While most spam is not harmful, it all too often pops up in our inbox against our wishes. You probably want to know how to avoid spam?  Before we dive into it, it is important to understand that an email address that has already been spammed is not savable.  Once spam finds your inbox, you are at risk for all sorts of spamming.

Therefore, you need to create a new email address to avoid spamming.  Since most spammers simply guess at email addresses to find you, avoid choosing an easily conceivable one.  Consider adding numbers or additional initials to your address.  And of course, use discretion when distributing your email.  Giving your email address out on the Internet or by other measures on a wide scale is the best way to attract spam.

Even with these measures, some spam may still make its way to you.  In this case, never “unsubscribe” to a sender.  This is merely a way for them to know they have found you, and you are again at risk for more spamming.  Even opening the email could be a detection method – do not let curiosity get the better of you.  Simply delete the email.

Spam occasionally disguises itself as a message from a contact in your address book.  Although this is more difficult to detect, taking a moment to read the subject line can be an effective preventative measure.  If it seems suspicious, contact the sender before opening to confirm its legitimacy.

There are many email providers that will sort spam away from your inbox automatically–accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail.  As long as you know the settings your provider is using for this, it can be very helpful.  Make sure to approve these settings and occasionally check your spam folder for mistakes.  Spam blockers are also available for purchase on a private basis.  A bit of shopping around can help find the one most appropriate for you.

If you continue to have spam problems despite your best efforts, you may want to seek professional help.  TalkLocal can connect you with a local computer repair business that can help you get rid of spam. Fill out an online service request to talk to a professional in minutes!

This entry was originally posted on Friday, July 6th, 2012 at 10:00 pm and is filed under Computer Repair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.