SPAM is the term used for unsolicited or junk email
So how can I stop SPAM? I hear you ask…
Stopping SPAM is almost impossible but here are Eight Steps that can reduce the likelihood of receiving SPAM
- Do not Reply to any emails that are SPAM. (This will only serve to confirm that you actively check your email and could encourage some automated mail servers to send more!)
- Only use a ‘click here to unsubscribe’ link from well known and respected organizations e.g Amazon, Barclays Bank, Waitrose, Easykey etc. DO NOT click on any similar links from unknown organisations (this will have the same effect as No.1)
- If you have your own domain name, consider switching off any 'catch all' facility. In other words only have email sent to specific email addresses like denis@ 1to1help.com and not anything@ 1to1help.com. SPAMmers often send email to randomname@ yourdomainname.com or sales@ yourdomainname.com. (If you are not sure, test it out by sending an email to whatever@ yourdomainname.com (replace yourdomainname.com with your own domain name) If you get a mail delivery error back that's good news! If you get the email you sent then you need to switch off the catch all facility.
- When filling in an online form on a website, avoid using your primary email address. Look and read very carefully to tick or not tick any boxes that offer you subscription to a newsletter or an option to NOT receive mail.
- If you have to use an email address on an online form and there seems to be no way of indicating that you do not wish to receive emails, register yourself a junk email account e.g. with hotmail or googlemail, and use this instead.
- Avoid publishing your email address on any websites (this includes online forums, Facebook and Message Boards where you should use the option to hide your email from the public). If you have your own website ask your professional web designer to create a simple enquiry form on your website so your email address is not automatically 'harvested'. If you must publish your email address - publish it as an image (so it is not real text that you can copy and paste)
- Avoid using big providers like Hotmail, BTInternet, Tesco and AOL some of which publish your email address in the internet. These big providers are subject to daily attempts by hackers to get at the big rewarding mailing lists.
- If you are getting lots of SPAM (say over 40 a day) consider changing your email address or even buying your own domain name (easykey.net offer domain registration and quality email / webmail services) Click here if you wish to know more
