Spam Avoidance Redux

Posted : 3 September 03

Expanded spam email avoidance tips ...

1) Never reply to any spam or to an unsubscription link in a spam email (you are simply confirming that you have a valid email address, which spammers can then sell to other spammers...).
2) Use a temporary email address (hotmail or yahoo web email account) to get email temporarily for a specific purpose and then delete after you don't need it any more.
3) Have an extra email (or more) that you don't mind deleting for longer term non critical personal or business email.
4) Avoid using Internet Explorer. Safari, Mozilla, Netscape, Opera, iCab, Firebird & Camino are browser alternatives.
5) Don't use the auto form fill function in your web browser. It can store personal information that clever programmers might be able to scan.
6) Only have emails on your website that you don't mind changing from time to time as spammers scan web sites to get email addresses.
7) Never subscribe to any dubious on line services.
8) Don't use obvious names in your email like john@company.com, try johnp@company.com. Spammers try probing email servers on all known domain names for common names, like John, Paul, Mary, etc.
9) Always tick the never send me email checkbox when signing up to anything on line.
10) Always uncheck the box asking if the subscription service can send your email to anyone else.
11) Only allow cookies to be sent back to the originating server (set this in your browser's preferences).
12) Avoid posting to newsgroups with your main email address (a yahoo or hotmail account is perfect for this).
13) Use an email filtering service.
14) Use an email client that supports filtering.
15) Don't filter on specific email addresses, go for keywords and domains as they have more global effect.

I rarely get email from postmaster and webmaster email addresses. If you manage your own domain you might want to try using these email addresses.

And if it all gets too much, change email address and then try and limit your exposure using the above hints and tips as a guideline.

Have a happy and spamless day !