Spam Blocker Information

The Trouble With Spam Is....


Each day we all face the same challenge. Spam. It doesn't matter if you're a home computer user or the head of IT for a multinational limiting or totally preventing the distribution of junk email to your computer(s) is now a daily chore.

The sheer frustration that spam causes combined with the number of lost man hours adds up to junk email being a very real problem for all involved. You have to filter through all the junk to find your own personal or work email. This on its own is annoying enough. When you consider the security risks from spyware, trojans, diallers and attempted identity theft spam becomes much more than just an annoyance - it becomes a minefield for any computer user.

So what can you do to block spam? The first step each user should take is to simply limit the number of people who know your personal email address. If you have a work email address then just use it for work. For home users only distribute your email address to people you know and trust. This simple move can cut your spam problems by 50%.

But what about all those online forms I need to fill in? No problem. Use a free email service like Hotmail or Gmail for this purpose. Treat it as a throwaway account that you can use as a buffer between your true personal email address and the rest of the world. Let it fill up with junk email and then just login once a week and delete everything you see.

Your password. It's amazing how many people set the password for their email account to abc123 or something similar. These passwords are incredibly easy for spammers to guess and would give them easy access to your mail account. The password for your email account should follow corporate standards of being 6 - 8 characters long and be alphanumeric (a mixture of numbers and letters). Make it longer if you can. Using a weak password is just asking for trouble.

If you're already receiving a ton of spam then you'll need to invest in a spam blocker. There are free spam blockers you can download and also also their paid equivalents. A great spam blocker can cost you as little as $30 and you'll see an immediate reduction in the amount of spam you're receiving.

Over and above installing software on your computer (especially for Mac users as your choices are limited) you could sign up for one of the web based challenge response spam blockers like Mailblocks or SpamArrest. Both of these services are ideal for somebody who's on the move a lot. Also because they're web based there's no software to install so they're perfect for Mac or PocketPC/Palm users.

Taking a pro-active anti spam stance is the next step. If you get junk email from people then check the mail headers and report any offensive email to the hosting company or ISP involved. Never, ever reply to spam directly. This simply confirms to the spammer that your email address is active. Also never click on any hyperlinks in any junk email - this again confirms your existence and can lead to a virus being downloaded directly onto your PC. Filter the spam, report the abusers, delete the remaining junk email.

Spam can be stopped. Not by some corporate giant or genius programmer. It can be stopped by each of you individually. Spammers rely on the widespread availability of email addresses and for people to reply to these emails or click on the links within the emails. The sooner people stop reacting emotionally to spam and simply filter, report and delete the offensive mail itself the sooner the lucrative market of bulk email will dry up for the spammers.

This article was provided courtesy of Spam-site.com which reviews spam blocker software and other anti spam utilties.


MORE RESOURCES:

Investigators warn public to avoid falling for scams
Villages Daily Sun, FL - Nov 21, 2008
In cases such as the UPS e-mail, options are limited, but Gates recommended purchasing a spam blocker and never clicking on links in unsolicited e-mails. ...


Avoiding Identity Theft
The Epoch Times, NY - Nov 19, 2008
A spam blocker set to high will keep your mailbox free of most annoying junk mail, as well as potentially dangerous attachments. ...


REVIEW: Watchguard's Firebox X Edge
Search Security, Australia - Nov 20, 2008
Another two optional features activated by the exchange of funds with WatchGuard are “spamBlocker”, which uses the Recurrent-Pattern Detection (RPD) ...


Finance Minister
International Nepal Solidarity Network, Nepal - Nov 20, 2008
We use a spam blocker that filters comments with certain words. If you cannot post a comment, please send it to the webmaster. Also, comments with more than ...


enterpriser.in

Watchguard s First XTM Network Security Appliance
enterpriser.in, India - Nov 19, 2008
XTM 1050 has optional security service subscriptions, including WatchGuard SpamBlocker with virus outbreak detection, WatchGuard Web for URL and content ...


Singin' the Fontainebleau shut-out blues?
MiamiHerald.com, FL - Nov 14, 2008
There's even one named after the band: the Spam Blocker martini, a combo of Absolut Pear, amaretto, melon liqueur and cranberry juice for $11. ...


Spam drops after McColo shut down
MX Logic, CO - Nov 13, 2008
However, there may still be a need for spam blocker software in light of the fact that levels of spurious email have increased in the days after the ...


More email security tips
TechRepublic, KY - Nov 11, 2008
The more spammers and phishers spoof your email address that way, the more likely your email address is to end up on spam blocker blacklists used by ISPs ...


University develops spam filter for e-mail accounts
Royal Purple News, WI - Nov 5, 2008
... and students but the university will be upgrading the campus e-mail system, which would allow students to set up their own personal spam blocker. ...


PnR/ WatchGuard stellt ,,Fireware XTM" in Deutschland vor
FinanzNachrichten.de, Germany - Nov 4, 2008
Die Palette der neuen, erweiterbaren Lösungen umfasst unter anderem Virtual Private Networking (SSL VPN), Advanced Web (HTTP und HTTPS), Spam Blocker, ...
DJ PnR / WatchGuard kündigt neue Hochleistungs-XTM-Lösung für ... VisAvis (Pressemitteilung)
all 3 news articles

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