Spam Blocker Information

All About Spam


Spam is annoying. Period. Why people would want to send all of us stupid messages about buying prescription drugs or getting some outrageously good mortgage rate is beyond me. Well, not really.

You might ignore those emails. But not everyone does. And that's why they're sent. Emails cost so little (or nothing) to send. So sending out a million of them could be a cakewalk. Let's say one out of every 1,000 recipients falls for their ploy. Someone just got 1,000 new customers! How in the heck did those spammers get your address in the first place? Well, they actually use a variety of techniques. They use programs called spambots to search the web and pick up any email addresses that could be listed on websites. They use what's called the "Dictionary" technique, where they take a well-known email extension (earthlink.net, for instance), and make up all kinds of possible user names to go with it. For example, with me they could try the usernames "kara", "kara1", "kara2" and so on, until they can confirm one of those connected to an earthlink.net extension is a valid email address. Kinda like going page by page through the dictionary.

Ever fill out a registration form on a website and find a little checkbox, probably near the bottom, asking if you want to receive additional information, newsletters, or something of that nature? Often the box is checked, and in order NOT to receive the info, you have to UNCHECK it (or else). Well if you miss those types of boxes on the wrong kinds of sites, your email addresses may be handed to spammers on a silver platter. Well, almost. Often a zillion email addresses are sold for next to nothing to spammers on CDs. (Couldn't you almost call those silver platters?) Many internet service providers (those guys that keep you connected to the internet so you can send and receive email) use a variety of methods to block spam before it ever gets to you. Nevertheless, we all know that some spam inevitably gets through to our inboxes. That's when we need to take a proactive stance and install some sort of software to filter it out!

© 2005 by Kara Glover

Feel free to reprint this article in newsletters and on websites, with resource box included. If you use this article, please send a brief message to let me know where it appeared: kara333@earthlink.net

For help on installing anti-spam software, check out this article on Kara Glover's website: http://www.karathecomputertutor.com You can also find more articles, tips and tutorials on topics such as Microsoft Word., Excel, and PowerPoint there. Kara is a Computer Tutor and Troubleshooter.


MORE RESOURCES:

When 'Viagra' Comments on Your Blog, and Other Spam Red Flags
PCWorld
Matt Mullenweg, the creator of WordPress, actually created a spam blocker for WordPress called Akismet in 2005, partially so his mom wouldn't be assaulted by Viagra ads while writing her blog. Today, spam blockers do a good job of nabbing most spam, ...

and more »


Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security 2012 review
PC Advisor
Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security 2012 starts out with traditional modules, including AV protection, an improved firewall, a spam blocker, parental control, a system tuner, protection against data theft and 10GB of online storage.



WatchGuard Breaks Quarterly Billings, Profit and Units Shipped Records
MarketWatch (press release)
Currently, WatchGuard offers seven add on security services for XTM appliances, including: Application Control, WebBlocker, Gateway Antivirus, Reputation Enabled Defense, spamBlocker, Intrusion Prevention and LiveSecurity.

and more »


NEWS ROUND-UP: The latest from WatchGuard, Compuware, and Island Pacific
ARNnet
WatchGuard currently offers seven add-on security services for XTM appliances: Application Control, WebBlocker, Gateway Antivirus, Reputation Enabled Defence, spamBlocker, Intrusion Prevention, and LiveSecurity. Technology performance company ...

and more »


Tucson victim stalked for nearly 2 decades
Tucson Citizen
... in consequence of which she tells numerous falsehoods to create the illusion of danger, purely to get someone incarcerated for up to 10 years merely because she doesn't want to use the spam blocker of her e-mail address account,” Shepard wrote.

and more »


When 'Viagra' comments on your blog, and other spam red flags
Computerworld New Zealand
Matt Mullenweg, the creator of WordPress, actually created a spam blocker for WordPress called Akismet in 2005, partially so his mom wouldn't be assaulted by Viagra ads while writing her blog. Today, spam blockers do a good job of nabbing most spam, ...

and more »


Gothamist

After Stalking Woman For 18 Years, Man Faces Five Year Sentence
Gothamist
... conscience or both, in consequence of which she tells numerous falsehoods to create the illusion of danger, purely to get someone incarcerated for up to 10 years merely because she doesn't want to use the spam blocker of her e-mail address account.

and more »


Demand for business security 'at an all-time high'
TechDay.co.nz
... core SMB market is 'solid', the company is experiencing 'accelerated demand' among mid-market and enterprise organisations, Robertson adds. Users are also increasingly taking up add-on services, such as Application Control, WebBlocker and spamBlocker.



ITespresso.fr

Sécurité IT : l'éditeur WatchGuard veut séduire les TPE et les PME
ITespresso.fr
... sécurité spécifiques comme le WebBlocker de WatchGuard (blocage des sites Web malveillants et des contenus Web inappropriés), le spamBlocker ou encore le Reputation Enabledd Defense, un service cloud de protection contextuelle contre les menaces.



Anti-Spam-Lösung für Unternehmen erhält Update
IT-Business
... das Reporting und Backups für geschützte Exchange-Cluster zentralisieren. Die Anti-Spam-Lösung ist Teil der Unternehmenslösung Kaspersky Open Space Security. Neben dem reinen Spam-Blocker gehören auch Antivirus-Funktionen mit zum Lieferumfang.

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006