Avoiding Spam

 



Spam is probably the most annoying part of working with the internet. It can be difficult to stop all spam. It is actually much easier to keep from getting on a spam list in the first place. Here is a list of things you can do to help prevent receiving spam.

  • Do not use a catchall email account on your domain(s). Only list aliases and POP accounts that you actually use. This stops the frequent spams that fire off emails to a list of names on a domain.
  • Hide your email addresses on your website from spammers, i.e. replace them with JavaScript "trick" email addresses, or, switch to web forms for initial contact, rather than displaying an email address. Information on how to do this in shown here.
  • Never, ever, click on any links in any spam - especially not to "unsubscribe". All this does is confirm to the spammer that they have a "live" address.
  • Never give your real e-mail address when purchasing or signing up for a service.  It's best to use a forwarding address that can later be deleted. You can add forwarders in your control panel under E-mail.
  • Never forward chain e-mail and ask your friends not to send them to you.  Thousands of these pass around the internet each day. Usually they appeal to you to pass along a message for some cause. In most cases the cause doesn't exist. What does happen is you address is spread to thousands of people you don't know. Spyware on their computer will put you on a spam list. 
  • Configure your client to read any incoming emails in plain-text, never html. Html spam emails contain links to graphics and scripts on spammers sites, confirming your email address.