I’m not really quite sure how “Spam” got its name. Sure there’s the meat, which we’ve all enjoyed over the years…some more than others. But Spam in the online world? Don’t know where it came from.
“Stupid People Accessing Mail”…how’s that for an acronym?
Basically, if you’re not familiar, Spam is just unsolicited email. You’ve probably received correspondence from random people to lose weight, save money on your mortgage, or even enlarge certain parts of your anatomy.
And, you may be wondering how on earth these people found your email address to begin with. There are a couple different ways, but it always begins with you giving out your email address. Which, frankly, is necessary, if you want people to email you. And even if you never give out your address, people find you.
Here’s how:
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When you register for your email address, check with your provider to see what their marketing policy is. Make sure that you’re not unwittingly allowing random people to email you. Most free accounts, like Yahoo, Gmail,and Hotmail, have marketing preferences which you can change at any time. Keep in mind though, that once your email is out there, its pretty much out there.
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You know those friends you have that send you lists of “101 Beautiful Things about Kittens?” You know how they list ALL of the recipient’s emails in the “to” field? Well, they are willingly sending everyone they know your address. And then those people can send it to everyone they know, and so on and so on. If you are one of these people who feels the need to share jokes, and tidbits of joy, keep in mind that you are welcoming Spam into your friend’s lives. You can prevent this by putting everyone’s emails in the “BCC” field. This means, “Blind Carbon Copy” and no one will see anyone else’s address.
Simple, isn’t it?
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When you purchase items online, you are giving permission to that company to continue contacting you, sometimes they’ll ask permission to let their “partners” contact you with deals and updates on complimentary products and services you might find useful. Make sure you read through their privacy statement and agree with it before giving out your email.
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If you receive Spam in your email, DO NOT CONTACT THE COMPANY AND ASKED TO BE REMOVED. For those “un-legitimate” sorts, this shows them that it’s a valid email, and they’ll just sell your information all over again. The best thing to do is just block their website or email from your account. Follow the directions in your email program to learn how. You can tell a legitimate company from those seedy folk, because they display the company name, address, and a link to unsubscribe from their mailing list at the bottom of each email. This is required by the 2003 CANNSPAM act.
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Have you ever posted in a forum or message board requesting more information from somebody? Have you ever given out your email address in a public space? That will bring you Spam upon Spam upon Spam. While online communities are common and mostly peaceful, keep in mind that for every one nice person you meet, there are literally thousands of other just reading, and not posting. You don’t know who is looking at your information, so never give out your email, or other personally identifiable information online.
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The best way to prevent from getting Spam, is to set up a separate email account for all of your online dealings. Give one to your family and friends, (and educate those who like to send the stories and jokes to use BCC) and use the other for everything else. Your “junk” email, so to speak, use that for every message board you register with, every product you buy online, everything that you do with strangers. You’ll see how quickly one mailbox will fills, while the other remains quite clean!
