Computers

SPAM Mail

SPAM mail seems to be the scourge of computers nowadays and it's really hard to avoid it altogether.

There are few simple tips you can use to minimise it.

• Never give your private email address to anyone unless you are sure you can trust them.

• If you need to give an email address for e.g. an online purchase, use an 'expendable' one like Yahoo or Hotmail that you can get rid of.  Yahoo, in particular, has an excellent free SPAM filtering service.

• If you use Newsgroups or Chat Rooms, never use your private email address and always 'munge' the address you do use.  You can use a completely false one if you're not going to want people to contact you.

• Turn off the Preview pains in your mail program on at least your Inbox, Deleted Mail and Junk mail folders.

• Never open a message that you think may be suspect and certainly never open any attachment on it.

• You may be able to set up 'Rules' in you Mail Program to 'Blackhole' SPAM mail but they depend on being able to identify it.  Some Internet Providers, like Force 9, are better than others for flagging it.