A review on a post on Internet Security from My E-Commerce blog

After reading a post about new spamming tactics on Internet Security from My E-Commerce blog, I learn more about spam and would like to share some information here.

What is spam?
Spamming is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages and it is flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it. Most spam is commercial advertising, while the most widely recognized form of spam is e-mail spam, the term is applied to similar abuses in other media: instant messaging spam, Usenet newsgroup spam, Web search engine spam, spam in blogs, wiki spam, mobile phone messaging spam , Internet forum spam and junk fax transmissions.

Spam can be used to spread computer viruses, trojan horses or other malicious software. The objective may be identity theft, or worse (e.g., Advance fee fraud ). Some spam attempts to capitalize on human greed whilst other attempts to use the victims' inexperience with computer technology to trick them (e.g., Phishing ).

Anti-spam software can prevent all unwanted spam and junk email and filters for preventing spam. This is evidenced in the Web-based e-mails services providers such as Yahoo, Google and Hotmail, where spam mails are easily filter out and diverted to the spam folders.
Email and Internet content security provider, Marshal warned of the emergence of three new forms of spam.

· The first is a new run of greeting card spam targeting major holidays;
· The second is disguised as an Adobe Picture Document Format (PDF) attachment.
· Lastly, is a new form of spam labelled as Piggyback Spam.
These three forms of new spam are discussed in the new spamming tactics on Internet Security. To learn more on these please click here

Besides the solutions that are discussed in the post, here are some tactics you can use to greatly reduce the amount of spam you receive. Combining these tactics can help you read your e-mail in peace, without being accosted by continual spam.

1. Remove email links from your Web site.
Spam "robots" are continually scouring the Internet in search of new e-mail addresses. To reduce your current amount of spam, u can remove actual links to your e-mail and replacing them with a spelled-out e-mail address or create graphics that display your e-mail address because Spam robots can't read the text in graphic form.

2. Do not give out your business e-mail address.
If you must provide an e-mail address for a purchase, subscription, or registration, use a non-company account with a free webmail provider, such as Hotmail or Gmail.

3. Do not ask to be removed.
Many people make the mistake of replying to spam e-mail messages and asking to be removed from the list. However, attempting to remove yourself may result in even more junk e-mail.

4. Never buy and never reply.
Don't respond to spam solicitations. Buying products that are advertised in spam messages encourages spammers to continue. If you truly need what's being offered, find it from a reputable business.

5. Block spam at the server level.
Many hosting companies allow you to employ a spam blocker, such as Spam Assassin, at the server level. This means that your spam will be shuttled to a particular junk folder before you ever see it. However, these e-mail messages will remain on your server until you delete them.

6. Purchase a spam filter.
You can purchase a spam filter. There are many products out there, including SpamCop, which can filter out even cloaked spam messages. SpamCop also provides a free service to report spammers who are targeting your e-mail address.