Question: "I never used to get spam email but now, I'm getting lots of spam everyday. Is my computer infected? What can I do about it?"
Answer: The first thing we need to mention is that "spam" is unwanted email and is also known as "junk" email. (See the photo to the left.)
Junk email is here to stay. If you've never been the recipient of this worthless email, consider yourself fortunate. Regardless of how careful you are, though, if you aren't already finding a lot of junk email coming your way, you most likely will in the near future. The best we can hope for is to keep junk mail to a minimum.
Let's look at two aspects of junk email: 1) why are you receiving it? 2) what can you do about it?
Why Are You Receiving Junk Email?
1) Someone sent your email address to a list full of people without using BCC:
2) You signed up for emails from some company and they sold or shared your email address with other companies.
3) You installed a toolbar or other browser add-in which tracks what types of sites you visit and then directs emails with similar products your way.
4) You unsubscribed from a mailing list to which you never subscribed in the first place.
5) You listed your email on public websites e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.
What Can I Do About It?
1) Use BCC: when sending to multiple people who don't know each other. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.
2) Make sure that companies have a posted privacy policy before you sign up for their emails.
3) Remove any toolbars which may be transmitting your Internet browsing. Run an anti-malware program to see if your computer contains spyware or malware.
4) Never unsubscribe from an email list to which you didn't actually subscribe.
5) Create an email address which you use only for websites. This will help keep junk email out of your regular email account.
A closing thought: It may be that a few of our solutions to cutting down on junk email will lead to more questions. For instance, how do you create an email just for online use? Watch for next week's QOTW email when we'll address this very issue.
