Spammers Don’t Want You To Know How To Permanently Block Their Malicious emails!

SPAM emails are not just a nuisance. In addition to being annoying and time-consuming unwanted email is also becoming more dangerous to the security of your computer, your personal privacy, and the integrity of your sensitive data. Millions of computer users are being neglected, and as a result, getting infected, spoofed, phished, and tricked by spam emails every day, forcing the user to pay large fees to troubleshoot, clean, and restore their PCs back to full working order.

There are three major types of email-related threats that everyone must be aware of:

  1. A spike in hijacked and spoofed email activity.
    Spoofing means making the email look like it came from a legitimate address (even yours). Cybercriminals are using this method to make it look as if their email is coming from an email account of someone whose identity they try to portray, even your own. They can also pretend to be a representative of an organization or company you know and trust by spoofing their account, pretending to be your bank, credit card issuer, or a government agency. Hijacked accounts pose another danger. It happens when a computer system is either hacked into and the email client is used directly,  or the email account credentials have been compromised and a malicious program placed elsewhere can use credentials to authenticate with the mail server and send spam mail. This can result in having your address reported to blacklisting services and having your email suspended or terminated, not just for your but for an entire organization – and all without your knowledge. That is why reliable, top-notch anti-spam protection will not only block incoming spam from coming into your inbox but also prevent unauthorized outgoing emails leaving from your inbox or email server.
  2. An increase in trojan and otherwise virus-carrying spam.
    If you open an email message that carries a dangerous virus you can end up with serious problems. Your systems may get compromized and your computer performance will slow down or it will keep freezing. You may end up with system crashes and data loss. Furthermore, your organization may face significant downtime. In additionk your web presence may be affected, too – viruses can create outgoing spam traffic, redirecting your web browser to unauthorized malicious websites, and more. nta personal level, you may become a victim of an identity theft with all that it implies.
  3. Phishing emails
    A phishing email referrs to a message that appears to be an electronic correspondence from a trusted source, such as a bank, vendor, friend, or other entity you believe you know. The purpose of a phisher is to trick you into clicking on their links or responding otherwise and provide personal  details and informationj you would otherwise keep private, such as bank or credit card accounts, social security numbers, and login and password credentials to authorize access to your assets. You’ve probably already received phishing emails that look like they came from American Express, Amzaon or your bank  with a message urging you to take action. They may tell you confirm or to update your profile or make a payment. The phishing email may threaten your accoun  to be suspended unless or removed unless you do as they say. It then directs you to a very legitimate-looking website where you input personal information. In reality, this is a malicious third party that is going to steal and use your information to access your accounts and to open credit card accounts to steal money or misuse your identity, causing you major financial and possibly personal problems.

So what can we do about SPAM?

If you want a 100% way of getting a clean slate, you may want to change your email address; however, this action can be a major headache; it gets even more complicated if you rely on it to stay in touch with important business and personal contacts, and don’t want to risk losing any connections. But even starting with a new mailbox is only a temporary measure as spammers may eventually find new sneaky ways to get back into your inbox.

What can you do to reduce and minimize the amount of SPAM?

First – and it is absolutely critical – get quality spam-blocking software installed. There are no government regulations in place to prevent or stop spammers, so every business must be responsible for their own anti-spam solution: you must have it in place as the first line of defense.

Next, you want to make sure you don’t set yourself up for a spam list in the first place. Once you get on a spam list, it’s impossible to get off; “unsubscribing” often backfires as it proves to the spammer that your email still exists and is active, so even if one of them would respect your unsubscribe request, the theory is that your name will immediately get on dozens or more spam lists.

To reduce the chances of your email address getting on a spammer’s list, here are a few simple preventative steps you should.  These measures will go a long way in keeping undesirable spam out of your inbox.

1. Use a disposable email address.

If you shop online or occasionally subscribe to newsletters and resources that interest you, chances are you’re going to get spammed.

To avoid your main email address from ending up on their broadcast list, set up a free Internet email address (Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.) and use it when buying or opting into online newsletters. You can also use a throwaway email address when making purchases or subscribing to newsletters.

2. Pay attention to checkboxes that automatically opt you in.

Whenever you subscribe to a website or make a purchase online, be very watchful of small, pre-checked boxes that say, “Yes! I want to receive offers from third-party companies.”

If you do not uncheck the box to opt-out, your email address can be distributed to other affiliate advertisers.  To avoid this from happening, simply take a closer look at every online form you fill out.

While many reputable sites respect your option not to subscribe to their notifications, some of them automatically re-subscribe when you make an additional purchase or selection, so pay attention to the checkboxes every time you use those sites.

3. Don’t post your main email address on your website, web forums, or newsgroups.

Spammers have special programs that can derive email addresses from websites without your permission. If you are posting to a web forum or newsgroup, use your disposable email address (review item #1 above) instead of your main one.

If you want to post an email address on your home page, use “info@” and have all replies forwarded to a folder in your inbox that won’t interfere with your main address – and don’t put your email address on a copy, otherwise it would be a moot point.

4. Don’t open, reply to or try to opt-out of obvious SPAM emails.

Opening, replying to, or even clicking a fake (or real) opt-out link in an obvious spam email signals that your email address is valid, and more spam will start flooding your inbox.

The only time it is safe to click on the opt-out link or reply to the email is when the email was sent from an organization you are familiar with or do business with (for example, a company that you purchase from or a newsletter you subscribed to).

5. Create Inbox Rules to segregate SPAM.

Well, technically this tip does not minimize the amount of spam, but it gives you the ability to organize incoming mail in a more efficient way, helping you to reduce time spent on managing spam.

Most email software allows users to organize their mailbox by using rules, such as Microsoft Outlook. You can segregate email by applying Rules when messages matching certain criteria arrive. Rules are always turned on and run automatically. You can use Rules to file messages from certain senders, or files, or delete emails with certain words in the subject line. Read more about Microsoft Outlook Rules. 

How To  Stop SPAM From Taking Over Your Inbox

As we said earlier, modern spam presents a serious danger to your computer and your personal security. While the above tips will help some, the only way to permanently stop spam is to install an enterprise-strength SPAM filter.

But beware! Not all spam blockers are created equal, and some can end up blocking important emails you want to receive and be a pain in the neck to manage. Your business may require different email and spam measures, where false positives are just as undesirable as false negatives.  Let us help you select the most appropriate solution for your anti-SPAM and anti-virus needs.

 

How is your state of IT? Call Us: (855) 551-7760 with any questions.