EMAIL RUN AMOK -- Dealing with Spam Takes a Plan

Twenty years ago if someone asked about spam, they would have heard an answer regarding “meat from a can”. Today, that same question would be answered with “unwanted, unsolicited junk email.”

Spam is probably one of the most difficult computer problems to deal with. Many of us install e-mail filters, which can provide decent results, however, as we all know many spam email find their way through into our mail box.

“Today’s business messaging systems require around-the-clock protection from email-borne threats, which are capable of instantly derailing crucial business communications,” says Chris Wiser, CEO of TechSquad. “The less time people spend dealing with junk email, the more time they can spend being productive at work.”

The professionals at TechSquad offer theses tips to help prevent spam:

Anti spam software. There are many email filters out there, and many are free. This is not a water tight solution, but a filter will cut back on the amount of spam received.

Avoid CC (carbon copy) for group emails that you send out.

When sending an email to a group of people that might be forwarded on, use BCC (blind carbon copy), instead of CC. This way, recipients won’t see the list of email addresses that your message has gone to, and spammers who come across the email can’t add the addresses to their lists.

Do not reply to unsolicited emails, instead delete it without replying. A federal anti-spam law went into effect January 1, 2004, requiring a functioning “opt out” link on solicitation emails. Some spammers have ignored this law so when people try to use the “opt out” option, their email is actually verified as a valid one and added to the spammer’s data base. Don’t reply to opt out – just delete!

Check “sent mail” folders for suspicious messages. Take responsibility for your PC by checking your “sent mail” folder regularly to make sure that all sent mail is really being sent by you and not by a spammer using an open gateway (proxy) on your computer.

TechSquad is an information technology solution provider with offices in Waukesha and Manitowoc, WI.  For more information, visit www.TechSquad.us or call (262) 798-0909.