Spam – junk email – continues to plague Internet users. According to Symantec’s latest State of Spam report, spam now accounts for 72% of all email.

Spam is not just a nuisance. It's a common way to commit fraud and spread malicious software. It may not be possible to eliminate spam, but you can easily reduce its impact on you and your family.

Protect your email address.

There are a number of ways you can keep your email address safe from spammers:

• When registering with Web sites or shopping online, use a secondary address that forwards to your private email address. Read the site’s privacy policy and un-check any boxes that propose to send you unwanted email.
• If you have a web site, camouflage the email address on it -- for example, by publishing it as You[at sign]address.com rather than You @address.com
• Include numbers and symbols in your address to foil “dictionary attacks” – in which automated programs scan through likely name combinations.

Use spam blocking tools.

Many Internet Service Providers use technology that catches most spam before it reaches your mailbox. Your ISP may also provide spam-blocking in your email program, sending suspicious emails to a “spam” folder rather than your main mailbox.

• If you’re getting a huge volume of spam, your ISP may not be filtering. Consider changing to a provider that does.
• Make sure you’re using the mailbox tools available. Your ISP’s customer service or online support can help you with this.
• Even if your ISP provides spam-blocking, you can assure more effective filtering – and reduce false positives – with the anti-spam technology found in Norton Internet Security™ and Norton 360™.

Never respond

Even if spam clutters your inbox, you can avoid any further problems. Here’s how:

• Do not respond to suspicious emails, even to “remove” your address from their mailing list. A response confirms your email address and may result in more junk mail
• Delete spam without opening it, or forward it to your ISP provider.
• If you do open a spam email, don’t click any links, download any attachments, or visit any web sites it refers you to. Any of these actions could infect your PC with malicious software that can steal private data or use your PC to send spam to others.

Conclusion

Through a variety of methods, you can reduce spam in your mailbox. With vigilance and common sense, you can avoid being victimized.

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