 
Finally got your new computer, your internet account and are now ready to log in into the WWW world.
Spam is definitely a major concern. Spam will not usually harm your computer, however it can track all of your internet activities.
The biggest concern is the new breed of spammers. The new spammers and hackers build your trust first and usually ask you to do something like reply to the email.
What is Spam?
Spam is unsolicited email, not unwanted email. If you have signed up for an email list and receive and email that is not spam. If you unsubscribe to that list and continue to receive emails then that becomes spam. While spam is annoying it is generally not dangerous to your order your PC. In January of 2004 the federal Can Spam law took effect with broad reaching requirements and penalties. Tip: if you see a company name and address of the bottom of an email, that generally means you can use the remove link and it will be honored as they are following the Can Spam law. If you do not see an address and only a remove link, then it is not a good idea to use that link as that would indicate a live email address to the spammers.
How Are Spammers Getting Your E-mail Address?
Spamming companies have various methods of obtaining your e-mail address. More than 90% of spam is delivered to e-mail addresses taken from public websites. Anytime you enter your e-mail address to gain access to a website, it is vulnerable to spam. Similarly, whenever an e-mail address is used to participate in a newsgroup or web-based discussion group, spammers can easily obtain it.
Unauthorized sales of your e-mail address by companies from whom you recently purchased products or services also play a large part in the spam epidemic. Although the majority of websites adhere to an “opt out” policy that allows you to prevent distribution of your e-mail address, not all websites respect consumers’ privacy.
Some spammers also obtain e-mail addresses through trial and error. Spammers use computer programs to randomly generate e-mail addresses using a variety of letter and number combinations. Eventually, a given combination will produce live addresses, and those e-mail users will receive spam.
What Can You do to Stop Spam?
There are several steps that you as a consumer can take to stop spam. One of the most effective methods is to use “spam blocking” software provided by many Internet service providers. In many instances, consumers can obtain these tools at no additional cost.
Other alternatives include writing the postmaster affiliated with the domain owner (such as aol.com or yahoo.com) to object to the receipt of spam. Typically, the postmaster’s address can be found at the bottom of the e-mail, or you may try: postmaster@domain.com, admin@domain.com, or webmaster@domain.com. In many cases, the postmaster may not be aware of the spam being sent from its server.
Setting up multiple free e-mail accounts is also an alternative. Many providers will allow you to set up a web-based e-mail address from which you can send and receive e-mail without having to use a dedicated e-mail application such as Outlook or Eudora. This will allow you to use one e-mail account as your “junk e-mail” account.
What is the Government Doing to Stop Spam?
Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are taking a variety of steps to limit spam.
On January 1, 2004, the “Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003” (CAN-SPAM Act) took effect. This new law set out three requirements that commercial e-mail senders must follow. The first provision, requiring labeling, stipulates that every unsolicited e-mail must be clearly identified as a solicitation or advertisement. The second, offering an opt-out option, provides that commercial e-mail senders must allow an easy and legitimate way for recipients to opt out of the sender’s future e-mails. Lastly, the return address provision requires that unsolicited e-mails contain a legitimate return e-mail address, as well as the sender’s postal address.
The CAN-SPAM Act requires the FTC to issue regulations “defining the relevant criteria to facilitate the determination of the primary purpose of an electronic mail message,” and the FTC recently sought public comment on this issue. The FTC’s efforts will help determine which unsolicited commercial e-mail messages can be regulated. The FTC also sought comment on the possible establishment of a National “Do Not E-mail” registry, which would function like the National “Do Not Call” list.
The FCC is also considering regulations to cut back on unwanted e-mails. Specifically, the FCC is in the process of establishing rules that will protect consumers from the costs and inconveniences that result from unwanted commercial messages sent to wireless devices. The FCC recently sought comment on various methods of allowing consumers the ability to block wireless spam. Once comments are received, the FCC will complete the rulemaking process to further the objectives of the CAN-SPAM Act. (end of article from the 6 star team)
One particularly nasty variant of email spam is sending spam to mailing lists (public or private email discussion forums.) Because many mailing lists limit activity to their subscribers, spammers will use automated tools to subscribe to as many mailing lists as possible, so that they can grab the lists of addresses, or use the mailing list as a direct target for their attacks.
What to do and how to stop (minimize it)
- Keep at least two email addresses
- one for signing up (throw-away address), Use disposable addresses for risky activities, like signups for newsgroups and newsletters. Throw away your throw-away address every month or two. Don't be tempted to use it for communicating with any real person.
- one for family. Make the family email only for close friends and family. Guard it with your life.
- one for customers if required. Put the customer email address on your business cards, give it to acquaintances but never publish it on the web in plain text.
- Never publish your email address in plain text on the web!
- Never on the web in plain text publish your email address! Use an email encoder, as as the one at http://thespameater.com/emailencoder.html?r=0
- Use a CGI form-mailer on your website. Your address is hidden inside the CGI script on your web server. This makes it Impossible for spammers to harvest.
- Choose a user-name that is not likely to be in a spammer dictionary. For example, _don't_ use "jsmith@mydomain.com"! Use something more creative: "j.smith.parachuting@mydomain.com".
Should I hit "remove"?
A lot of the spam that we get and that people write to us about comes with instructions on how to "remove yourself from our list". Yet, more often than not, the remove instructions don't work. Why is this? Basically, you've just experienced what many call "rule #1": Spammers lie.
Remove lists don't work. In most cases you have just verify that you have a valid e-mail address, and so then they put it on the premium CD and sell it to the next spammer for even more money. The end results is that you can then get lots of spam instead of a little.
Some potential Spam indicators
- The “From” line is ambiguous, does not clearly identify the sender of the e-mail and is most likely not a valid return e-mail address.
- The “Subject” line is misleading and does not make it clear that the e-mail is a commercial advertisement.
- Message text is not consistent with the “Subject” line of the message.
- Message does not provide a valid postal address as a way for the recipient to contact the sender.
- Message does not provide any way for the recipient to decline to receive further commercial e-mail from the sender.
Software protection
As per all other Computer security measures, please make sure that you have a good anti-spam software and that it is up to date
What to look for
- Ease of use
- Are the Spam definitions updates regularly. Definitions are similar to virus definitions for antivirus software
- Customer service feedback
- Will it work on your email program. Some Anti-Spam software will only work on one email program.
Latest Antispam News:
anti spam - Google News
Google News
29 Jul 2010 at 11:04pm
![]() Google PASE ? Spam Increases 16% in Q2 against Q1, 2010
SPAMfighter News
As per the data scanned by search giant Google's Postini Anti-Spam Engine (PASE), it is estimated that the spam rate has decreased by 15% in the Q2-2010 in ...
28 Jul 2010 at 5:35am
PC Advisor
![]() 9 security suites: maximum protection, minimum fuss
Computerworld
That makes evaluating the strength of a particular anti-malware or antispam product very difficult -- there is never a level playing field. ...
BitDefender's 2010 Security TrendsArab Times
Panda unveils 2011 versions of security softwareNetworkWorld.com
New 2011 Consumer Solutions from Panda Security Utilize Power of User ...Newswire Today (press release)
all 12 news articles »
29 Jul 2010 at 3:49pm
![]() CanIt 7.0.6 Anti-Spam Software Released
Linux PR (press release)
Roaring Penguin Software upgrades their CanIt line of anti-spam software for ISPs, Web Hosts, Universities, and Managed Services Providers. ...
29 Jul 2010 at 11:27am
![]() Canada's anti-spam legislation ? new name, old content
Lexology (registration)
FISA proposes amendments to the Competition Act that would (a) classify false or misleading representations contained within electronic ...
29 Jul 2010 at 12:05pm
![]() No violation of California anti-spam law in transmission of commercial e-mail ...
Lexology (registration)
A marketer did not violate California anti-spam laws when it sent e-mails from multiple domains in order to bypass spam filters, the California Supreme ...
29 Jul 2010 at 6:47pm
![]() Security Shield 2010 review
PC Advisor
The suite incorporates antivirus, antispam and antispyware tools, a firewall, parental controls and rootkit detection capability into a single product that ...
Ultimate security software guide - choose the suite that's right for youITBusiness.ca
all 3 news articles »
29 Jul 2010 at 7:07pm
![]() Cassels Brock > The Cassels Brock Report - July 2010
Linex Legal (registration)
Canada's Anti-SPAM Legislation ? New Name, Old Content / Case Comment: SOCAN v. Bell / Open Source Software: What it Means for Your Business / Recent ...
and more »
29 Jul 2010 at 1:21am
![]() Apple MacBook Wheel: laptop with no keyboard
The Trinidad Guardian
Protect your GATEWAY with anti-phishing, anti-virus tools, firewalls and anti-spam software 10. "You have won the lottery." The lottery scam is a common ...
and more »
20 Jul 2010 at 7:12am
![]() SUTUS Selects Commtouch Anti-Spam and Zero-Hour Virus Protection for Its Small ...
MarketWatch (press release)
The agreement enables SUTUS' Business Central to deploy Commtouch's patented anti-spam messaging protection and Commtouch's Zero-Hour Virus Outbreak ...
and more »
29 Jul 2010 at 5:59am
![]() Dell launches security products for SMBs
Techwatch
The J-SRX network security hardware will provide firewall, intrusion prevention, antispam and antivirus technologies.
Dell Launches New Security Appliances for SMBseWeek
Dell unveils security hardware and servicesComputerworld
Dell Debuts Integrated Security for Midsized BusinessesSmall Business Computing
Trading Markets (press release) -eSecurity Planet
all 47 news articles »
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