Don’t get Spammed

What can I say about spam that hasn’t already been said?  Anyone who uses the Internet knows that it’s an annoyance and that it can fill up your e-mail inbox in less than a day. 

However, spam also has a dangerous side.  Yes, that’s right, a dangerous side.  Spam that is carrying a virus or other online evil can infiltrate your inbox and wreak havoc on your system. 

What is Spam?

We are not talking about the lunchmeat.  I wouldn’t even know where to begin to answer that question. 

Spam, in this sense of the word, is classified as unsolicited e-mail.  Usually, the sender gets lists of random e-mail addresses and sends the message to thousands or millions of recipients.  Spam is harmless most of the time, but if an infected message or “e-mail” is opened, it can not only infect your system, but anyone who you send mail to as well.

An even more thought-provoking possibility is that once someone successfully plants a virus in your system, they can use your computer’s information to send spam to others. 

Broadband Users at Risk

Unfortunately, broadband Internet users are at a higher risk for being spammed because of their “always-on” connections.  This is because even when they aren’t using the Internet, their connection is still live and messages in the form of spam are still being sent and delivered to their inboxes. 

Spam Filters - Let’s Talk About Prevention

Preventing spam is possible and not as hard as you might think.  And considering how important and critical it is to keep spam at bay, you might want to consider it a little more seriously.

Preventing spam before it gets to you is the first and best move to make.  The Federal Trade Commission wrote a report on the dangers of spam and advises all Internet users, but broadband subscribers in particular, to take the following precautions:

• Use a good anti-virus program.
• Don’t open any files or attachments from sources you don’t know.
• Use a firewall in addition to any anti-virus program
• Regularly check the sent items of your inbox to see if there are any messages you did not send.

Say Goodbye to Spam

We have included a list of helpful sources to check out, so that you too, can be spam-free and happy to get on the Internet again.

• Put your e-mail address HostedScript.com’s list and spammers will get a fake list of e-mails and a code that will create an infinite loop cause them to have to clean out their database.
• Report spammers and get a spam-free e-mail account with spamcop.net.
• Get the latest on federal spam laws and proposed legislation at spamlaws.com.

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• Incorporating Free Spam Filters into your Browser