Tips for virus protection and prevention when using email
What is spam and how do they get my email address?
“Spam” is internet slang for unsolicited commercial email, also known as junk mail, which range from advertisements to adult-content material. The sender of the unsolicited emails is known as the” spammer.”
How did I receive the spam email?
There are a few ways a spammer can obtain your e-mail address.
- Blanket Spam: The spammer sends an incremental email to everyone on a particular domain, for example, jdoe1@domain.com, jdoe2@domain.com, jdoe3@domain.com and so on. Using the “Blanket Spam” method there are hundreds of emails delivered (hits), thousands rejected (misses). Sparklight immediately blocks all email from that sender and domain. The spammer then compiles a list of hits and moves to another domain to send targeted spam to the active email accounts and usually sells the active email list to another spammer.
- Opt-In Spam: If you have signed up for a contest or registered at a website for more information on a product, then likely your email address is captured and passed on or sold to other spammers. Example: Some websites do have an option when you sign up that says something like “Send me special offers, promotions, and research surveys from selected partners” (real world example). If this box is checked then these web sites can sell / trade your email address to third parties, who in turn can spam you.
- Web bots: A popular way spammers obtain valid email addresses is to utilize “web bots” that automatically surf the Internet to harvest email addresses from public information and forums.
- Other: Some websites do not overtly say anything but provide a link to their “privacy policy” which can say “Pursuant to XYZ’s privacy policy, we may disclose to third-parties certain information contained in your Registration.” These websites can sell / trade your email address to other companies who in turn can spam you.
If spamming weren’t economically viable, it would be obsolete. Not only can an email user fall prey to a potentially fraudulent sales scheme, but email addresses can also be added to the numerous email lists that are sold within the spamming community, further compounding the number of junk emails received.
Here are some safety tips:
- Do not open any files attached to an email from an unknown, suspicious, or untrustworthy source.
- Do not open any files attached to an email unless you know what it is, even if it appears to come from a friend or someone you know. Some viruses can replicate themselves and spread through email. Confirm that your contact really sent an attachment.
- Do not open any files attached to an email if the subject line is questionable or unexpected.
- Delete chain emails and junk emails. Do not forward or reply to any of them. These types of emails are considered spam – unsolicited, intrusive messages that clog up the inboxes and networks.
- Do not download any files from strangers.
- Exercise caution when downloading files from the Internet. Ensure that the source is a legitimate and reputable one. Verify that an antivirus program checks the files on the download site.
- Update your antivirus software regularly. Most security software, like F-Secure, updates automatically and continuously via the Internet.
- Back up your files regularly. If a virus destroys your files, you can replace them with your backup copy. You should store your backup copy in a separate location from your work files, one that is preferably not on your computer.
- When in doubt, err on the side of caution and do not open, download, or execute any files or email attachments. Check with your product vendors for updates for your operating system, web browser, and email; one example is the security site section of Microsoft.
