Spam is certainly one of the biggest downside to the Internet and something users hate to deal with. A waste of time, an intrusion into our lives, it is composed only of negative aspects. Yet spam dates back a little earlier than some may think. The first piece of spam was sent by Gary Thuerk on May 3rd, 1978. Even if it was not sent with bad intentions, several people followed suite and some with not-so-honourable objectives. How can the risk of this infection be lessened?
Spam-filtering Software
It is widely known that spam is a universal burden that angers many. Software has been designed to help prevent the accumulation of spam in your email inbox.
Here is a list of software to help you win the fight:
- K9
- SpamPal
- Pop Tray
A Couple Tips against Spam
It must not be forgotten that, while anti-spam software may be a great help, they are not completely foolproof. Some software might accidentally block an email that is not spam and should not be filtered in the first place. Here are a couple tips to ensure you receive your emails properly, letting through as little spam as possible:
1. Protect your email address against spam
We are not always aware of it, but nothing is easier than finding someone’s email address through blogs, newsletters, forums, etc. It is always possible to leave your email address everywhere. Many websites have started asking users to log in with an email address when they visit, such as eBay or Amazon. It is necessary, however, to abstain from spreading information if you want to avoid becoming a target for spam. The web brought many positive things, but you should be weary of sharing too much information.
2. Do not reply to spam
While it may be tempting to respond to an email that seems funny or interesting, it is very important not to. Replying to spam confirms that the email address is valid and susceptible to react…and encourages the sender to try again!
Spam is a very unpleasant aspect of an otherwise fantastic world of the Internet. However, here is a multitude of ways of avoiding it, despite its ubiquity. But always remember that it is much easier to prevent spam… then to get rid of it!
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