Avoiding SPAM

Spam has become an enormous problem. We are all victims to what seems like an unstoppable nuisance. (I see it getting worse before it gets better) I would guess that all of us are sick and tired of it. Below are a few solutions that have been successful for me in reducing the amount of junk mail that comes my way.

1. Use an alias email address (DO THIS IF NOTHING ELSE)
   Create a separate email account with Yahoo, Hotmail, or another account from your ISP. Something like alias@yahoo.com. Use this when purchasing anything over the Internet, buying/selling items on Ebay, entering sweepstakes, or any other situation where you are asked to provide your email address.
2. Keep your personal email address personal
   Setup a separate email account with your ISP strictly for personal use. I have an email account that I only use to send email to my close friends and family. I use my alias account for everything else.
3. Notify your ISP
   Email is sent and received through your Internet Service Providers first – before it comes to you. If you’re getting enormous amounts of SPAM, contact your ISP. Tell them about the problem and ask if they can help stop the SPAM you’re receiving? Ask them what kind of filtering methods they use? If you continue to receive spam, contact or switch to another ISP.

Techy Tip

I had to throw this one in. A really cool trick – Set your email program to “leave messages on the server”. This way you can preview your email messages on the remote email server – before they reach your local computer. You won’t have to continue to create email filters for every spam email. Just delete the emails you are unsure of and then download the emails you want to keep. This trick can also prevent viruses from invading your local computer. If you’re previewing your email on the remote email server, you’re not endangering your local computer to virus threats.

One drawback though is if your email account gets filled up with too many emails. You may have to increase your disk space and/or check your email more frequently to avoid overload.

Read the Anniversary of SPAM for more information, history and opinions. Quite intriguing.

Until next time…