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How do I prevent all the junk mail?
by mamajenn - 1/11/06 2:27 PMI hope that I have come to the right forum for help. Recently, I am being bombarded with junk mail. If I do not recognize the sender, I do not open the mail. At first, I would tell AVG to block but evidently that sends a message to the sender because it seems that I am getting a lot more junk mail. Now all I do is simply delete but I am concerned that the junk may be carrying a virus and it will get loose and yeps, I am infected. So what can I do? Do I delete or block? Why am I getting all the junk mail? How do I prevent it? Is there a product, preferably free that will prevent the junk mail. I see AVG checking all incoming mail but it is allowing the junk. Do I need to use a different antivir program. This program was on the recommend list at Cnet. I realize that I am asking a lot of questions but I really need help. I have thought about changing the email address but really like the one that I have so please help me. Jen
AV programs. . .
by Coryphaeus - 1/12/06 5:38 AM In reply to: How do I prevent all the junk mail? by mamajenndo not block Spam. Mostly anyway. Do a Google search for Spam blockers. There are about a gazillion available and a lot are free.
Controlling spam and viruses.
by MarkFlax
- 1/13/06 3:00 AM
In reply to: How do I prevent all the junk mail? by mamajenn
Mama spam is one of the most infuriating parts of the internet today. The other is viruses, spyware and trojans, and you are doing right by using AVG to help combat viruses. Just make sure that you keep AVG's virus definition list uptodate by checking for updates every 2 or 3 days or so.
As Cory says, anti-virus applications do not stop spam, they will only scan email messages to check for viruses so you must do something else to combat spam emails. But before I make my own suggestions, a few more words about viruses and spyware.
Eventually you are going to get infected with a virus or spyware. It happens to us all even with all the preventative measures we all use. But you can make it difficult for the virus/spyware writers to see and get into your computer by using dfferent applications. These are what I use. They are all free;
A Firewall
If you decide to use nothing else, you need a firewall. This software sits between your Operating System, (OS), and the internet connection and checks every bit of data that tries to come in, and that tries to go out. Windows has its own firewall, but it is not very good. You really need a separate firewall and I use ZoneAlarm from;
http://www.zonelabs.com
This is a free firewall and will greatly improve the security of your computer.
AntiVirus
You already use AVG and that's very good. Just be sure to keep it uptodate, and perform regular scans with it, eg once a week.
Anti-Spyware
You need two or more anti-spyware applications. One isn't enough nowadays because spyware takes many forms. I use;
Ewido Security Suite from http://www.ewido.com or from download.com.
Although after the free trial period you lose some bells and whistles, it still works very well. If you decide to use it, make sure you keep the definitions uptodate and scan regularly. You don't need to set this to run everytime you start the computer. Just keep it as backup defence.
SpywareBlaster from http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Keep it uptodate and it will innoculate against spyware in the background without the need for scanning.
Microsoft Antispyware from http://www.microsoft.com
Allow this to update itself automatically and run in the background automatically and it will keep a check on anything nasty that tries to make changes.
With all those you will greatly help prevent any infections or hacking attempts.
Now, back to spam. As Cory said, there are many spam blockers available, but I use my own email software to help me get rid of spam.
I don't use Outlook, or Outlook Express, they are too vulnerable. I use Netscapes email software, but a better one is the new Firefox browser companion called Thunderbird, from;
http://www.mozilla.com
They both have a feature called ''Junk'' email filters. By starting the Junk feature Thunderbird will, over time, learn which emails you don't want and send them either to a Junk folder, or direct to the Trash folder. It does this simply by you clicking the ''Junk'' button for each email you don't want to read. You don't even have to highlight the email which means it is never opened and so viruses do not get the chance to get in.
The process is slow to begin with, as it has to learn what you don't want, but soon your spam email will mostly be junked and you never have to see them.
Just make sure that the email software is set to delete the Trash folder whenever you close the program down. And, do not open any emails you do not know who they are from. Even well known and trusted firms send spam emails and if you don't want them junk them immediately.
One more thing. Even though AVG does its job by checking emails as they come in, never trust any email attachments, even if they are from relatives and friends or other trusted sources. Instead, right click the attachment and select to save to a convenient place. Your desktop is suitable as a ''temporary'' storage are.
Then, find the attachment on your desktop, right click it and select ''Scan with AVG''. If it comes up clean then it is safe to open the attachment. Afterwards you can decide what to do with the attachment; either keep it and cut and paste it into a folder somewhere, or delete it immediately.
Sorry for the long post, but I hope there's something there that will help you.
Mark
//@mail.mar@
by becky_d - 1/13/06 7:37 PM In reply to: Controlling spam and viruses. by MarkFlax
I spent some time this afternoon downloading the various softwares, zonealarm, mozilla, etc... mentioned in this posting. Windows antispyware notice has just come up asking whether I want to allow or block this windows "trusted site": //@mail.mar@. I don't know what it is, and googled it, but came up empty. I use MSN as my email program, and wonder if it is related to that. Any ideas???
Thank you.
provider is key
by LaineDorB - 1/13/06 5:32 AM In reply to: How do I prevent all the junk mail? by mamajennI have 2 email addresses. With hotmail I get junk all the time - I think some of it comes from them!
I have NEVER had a junk email via unwired. They filter for me.
So it seems to me that a reliable email provider is critical. Laine
For me the answer was POPFILE.
by R. Proffitt - 1/13/06 5:37 AM
In reply to: How do I prevent all the junk mail? by mamajenn
Free, works but not for everyone. Only 99.99% effective after a few weeks so it fails for you.
Bob
Uuh, It will fails after few weeks??
by Melati Hitam - 1/13/06 7:52 AM In reply to: For me the answer was POPFILE. by R. Proffitt
I just going to download and use popfile, but your post said something:
'Free, works but not for everyone. Only 99.99% effective after a few weeks so it fails for you.'
So it will work for a few weeks, then fail.. OR..??
Please apologize if I get confused and misunderstood you.. My english is not that good..
No, that's not what Bob meant, :)
by MarkFlax - 1/13/06 11:41 AM
In reply to: Uuh, It will fails after few weeks?? by Melati Hitam
Hi Melati.
All Bob was saying was that no anti-spam process is 100% effective. Some spam will always get through. With Popfile Bob is saying that 1 in 10,000 will get through, (99.99% effective). Spammers learn what works and what doesn't, and so after a few weeks they will find something that will get through our defences until our filters pick the new form of spam up again.
I've never used Popfile so I don't know how easy or difficult it is to train to junk spam. Possibly it may be a little complicated for some people? Perhaps that's why Bob says "it works, but not for everyone".
I hope that helps.
Mark
Thanks Marks, also thought, maybe
by Melati Hitam - 1/13/06 12:15 PM In reply to: No, that's not what Bob meant, :) by MarkFlax
it mean, that after a few week of training, popfile will work 99.9%...
The difficulty is in the training...
Thanks again.. I have more tools to learn now..
Your post was looking for the 100% solution.
by R. Proffitt - 1/13/06 8:19 PM
In reply to: Uuh, It will fails after few weeks?? by Melati Hitam
Popfile removes about 99.99% of junk mail. When you find the 100% solution, please write about it.
Bob
I know RP, if I want to get 100% solution..
by Melati Hitam - 1/14/06 1:18 AM In reply to: Your post was looking for the 100% solution. by R. Proffitt
then I have to run away from using it (email), just like many other things, windows in particular and MS in general... the best tips is .. Don't Use It ...
POPFILE??
by gerri - 1/17/06 12:36 PM In reply to: Your post was looking for the 100% solution. by R. Proffitt
I tried downloading POPFILE for Spam as recommended by some, but discovered that it's not for Windows ME. 
Get a new address
by ultranorman - 1/13/06 5:55 AM In reply to: How do I prevent all the junk mail? by mamajennThe only way I was able to reduce junk mail was to literally change my address THEN proceed to NEVER put my email address on a web page, ever.
From now on use a form, but don't use formmail.pl, use an asp or php solution or do what I've been doing and make a tiny little flash movie with just the email link on it. Spiders can't read .swf files. REMEMBER when you publish the Flash to take out the line that lisis the links used in the movie, usually in a comment above the <object> tag.
Treat your email as a phone number
by amg503 - 1/13/06 7:05 AM In reply to: Get a new address by ultranormanWhen you fill out a form that has your phone # on it,, sometimes there's an option for associates, or "Partners" to contact you. Usually, most people check the "Do not call me" option.
Well, it's the same with email. Think before you click. Make sure that when you give your email address to ANYONE, even your bank & yes, Mircosoft, make sure that they DON'T give your email to their partners.
Chances are their partners won't sell your email address, but they could give it to THEIR partners, which could give it to THEIR partners, weho WILL sell it. So, always make sure that you check (or uncheck) the option for your email to be given to partners.
Because even if it's not Junk, it could be Unwanted.
Also, although it may or may not help, make sure you report junk email, by using the "Report Junk email" or "Report as Spam" button, if you have one. If you use Hotmail, you HAVE to check the box when you empty the Junk email bin.
All that Spam...
by Katie50 - 1/13/06 1:03 PM In reply to: How do I prevent all the junk mail? by mamajennIf I could figure out how to eliminate all the spam mail I get, I'd be a rich woman. Literally. I wish someone could come up with a way to do it. I've contacted my ISP, (which was of no help at all) I have lots of good antivirus software, pop up blockers, ... actually anything I can use to get rid of it. I use address blockers, they seem to get around that too. Yahoo has one of the best anti spam programs, but it still gets thru that too. If anyone has any ideas, I'd like to know as well. I have the worst time with my Outlook Mail. EVERYTHING gets thru that email client! Mamajenn, I wish you lots of luck and if you find out what to do.. Please let me know! I feel for you, dear. Maybe someone out there can help us both!
Have a most wonderful day ...
Katie50
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