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650-728-7918 tech@mikecomputerguy.com
Fight SPAM
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UPDATE 08-18-2003: I recently found SpamPal, which is an excellent SPAM filtering program that works with any POP3 or IMAP email program.
It does not delete SPAM, but will modify the subject line of suspected SPAM email's adding **SPAM** to the subject.
You can then use your email program's filters to filter any messages with **SPAM** in the subject. I set my filter to put these
messages into a folder of their own so I can take a look at them before deleting them. I highly recommend this software.
Unsolicited email (SPAM) is an ever increasing problem. A few things can be done to combat and avoid SPAM, but eliminating all unsolicited intrusions is practically impossible. SPAMMERs obtain email addresses in several different ways. They have automated programs that grab email addresses out of USENET postings, and off of web sites. In addition, lists of email addresses are available for sale. These lists can come from legitimate companies that sell you products, but require you to supply your email address to register or buy the product. I recently purchased a digital camera from Nikon. I registered the camera online and used the email address nikon@barfonline.com (I own the domain name barfonline.com and anything @barfonline.com will get to me). I began to receive SPAM about digital photography, software, etc. sent to nikon@barfonline.com. This was a clear indication that Nikon sold my email address to SPAMMERs. I complained to Nikon and have not received SPAM at that address since. Companies are required by law to honor your request to be removed from their lists. The problem is that many SPAMMERs are not law abiding people. A removal request sent to them only verifies that your email address is an actual email address which can now be sold to other SPAMMERs. For this reason, you should NEVER reply to an unsolicited email. Now if the email is from a legitimate business like Amazon.com, you can safely ask to be removed. But companies like Amazon do not send out spam. They do send out mass mailings, but you have asked to receive these mailings at one time or another. A method that worked in the early days of SPAM was to figure out who the SPAMMER's Internet provider was and send a complaint to them. This no longer works. SPAMMERs have figured out how to hide their own information, and most unsolicited email contains false data in the email header, so tracking down the sender, most times, is impossible. Many people create an email account with a free service like hotmail, yahoo, or juno. This email address is then used when registering products online or in any other place that may make the email subject to SPAM. Then your personal email account would only be given out to people you know. This will cut down on SPAM, but since many of us are already receiving SPAM sent to our personal email addresses, it will not eliminate it. There are many SPAM filtering methods that can be used. Most email programs have the ability to filter email addresses, but it would be up to the user to define these filters. SPAM filtering software can be purchased, and many Internet providers offer SPAM filtering services. For more information go to:
CAUCE The Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email Death to SPAM |