Email is a universal service used by billions of people all around the worldwide. As one of the most popular internet services, email has become a major vulnerability to users and organizations.
What is Email Spam
Spams are unsolicted email messages we receive in our email-in-box. Spam, also known as junk mail, is unsolicited email.
Cases of Email Spam
In most cases, spam is a method of advertising. However, spam can be send as harmful links, malware, or deceptive content.
The end goal is to obtain sensitive information such as a social security number or bank account information.
Most spam comes from multiple computers on networks infected by a virus or worm.
These compromised computers send out as much bulk email as possible. Even with these security features implemented, some spam might still get through.
Some Common Signs of Email Spam
- An email that has no subject line.
- An email that is requesting an update to an account.
- The email text has misspelled words or strange punctuation.
- Links within the email are long and/or cryptic.
- An email looks like correspondence from a legitimate business.
- The email requests that the user open an attachment.
- Your friends may tell you about weird email messages they’ve received from you.
- Your computer may operate more slowly or sluggishly.
- You may find email messages in your sent folder that you didn’t send.
Unwanted commercial email – also known as “spam” – can be very annoying. Worse, it can include bogus offers that could cost you time and money.
Also Read: Malware, Types of Malware, Symptoms of Malware
Take steps to limit the amount of spam you get, and treat spam offers the same way you would treat virus. Don’t believe promises from strangers. We should try to recognize the most common online scams.
Also Read: What is Blockchain? Concept, Examples and Blockchain Security
Methods to Mitigate Email Spam
- Check your email account to see if it provides a tool to filter out potential spam or to channel spam into a bulk email folder. You might want to consider these options when you’re choosing which Internet Service Provider (ISP) or email service to use.
- Limit your exposure.You might decide to use two email addresses — one for personal messages and one for shopping, newsletters, chat rooms, coupons and other services. You also might consider using a disposable email address service that forwards messages to your permanent account. If one of the disposable addresses begins to receive spam, you can shut it off without affecting your permanent address.
- Also, try not to display your email address in public. That includes on blog posts, in chat rooms, on social networking sites, or in online membership directories. Spammers use the web to harvest email addresses.
- Check the privacy policy before you submit your email address to a website. See if it allows the company to sell your email to others. You might decide not to submit your email address to websites that won’t protect it.
- When submitting your email address to a website, look for pre-checked boxes that sign you up for email updates from the company and its partners. Some websites allow you to opt out of receiving these mass emails.
- Choose a unique email address.Your choice of email addresses may affect the amount of spam you receive. Spammers send out millions of messages to probable name combinations at large ISPs and email services, hoping to find a valid address. Thus, a common name such as jdoe may get more spam than a more unique name like j26d0e34. Of course, there is a downside – it’s harder to remember an unusual email address.
How to Reduce Spam to your email box
- Use up-to-date security software.
- Don’t let spammers use your computer.
- Use good computer security practices and disconnect from the internet when you’re away from your computer. Hackers can’t get to your computer when it’s not connected to the internet.
- Be cautious about opening any attachments or downloading files from emails you receive.
- Don’t open an email attachment — even if it looks like it’s from a friend or coworker — unless you are expecting it or you know what it is.
- Download free software only from sites you know and trust. It can be appealing to download free software – like games, file-sharing programs, and customized toolbars. But remember that free software programs may contain malware.
How to Report Email Spam
We can actually report spam to the appropriate authority, whenever we we become victim. Below are the procedures to follow in reporting spam to the Federal Trade Commission.
- Forward unwanted or deceptive messages to:the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov.
- Be sure to include the complete spam email. your email provider. At the top of the message, state that you’re complaining about being spammed.
- Some email services have buttons that allow you to mark messages as junk mail or report them as spam.
- The sender’s email provider, if you can tell who it is. Most web mail providers and ISPs want to cut off spammers who abuse their system.
- Again, make sure to include the entire spam email and say that you’re complaining about spam. If you try to unsubscribe from an email list and your request is not honored, file a complaint with the FTC.
