Internet Security ABC

 

spam blockerCan the Spam-How to Filter Out All the Unnecessary Junk

One four-letter word that all computer users hate isspam. In its own way, it's the same as telemarketing but sometimes, in the worst case scenario it can carry in unwanted viruses or other nasty bugs to your computer.

One thing you should never do is to respond to spam. This can verify your e-mail address and add you to many other unwanted spam lists. Some messages might be cleverly disguised as authentic newsletters. They don't try to sell you anything, and they look completely natural and authentic. There is an opt-out button you can push to stop receiving the newsletter. Beware of these it could be a fraud. Just by clicking the link to opt out of the newsletter, you can add your e-mail to another spammers list.

You can spam proof your inbox with popular spam blockers that are being sold today. Some of the programs that have been tested and found to be easily installed and easy to operate are SpamCatcher
and InBoxer. They filter out junk mail so it never reaches your inbox. It can go into a special folder that can easily be deleted with no harm done to your computer. One of the most popular and most accurate spam filters is SpamNet. It's free to download but there is a charge of $4 per month after your trial period ends. A company collects data from every copy of SpamNet and reports details to the company about the addresses, URLs, subject lines, and text in the junk mail messages. This information is then used to improve the filter accuracy of the program.

If you're like me and balk at paying for spam filtering software, consider using the tools that your ISP provides. If you are using a major ISP, the company's filter can screen out the same amount of junk as a purchased spam killer can. It does take it a little longer to learn which mail to let in and which to keep out. National ISP providers have scrubbing tools unique to them. EarthLink has SpamBlocker, United Online, the parent company of Juno, NetZero, and BlueLight use special content filters that scans and recognizes key words in the body and the subject.

MSN Premium, MSN Plus and Hotmail use a Microsoft filtering tool that you train as to which emails you accept. It has different levels of filtering for junk e-mail, with the highest only allowing e-mails from people listed in the users address box.

SBC Yahoo has an Anti-Spam Resource center that personalizes the filter for individual computers. It also uses Blackhole List, which detects and stops spam servers and blocks any computer on their network that sends out mass amounts of e-mails.

What are some popular e-mail spam frauds? One is the "foreign country" email scam. Spammers claim to be high government officials or business people or surviving family members of important people in another country. They offer to transfer lots of money into your bank account if you will pay the taxes or fee to access their money. Your documents will look official, will ask you to send money to cover transfer costs and attorney's fees, and will ask for your bank account numbers or other information. If you receive one of these e-mails, don't respond, or forward them to spam@uce.gov. If you have already been caught by one of these schemes, contact your local Secret Service field office.

Another spam is "Phishing." These emails or pop ups claim to be from companies or organizations that you may already deal with. They claim your information needs to be updated and will give you the link to go to the site and update your information. Some even say your account will be frozen or totally discontinued. The link you go to is a bogus site set up to look like a legitimate site. Before you add or change any information, be sure that the site is genuine by going out and typing in the company's Web address and bringing up the site through your browser. It's a good idea to never follow a link to a website that you don't know is the actual site.

Another spam scam is "Work at Home" offers. They prey on the vulnerable, usually someone who is a stay at home mom, or someone that has to work from home due to a disability. It draws you in with the promise of fast cash, minimal work, and no risk. It could be stuffing envelopes, assembling craft kits, or other similar jobs. Often there are hidden costs that you weren't told of such as placing newspaper ads, copying, or buying supplies or special software. Then they often fail to pay, claiming your work is not up to their standards.

The secret to canning the spam is not responding to them. Be careful what web sites you sign up on and use a special "free" email for any free offers or any offers you are wary of.

Top Five Reasons to Install a Firewall

Inoculate Yourself against Computer Viruses

Picking Blackberries Why Mobile Technology Needs More Security

Lets Go Phishing Five Ways to Avoid Being Hooked by This Scam

Exterminate those Bugs on your PC

 

Internet Security
Are You an Enabler? What Enabling Cookies
Can the Spam-How to Filter Out All the Unnecessary Junk
Channel the Cookie Monster in You - Computer Cookies Can Be Bad For Your Computer's Health
Chat Room Challenge - Five Tips to Ensure Your Anonymity
Computer Band-aid - How to Know if You Need to Download that Security Patch
Computer Deep Freeze - Ten Tips to Keep your PC Up and Running
Computer Junkyard - Does Spam Filtering Really Help?
Dial-Up vs. Broadband - Which is the Safer Alternative?
Doesn't Ad up - Three Things that Adware does to your Computer
Don't Click No! How to Safely Close those Pop-up Windows
Don't Get Hacked Off-How to Stop Computer Interlopers in their Tracks
Exercise Parental Control - Five Tips to Keep Kids Safe on the Internet
Exterminate those Bugs on your PC
Getting Down With Downloads - How to Protect Your Computer
Hijacked at Home - Five Steps to Protect Your Home PC
Identity Theft via Internet Security Flaws
Inoculate Yourself against Computer Viruses
Internet Anonymizers - Why and When You Should Use Them
Key Logging Capers Part Two - Three Reasons why it is a Problem
Key Logging Capers - Three Reasons Why You Need It
Let's Go Phishing! - Five Ways to Avoid Being Hooked by This Scam
Maintaining Your Privacy on the Internet - Five Things you can do
Malicious Instant Messages-Three Ways Instant Messaging Compromises Internet Security
Malware is bad for your Computer
Picking Blackberries - Why Mobile Technology Needs More Security
Pound Those Pop-Ups
Six Tips for Staying Healthy in a Computer Virus World
Something Doesn't Register - Cleaning your Computer's Registry for Safety
Spies Everywhere - What is Spyware and Why is it so Bad?
Squash those Worms - Four Ways to Keep your PC Critter-Free
That Wasn't Scripted! Why Scripted Viruses are Bad News
The Basics of Internet Website Encryption
The Cookie Monster - How Do Cookies Influence Internet Security?
The Digital Certificate - What's It Mean and Why is It Important?
Three Benefits to Using an Internet Remailer
Three Reasons to Wipe Your Computer's Internet History Files Clean
Three Ways that an Internet Firewall Can Be Compromised
Three Ways to Identify a Virus Hoax
Three Ways to make sure your Online Credit Card Transaction is Safe
Toolbar Traps - What You Should Know BEFORE Downloading that "Helpful" Toolbar
Top Five Reasons to Install a Firewall
Top Five Spyware Threats to Internet Security
Top Five Vulnerable Areas in Internet Security
Top Five Worst Viruses and How to Protect Your Computer against Them
Top Four Ways to Ensure a Secure Password
Top Ten Tools to Boost your Internet Security
What IP Addresses Mean in the Scheme of Internet Security
When Formatting the Hard Drive is Your Only Recourse
Internet Privacy
Remote Access Trojans Hijacking your Computer
Precautions You Should Take When Installing WiFi in your Home
Sold! How to Maintain your Privacy and Still Indulge in Online Auctions
Social Networking Be Careful of What You Post!
Sneaky Ways to Get Around those Internet Privacy Issues
Identity Theft
Electronic Mail Identity Theft
Facts on Identity Theft
Fighting Identity Theft
ID Theft

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