Re: What is the latest protocol on unsolictitated mail?
"Spam": The word alone strikes terror in the hearts of e-mail users (although not necessarily in lovers of the processed pork luncheon meat by the same name, and to which this columnist bears no ill will). It has no manners, knows no boundaries, and takes no prisoners. It makes you wring your hands in frustration, shake your fist with rage, and wear out your DELETE key and finger. <br />What is spam?<br />No one I talked to is really sure what the letters in "spam" stand for: <br />· spam: Stupid Pointless Annoying Mail? <br />· spam: Stymieing Practice of Altering Minds? <br />· spam: Scrambled Pieces of Asinine Marketing? <br />Actually, it stands for nothing it's just unsolicited e-mail (commercial or otherwise) that comes to your Inbox in droves. How it was named "spam" is debated in countless newsgroups and Web sites on that oracle of misinformation we call the Internet. In other words, no one is really sure.<br />How can I avoid spam?<br />While you can spend lots of your hard-earned cash on spam blockers, spam butchers, spam SWAT teams, spam sharpshooters, and spam spammers, you can also take a few steps yourself to reduce your daily spam rations. <br />Method #1: Avoid replying to the sender<br />When you reply and type REMOVE in the subject line, this is a great way to let spammers know that yes, your e-mail address is up, running, and being used right now. It's like waving a white flag that says, "I read unsolicited e-mail. Please send more." <br />The best way to "opt out" of a spammer's mailing list is to pretend you never received the e-mail message. Put your hands over your ears and sing, "La-la-la-la...I can't HEAR you!" (No one likes to be ignored.) <br /><br />Method #2: Alter your e-mail address when you post it <br />You might post your e-mail address sometimes to a newsgroup, chat room, or bulletin board. But you don't have to post it correctly. The funky term for this is "munging" your address. This means adding a character, number, or symbol (or two) that has to be taken out for your address to work (for example, "johnd@ffc.com) It really throws those automatic "address harvesters" (yikes, what a term!) off balance, and they just slink away from whence they came. <br />Method #3: Don't give out your primary e-mail address <br />Create a "disposable" Web e-mail address (such as one from an MSN Hotmail account or Yahoo account) that you can give when registering for free software or shareware, or even when ordering from a company online. In fact, Hotmail & Yahoo can help you avoid getting spam. I like to give my primary address to friends and family, and then I have another one I use when I'm ordering some new rhinestone glasses or hair coloring. <br />Method #4: Make use of laws against spam <br />The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 was approved by the Senate in November 2003 and by the House of Representatives in December 2003, and was signed into law by President Bush on December 16, 2003. <br />For more information about spam laws that have been enacted and those still waiting around patiently, visit
www.spamlaws.com Web site.<br />Method #5: Don't post your address on your Web page<br />Again, you can munge it or not post it there at all. Then those nasty spam weevils can't find you.<br />Method #6: Review Web sites' privacy policies <br />I know that you're an Internet expert and that you can blaze through those online forms at lightning speed. But slow down, Cha-Cha, and make sure that you're checking all the privacy options you need to check. Sometimes these are hard to find, but they're there. And sometimes there is more than one box to check. Some sites assume the right to share your information; responsible sites will give you a way to opt out. <br /><br /><br />An example:<br />Let's say that you're in the process of purchasing a fabulous new pair of rhinestone glasses. You've filled out all the pertinent information: Size, style, shipping and billing info, and an e-mail address to receive the order confirmation. Now before you click the "place order" button, look around. Are there any check boxes or tiny form fields on that page that are checked to indicate that you're fine with this company selling or giving away your e-mail address to "responsible" parties? Make sure you uncheck (or check, whichever the case may be) where necessary. In fact, backtrack through the pages and make sure you didn't forget to indicate your "don't-you-dare-sell-this-e-mail-address" preference. <br /><br /><br />And here is a tip: <br />Even if you did all the right things and found all the sneaky little boxes, make sure you check those boxes again if, for some reason, you have to backtrack through the form. Sometimes sneaky vendors will set the pages to go back to the default setting, thereby tripping you up again. Good grief, it takes such vigilance, doesn't it? (Yes, but it's worth it.)<br /><br />Method #7: Don't list yourself in Internet directories <br />This is a tough one. If you're in the regular phone book, chances are you're in one of the big directories such as BigFoot, AnyWho, InfoSpace, Switchboard, and Yahoo!. Look yourself up, and there you'll be. There is probably a place to add your e-mail address (for free, can you believe it?), but my advice is: Don't.
Always make sure before you click on the link that the first part of the link includes "ebay.com" or whatever company it's supposed to be, not some weird domain or a bunch of numbers.
