Many
V8 members have noticed how the volume of spam has increased over recent weeks.
What can we do to try and reduce this blight?
Internet and email
users have to use an internet security and antivirus package to resist
the constant flow of viruses and other miserable attacks from spammers. A package
like Norton Internet Security provides protection with regular online updates.
It also has facilities where the system "learns from you email activities
the email addresses which are likely to be safe". You can set the system
to download updates automatically and then you have the reassurance that your
system will be have the latest updates and protection.
Installing
a spyware package is also a very wise move - Spybot is a good package and
can be |
The
V8 Register takes care with members' email addresses and most certainly does not
pass them to any third parties.
downloaded
for free from www.spybot.com - again regular
updating is essential plus running the Spybot immunisation and screening routines
too. On first running Spybot on a search for any spyware on your PC, you will
be surprised that it will locate several pieces of spyware lurking in your systems.
It is good to see it removed.
Some internet service providers offer spam
filtering and other services as part of their service package, so do check whether
that option is available so you can choose it as an additional benefit.
12.12.06
|
Ways
to help reduce spam
Do not display email addresses that are not necessary
on your website. Spammers use automated programs to collect email addresses on
web pages and will then sell them on to more spammers. Once your email address
has been live on a website for a few months, the spammers have most probably got
it.
Also try not to display your email address in newsgroup postings
and chat rooms. Use protected forms for email. Ask your web designer to use email
forms instead of plain email addresses. The problem is this is sometimes not enough
as most email forms display an error message (which includes the webmaster email
address) if the form is not filled out when the send button is clicked. Spammers
have found a way to trigger this without actually visiting your website. Get your
email form to display a message when |
the form hasn't been filled
out. For example you may see: "you have not completed this form, please fill
out and click the Send button".
Check the privacy policy when you submit your address to a website. See if
it allows the owner and/or operator of the website to sell your address. You may
want to opt out of this provision, if possible, or not submit your address at
all to websites that do not undertake to protect it.
Why
not use two email addresses, one for personal use and one for newsgroups and chat
rooms.
Do not
use generic email addresses. Even if your email address is not displayed on your
website, addresses like info@yourdomain.co.uk are so common spammers know they
can try it. Try to think of something more unique. |