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E-mail practices to help you and your organisation fight spam
YoAfrica.com
January, 2007

1. Don't Open
Frequently spam messages include software that enables the spammer to determine how many, or which email addresses have received and opened the message. Whenever possible, do not open spam messages.

2. Don't Respond
The best way to deal with email from unknown or suspicious addresses is to delete them, or allow your antispam like spamjadoo to quarantine them. If you respond to a spam message, even asking to be removed from their list, you will have confirmed to the sender that they have indeed reached a valid email address.

3. Don't Click
If you click on a link (even an "unsubscribe" link) offered in a spam message, you may infect your computer with spyware or a virus. Instead, delete the email immediately. If you have questions about an email from a familiar organization, contact them by phone.

4. Don't Buy
Spam exists because it´s profitable.. It costs almost nothing for a spammer to send a million messages. If even one in that million people buy something, they´re making money. Take the profit out of spam. Never purchase anything from spammers.

5. Don't Use Your Primary Email Address
Using your primary email address anywhere on the Web puts it at greater risk of being picked up by spammers. Rather use a hotmail, yahoo or gmail account which you can abandon if it ever gets too spammed.

6. Don't Believe Everything You Read
Forwarded warning emails and chain letters are more prevalent during the holiday season. Spammers will harvest good email addresses from these forwarded messages. After a few generations, many of these letters contain hundreds of good email addresses.

7. Do Use a Temporary or One-Time Use Credit Card
When in doubt; use a temporary or a one-time use credit card. Most major banks can provide these types of cards to help avoid abuse or avoid transaction when in doubt.

8. Do Check Security Policies
Use caution when posting in newsgroups, filling out unsecured forms on the Web, or posting your email address on websites. Verify the security policy of the website to ensure that your email address will not be shared with other companies.

9. Do Make Sure Your ISP or Company Has Spam, Virus and Spyware Protection
Spam emails are very often connected with viruses, so it´s critical to have both anti-spam and anti-virus protection. Spam messages often include links to websites with spyware or malware. Check with your ISP or IT department to make sure you have adequate security against these kinds of threats.

10. Do Use Your Common Sense
If it looks like spam, it probably is. Delete it.

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