Email Fight Club - Avoiding Spam,
Spyware, Scams And Cookie Hunters
Email Fight Club Rules
Follow these 10 common sense suggestions to avoid email
trouble.
1. Suspect Everyone: Most unsolicited email is harmless junk from someone
just hoping to make a sale or generate a list. However, there are some unscrupulous
players out there ( You know...the one with the rich uncle that just died
in Nigeria) that are trying to scam you. Never reply to these unsolicited
emails. Even "unsubscribe" will alert the senders that your email
address is being used. If it looks to be of interest and they list a web site,
type it into your browser to check it out.
2. "Just Say No" to Porn: Nancy Reagan was right! You know where
the bad stuff comes from, so filter it out. Messaging software filtering tools
will reject mail from your frequent spammers' email addresses, or with certain
words ("sex", "porn", or "free meds", for example)
in the subject line. It's easy to set up. Just log on to your email, click
on "settings" and follow the directions. Even I could figure this
one out without asking my wife for help!
3. Avoid SPAM - It's Nasty: Almost every Internet Service Provider has a spam
blocker these days. If yours doesn't (you should probably switch), there are
several good third party spam blocking services such as Brightmail (http://www.brightmail.com).
I have several email accounts, and for kicks I note how much email gets tossed
into the spam folder every day. Typically, it averages around 2500 - 3000
per account. I run a couple of Internet businesses, so that number is quite
a bit above average for a single user. I do however, thank the geeks that
developed spam blocking every day.
4. Join Users Anonymous: Unless you are involved in Internet Commerce of some
sort (and want as much exposure as possible), you should pull your listings
from the large directory services. You probably never (knowingly) signed up
in the first place, but chances are, your email address is included in some
large data bases. Directories such as Bigfoot, Infospace, Switchboard, Yahoo
People Search, and Who where are good about taking your listing down if you
ask them to.
5. Scramble Your Eggs: Encrypt and digitally sign all your sensitive email
messages. This is a bit of a pain, but you only need to get burnt once to
know how important it is. If your messaging software doesn't support robust
encryption, you can download PGP Freeware encryption software at http://web.mit.edu/network/pgp.html.
Leave it up to the geeks at MIT (No offense intended Matt). Most messaging
systems have industry standard encryption capability. If you are like me,
you probably just never cared to notice.
6. Use Zip-Locks: Zip and Encrypt important attachments. Most modern computers
come with WinZip installed. If you don't have it, you can find it at (http://www.winzip.com).
Easy to use software that will compress and password protect your attachments.
7. Don't Eat the Cookies: Cookies are trackers that remember your IP address.
They are convenient for sites that you use often and don't want to go through
the entire validation process. However, some evil-doers will send you email
with a sort of "cookie collector" to snag your info. Problem here
is you might already be a goner before you realize it's a bogus email (especially
if you neglect suggestion 3). To avoid cookies sent via email, use email client
software, such as Eudora Pro, that lets you shut off its automatic Web Browser
rendering engine. This step is a little hard core for the average Joe, but
those of you who need it know who you are.
8. Mind Your Own Business: Avoid using your browser to read email on someone
else's machine. If you are a busy body and insist on snooping, ALWAYS use
"Clear History" when you finish to prevent subsequent users from
getting into your mailbox.
9. Never get "Personal" at work: Violation of this simple rule gets
more people burned than any other act of defiance in the modern workplace.
We had quite the network of great videos (You know the kind I mean) and jokes
floating around the LAN on the last ship I sailed in...until one of the Server
IT people showed me what they can spy on. Trust me--BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING!
Never send sensitive personal messages on your work machine.
10. Let Norton Cook: This is just so basic that you probably SHOULD be burned
if you blow this one. Keep your anti virus software updated. I know it sucks
when it is time to pay again; especially when you haven't had a problem for
two years...but paying for those routine updates is probably why you haven't.
If your hard drive fried today, would you pay someone 30 bucks to make it
all better right this instant? Thought so--Update it!
And the # 1 Rule of Fight Club is...
...........NEVER EVER under any circumstances EVER EVER leave your email logged
on and your desk unoccupied at work! If you do, you have no one to blame but
yourself. A co-worker's open email account is fair game--and it's "Take
no Prisoners" time!
Well, that's it. A few basic do's and don'ts that will keep you in the fight
and keep you out of trouble.
About the Author
Barnes is a former Naval Aviator and an Airline Pilot. He owns and operates
two small busines specializing in Self
Defense Products and Spy
& Surveillance Equipment.
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