Business websites face different issues during its functioning process and these issues are big as well as small. One common issue is spam mails. To block spam mails, there are many organizations that provide technical support services and also knowledge to deal with this issue. Knowledge of blocking spam mails definitely keeps them one step ahead of their competition.
The competition among the web hosting service providers is very high irrespective of the fact that the firm is small, medium or big. Therefore, it is vital to get hold of maximum potential customer base that is existent over the internet and can be utilized all the time. When you want to host your site, one of the most prominent factors that you need to be aware of is the knowledge of how to block spam mails.
Why do they do it and why is it increasing?
The short and simple answer to why people send spam is money? Here is an example. Let’s ay that out of 2,000 emails 1 person clicks on the link and the spammer makes $1. If they send out two million emails, they would make $1000 a day. Pretty good pay for about an hour of work! It is strictly a numbers game in its purest sense. It is increasing for a few reasons. First, people are making money, and the way to make more money is to increase the output. Second, and probably the biggest reason is spam filters!!! Spam filter typically block about 98% of the spam sent. With that fact, you can see that a spammer needs to drastically increase the number of emails sent, just to make the same money he made a few years ago. The Can Spam Act of 2003 has really not done much to eliminate spam. It has set guidelines that legitimate companies must abide by for email marketing (like this one). But it has had negligible impact on the true target of the legislation, and has no impact on spam that originates overseas. More than half the world’s spam originates in Russia and the Ukraine. At this time it is estimated that more than 90% of all email around the world is spam.
You may learn tips to avoid spam from online resources and from other online security experts. Aside from getting a special tool to prevent spams, you can do simple chores to help put a stop to all these internet nuisances. If you regularly participate in online forums as part of your marketing methods, it would be best if you make a special email address to use for your online postings only. Keep in mind that there are spam bots that harvest exposed addresses on the net. In order to provide a more permanent and guaranteed solution to spam emails, you can pick out for a security software product being sold in the market.
OK, we get it. Spam is a real problem, but what can we do about it?
So now that we all understand that spam is much more than just a nuisance, here is a top ten list of ideas to help stem the tide – and they are all FREE!!!
1) Set up at least two separate email accounts. Use one for trusted contacts, friends and family. Use the other for newsletter, or websites that require an email for you to see the information you want etc. Now this does not actually prevent spam per say, but it does allow you to have one clean account that isn’t out in the public domain.
2) Use some sort of anti-virus program. And yes there are free ones out there that do a very good job. I don’t know them all, but I use the free version of AVG and it works great.
3) Update regularly. Update your browser, your operating system, your email client and your AV software regularly. Patches and fixes are put out for a reason – a known vulnerability. Stay updated; it’s easy and effective.
4) Do not trust or confirm plug-ins, ActiveX components or applets that are of unknown origin. Another free software I run is WinPatrol (PCs only – sorry Apple Heads). This program alerts you if any site, email or program is trying to install any of these things on your system and gives you the option to stop it.
5) Don’t accept 3rd party cookies; do this by setting your browser to medium level or higher on Internet Explorer.
6) If you do get spam email and it offers you the option to “unsubscribe” DON”T DO IT! When you unsubscribe, all you are really doing is telling the spammer – hey I’m a real person, you got a live email address; now they know they can sell it to hundreds of other spammers. If it is a legitimate newsletter that you did sign up for, you can unsubscribe.
7) I know this one is a hassle, but if you really want to slow down the spam you need to read through the terms and conditions before you give your email address to any entity online. Uncheck the box that is checked by default that allows them to “automatically send me updates and information that may be of interest to me”. Also check to see if their Ts & Cs give them the right to sell or distribute your email address to anyone else. If it does, then you need to decide if it’s worth it to you.
Never, ever open links or attachments you receive from people you don’t know! It’s like playing Russian roulette with a six-shooter that has 5 bullets in it – it’s just not smart.
9) If you have to post your email address on a website, do it in a way that an automated program won’t recognize it as such. For example: instead of me@mycompany.com, spell it out – Me at Mycompany dot com, or you can use an image of your email address and link it to the page. No one will be able to click on your email address and send you a message, but no automated software will be able to grab it off the site either.
10) Report spam. Even though this will not eliminate spam it will be helpful in making better software to detect and block spam.
OK, so these tips won’t eliminate spam, but they can definitely help curb the amount you receive. And the best part is – they are all free! There are some effective ways to eliminate spam, but they come at a cost. The purpose of this article is two-fold. First; help readers take practical steps to reduce the amount of spam they receive. Second; and even more important is to educate the reader that spam is more than a nuisance. Spam is laced with deceptive and damaging intentions with every click. Don’t be a victim. Be diligent with handling your email. The only way spammers will stop is if it is no longer profitable
Sinji Mikami presents the following posts
Save up to $43 every month on Automobile Insurance.
A Quick Guide to Understanding State SR22 Automobile Insurance Policies
Tips On Getting Affordable Automobile Insurance
