Sree's Thoughts on Junk E-mail
Sunday, June 3, 2001

Those of us who use e-mail know how frustrating it is to get unwanted e-mail, or "spam" as it is known. These get-rich-quick and often-crude messages can fill up your inbox. But there are ways to fight back -- or at least get a handle on the problem.

I get more than 300 e-mail messages a day and dozens of them are commercial junk mail. Since I get so much official and personal e-mail anyway, junk mail doesn't upset me as much as it might others. That doesn't mean I don't try to do something about it, of course.

Examples of real spam that I have recieved in the past week.

Tips...

USE FILTERS
If your e-mail program allows it, use automatic filtering options to block "bulk senders" or move them to a separate mailbox — Hotmail, Yahoo and others do just that. Be careful, however, to check the list of senders you are blocking. It is easy for the automated filters to confuse a message from your cousin for one from a spammer.

DON'T REPLY
The worst way to try to take yourself off a spammer's list is to hit "reply" — that just confirms to the sender that yours is a valid address. You may end up getting more from the same folks. If you want to take some action, you can forward the note the sender's ISP or postmaster, if you can figure out the address.

READ PRIVACY POLICIES
When filling in an online form with your e-mail address, be sure to read the privacy policy of that site — you should be able to opt out of receiving "special offers" from their affiliated companies.

JUST HIT DELETE
If all else fails, just take a deep breath and hit that delete button. Sometimes it's faster and less aggravating to do so.

VISIT THESE SITES
(my first stops for spam info):

About.com's Spam Tips
http://email.about.com/internet/email/cs/spamgeneral/index.htm

CAUCE, The Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email
http://www.cauce.org/

SpamCop.net
http://spamcop.net/

SPAM-L FAQ—How to Track Spammers and Complain to Their ISP
http://www.claws-and-paws.com/spam-l/

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