Help keep spam out of your in box
Help keep spam out of your in box
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You have three powerful tools that can help you reduce spam.
On This Page
 | Use technology to help block junk e-mail |
| Be careful about sharing your e-mail or instant message address |
| Improve your computer's security |
Use technology to help block junk e-mail
Recent research estimates that 80 percent or more of all e-mail is spam. That’s a high percentage, yet you might see only a tiny portion of that deluge.
Many Internet Service Providers (ISP) or e-mail programs provide junk e-mail filters that can serve as the first line of defense against spam. For example, MSN Hotmail uses patented Microsoft SmartScreen Technology and other tools to keep more than 3.2 billion (yes—billion) messages from reaching its customers' e-mail accounts every day.
You, too, can take advantage of technology to help you deal with the spam that evades these filters.
Get spam filters to suit you
| • | Microsoft Outlook, MSN Hotmail, and Entourage (for the Mac) have strong natural defenses against junk e-mail. They also let you take matters into your own hands. Find out how to increase your defense against spam with Outlook, MSN Hotmail, and Entourage.  Tip: Create a (nearly) spam-free MSN Hotmail account. Although the Microsoft SmartScreen junk e-mail filters are very clever, some spam might still get through. If you want to reduce spam even further (particularly to protect your children), find out how to set up an account with MSN Hotmail that is almost impervious to unsolicited e-mail. |
| • | If you use an e-mail program (such as Outlook Express) that's not listed above, visit Windows Marketplace to learn more about many of the anti-spam software packages that are available. |
| • | Make sure your spam filters work the way you want. If your spam filter is set at a very restrictive setting that weeds out as many suspect messages as possible, it might be sending legitimate e-mail to the electronic dump. Check your junk e-mail box regularly to make sure that every message going there is truly junk, or loosen the restrictions. |
Block unwanted instant messages (IM)
In addition to a healthy dose of caution, your best defense against IM spam (or spim as it's becoming known) is to block unwanted messages. If you're using MSN Messenger or Windows Messenger, read How you can help reduce instant message spam.
Block images
Like a lighthouse beacon that beams a message with light, pictures in e-mail messages—also called "Web beacons"—can be adapted to send a message back to the sender. Spammers rely on information returned by these images to locate active e-mail addresses. Images can also contain harmful code that is embedded inside them and they can be used to deliver a spammer's message in spite of the filters.
The best defense against Web beacons is to stop pictures from downloading until you've had a chance to review the message. Both MSN Hotmail and Microsoft Outlook 2003 are preset to do this automatically for e-mail from addresses that are not in your address book. Outlook Express also increases its protection against Web beacons if you're using Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Keep your filters current
Spammers work relentlessly to bypass filters. Do your part by keeping your junk e-mail filter up to date. To do this if you're using Outlook 2003, go to Office Downloads, and click Check for Updates.
Be careful about sharing your e-mail or instant message address
| • | Only share your primary e-mail address with people you know. Avoid listing your e-mail address in large Internet directories and job-posting Web sites. Don't even post it on your own Web site (unless you disguise it as described below). |
| • | Set up an e-mail address dedicated solely to Web transactions. Consider using a free e-mail service to help keep your primary e-mail address private. When you get too much spam there, simply drop it for a new one. |
| • | Create an e-mail name that's tough to crack. Try a combination of letters, numbers, and other characters—Don2Funk9@example.com or J0e_Y0ng@example.com (substituting zero for the letter "O"). Research shows that people with such names get less junk e-mail. |
| • | Disguise your e-mail address when you post it to a newsgroup, chat room, bulletin board, or other public Web page—for example, SairajUdin AT example DOT com. This way, a person can interpret your address, but the automated programs that spammers use often cannot. |
| • | Watch out for pre-checked boxes. When you buy things online, companies sometimes pre-select check boxes to indicate that it's fine to sell or give your e-mail address to responsible parties. Clear the check box if you don't want to be contacted. |
Tip: When you sign up for Web-based services such as banking, shopping, or a newsletter, carefully read the privacy policy before you share your e-mail address so you don't inadvertently agree to share confidential information. The privacy policy should outline the terms and circumstances regarding if or how the site will share your information. If a Web site does not post a privacy statement, consider taking your business elsewhere.
Improve your computer's security
You can greatly reduce your risk from hackers, viruses, and worms if you use a firewall, install antivirus software (and update it routinely), and keep your Windows and Office software up to date. You can learn more about how to help protect your computer with these tools by following the step-by-step instructions in the Protect Your PC section.
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