you don't know.
- Don't respond. A majority of spam offers an unsubscribe link that makes it look like a legitimate business. Clicking on an unsubscribe link, or corresponding in any way, just confirms that your e-mail is viable and can lead to more spam.
- Use security software. Using a firewall along with spam-blocking software will help minimize the spam you receive. Most e-mail programs come with spam filters, and your Internet Service Provider may also offer spam blocking options. Make sure to update your security software regularly.
- Check out policies. When using an e-mail address to sign up for a service or group, check the terms of use or privacy policy to be sure that your e-mail address will be kept private. Beware of pre-checked boxes when you shop online, and opt out of any opportunity to receive newsletters or solicitations whenever possible.
- Report problems. If you have trouble getting rid of spam, contact your ISP and report the problem. You can also send a copy of any unwanted or suspicious e-mail to spam@ftc.com. The Federal Trade Commission collects and stores spam to use as evidence when pursuing legal action against those who send deceptive e-mail.
