Spam: what is it? Basic anti-spam measures

Perhaps one of the most pressing problems inthe internet is spam. What it is? In summary, we can say that spam is unsolicited advertising. That is, the electronic mailing of ads that are sent to users without their consent.

What are the types of spam?

To learn to recognize almost immediatelyspam, you first need to figure out how it might look. Here are the main examples of ads that can be sent to your inbox:

1. Toll calls.In a letter, as a rule, some particular product or service is eloquently advertised. At the end of the phone number is indicated, calling which you allegedly can order it. It would seem, what's the catch? But not everything is so simple. Having dialed the specified number, you will hear only a faceless answering machine, and then you will receive a rather impressive bill for the call.
2. Proposals to join the financial pyramid.Such newsletters occupy the lion’s share of everything we include in the concept of "spam." What it is, of course, in the letter itself is not explicitly stated. At first, you will be described brilliant prospects (for example, "Earn $ 100,000 in just a month!") Or something like that. And under the specious pretext (bail, down payment, etc.) you are urged to send a certain sum of money to the specified address. Of course, neither fabulous money, nor even the return of their funds, you will not wait.
3. Suggestions to visit a specific site. Of course, this is also done in a very veiled way. As a rule, spammers create letters that are very similar to personal correspondence. For example, it may be something like: "Hello, friend! Remember me? You and I studied together at school since the seventh grade, barely found you :) How is life? Look, I just started chatting my site with pictures." .. ". The link follows. Its presence is a prerequisite, because it is important for a spammer that you click on it. Please note that in such letters you will not be called your name, but replaced by "friend", "cat", "cute", etc. In addition, instead of the name, the first part of your e-mail may be present (that what comes before the @ symbol). For example, if your email is named "krasnoe_yabloko@****.***", then you may receive an email starting with "Hello, krasnoe_yabloko! ...".
4. Data collection. Under the pretext of a survey or survey, you are asked to enter your data and send it to a specific address.
5. Submitting Trojans. This is the most dangerous spam.What it is? Opening such a message, you allow a computer virus trojan into your system that collects information (passwords, phone numbers, data from personal correspondence, information about the provider), and then sends it to spammers who can use it for their own purposes.

Why do you need to fight spam?

Теперь, когда у вас есть общее представление о that such spam messages, you, most likely, have no doubt that they just need to fight. Additionally, it should be noted that users whose computers were included in the spam network are faced with a strong inhibition of the Internet. This is due, as a rule, to the fact that mass mailings sort out all the traffic.

How to protect yourself from spam?

Protection against spam is a matter that needs to be approached with full responsibility from the very beginning.

First, if you often have toregister on different resources, receive activation codes, etc., it is better to have a separate mailbox for this purpose. And let the main one fulfill his original purpose and serve for correspondence with colleagues, clients and friends, as well as for receiving news and advertising, but only what is interesting and necessary for you personally.

Do not leave your email addressmail on various forums and other popular resources. If there is a need for this, separate the characters with spaces, replace the "@" sign with the words "wow", "dog" or something like that. So there will be a chance that the bot will not bring you to the spam database. However, modern bots are becoming more sophisticated in this regard. Therefore, it would be more logical to insert a picture with a written e-mail instead of text. Of course, users will manually enter your address will be a little inconvenient, but you are 100% protected from spam.

In no case do not respond to spam.What it is that it can bring you, you already know. Now imagine that after you answer (even if you say that their offer does not interest you), the number of spam attacks on your mailbox will increase several times!

Spam filters are a modern and practical solution.

Spam filters are specialized programs.which automatically filter out and delete all letters of suspicious content. The anti-spam function is present in most modern anti-virus programs (Dr.Web, Kaspersky Lab, Avast, Avira, AVG, etc.). However, from time to time you will have to drop into the Spam folder - sometimes the necessary and important letters get there.