What's SPAM (besides being some pseudo luncheon meat)?
In very basic terms, SPAM is unwanted email sent to a massive number of people. The official name for SPAM is UBE (Unsolicited Bulk Email). Of course you may prefer 'Unwanted' or 'Undesired'. Another variation is Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE).
You may think that every email you get is undesirable, but true SPAM is really objectionable. The subjects for SPAM vary widely - everything from XXX sites to Stock selling to advice to .... - the list goes on. Your name has gotten onto a master list (or two or three) somewhere which is then bought and sold for big bucks. Your name is valuable to somebody (but of course you don't get a cut of the action...)
"How did my name get on one of these lists", you ask? Through utilities called Webbugs, Webbots and Spiders, and maybe even your one time visit to some web page somewhere, your email address has been tagged. And once your name appears on one list, it can/will spread like a virus to other lists.
(And it also appears that some software vendors or ISP/email services (even the free ones), take your name and sell it. When you go to download or install some application sometime, have a look at their privacy policy. You may find it not all that private.)
The form that SPAM takes is as varied as the subjects. SPAM does not have to be of a commercial nature -thus the 'bulk' designation. It can be an out and out sales pitch or something as simple as just calling an (alleged) 800 number.
So you've received a SPAM message, now what? There are many avenues to go down so here are some options you can contemplate:
1. Buying their product. DON'T.
Messages pertaining to sell you something such as an anti-virus
product
have two things. One is that the product may not be up to
date or
they may not be an authorized re-seller (grey market). And
second,
if you buy from them, rest asured that your name will go onto
another
'confirmed'
list and the SPAM will likely increase.
There are a few reputable sites that offer free
downloads and updates of their anit-virus/anti-spam software.
Check
around or ask.
2. Close down your email account (yes, a bit drastic). Require everything by snail mail. Just think of how many Readers' Digest Sweepstakes mailings you'll get (And you can get off that list too!).
3. IGNORE the message. Just delete it. IF you're getting just one or two a week of general SPAM, then it may not be worth pursuing. IF, however just one of those is truly objectionable, then further action may be required.
4. Set up a Email Filter
You can set up a
filter (or rule) to have messages that meet (or don't meet)
certain
criteria are sent directly
to folders (including trash).
5. Don't Reply to an 'unsubscribe' address.
In
many cases, your address was a random
'catch'. If you reply back, they now know you're a live
one.
Or it's just a plain dead address which either bounces back or
goes
into
the bit bucket.
If it is a reputable site that somehow
got
your address (maybe after you bought their product) then it's most
likely safe to request termination.
Update: It has been reported that when some sites were accessed for removal purposes, code at that site attempted to infect the computer. Fortunately, antivirus software intercepted the attempt.
6. Don't Reply to stop the messages. In almost all cases it's a false address.7. Don't Unsubscribe at a removal service.
8. Using the utilities below, locate the ISP responsible, dig out a phone number and/or email address and contact them directly.
9. Submit your SPAM message to an Anti SPAM service. If you'd like to try submitting your SPAM message for further action, try SPAMCOP at http://www.spamcop.net/.
10. Get an email address with an ISP or service that does its own filtering for you, so that the 'offending' messages never reach your Inbox.
BUT, please be aware - SPAMmers are here today, gone tomorrow,
back
the next day. You may submit a SPAM report about SPAMme1
today,
the
offending ISP/host will remove the account, and the next day
SPAMme2
will
appear. Sometimes it appears to be a never-ending battle,
but on
occasion.....
And as a final note, many SPAM message quote a reference to
U.S.
house or Senate legislation as an 'okay' for their actions.
This
legislation was never passed. The 'small print' may also
state
that
this message is not spam because it allows you to unsubscribe.
Spam is
Spam is Spam, whether you can unsubscribe or not , and
particularly if
you didn't subscribe in the first place.
Stop Spam Here (Website devoted to Combatting Spam)
Good Luck.
Other SPAM Utilities and Reference Information
This is NOT an All-Inclusive List!! Try a web search for 'Spam' and see what comes up (besides that somewhat edible food product)....
For assistance in your investigation you may want to visit:
http://www.geektools.com/cgi-bin/proxy.cgi
http://www.fr1.cyberabuse.org/whois/?page=whois_server
SPAMID
Spam reporting tool and IP address lookup
Verisgn Whois Service (alternative to the one at UXN)
Elsop's Webmaster Resource
Center
A collection of web links related to combating SPAM.
25 Most Popular Anti-Spam Tips
Hints and Links from Cogeco
Coalition Against Unsolicited
Commercial
E-mail (Canada)
Coalition Against Unsolicited
Commercial
E-mail (U.S.)
Fight Spam on the Internet
User
Help - Reporting Spam