Stop Spam Mail

We all get it. Every time we open our mailboxes there it is. SPAM - ads upon ads. So how do we get rid of it? How do we stop spam mail? In my case I use a security program that handles any kind of threat and although spam is not an actual threat, it is a great annoyance. The security program contains what is called a spam filter.

A spam filter doesn't exactly stop spam mail but instead of letting it clutter your inbox, it moves the spam mail to a seperate folder. This is a good thing, because occationally the spam filter removes an email, that is in fact not spam.

Another way to stop spam mail is to regularly change your email address, but that is also very inconvenient and it goes against any principle I might have about protecting what is mine. To me it would be some sort of defeat if I had to give up to spam like that.

Let's look at some other factors that may not stop spam mail but at least reduce it:

• Signing up for newsletters. Most signup procedures require you to validate the signup by clicking a link you receive in an email. Therefor these newsletters are not actually spam, but some may be sending you way more emails, than you expected. This is annoying and you quickly teach your spam filter to remove them from your inbox or simply unsubscribe to the newsletter in question.
• Newsletters or promotions you have not signed up for is "real" spam. To definitively stop spam mail such as this is close to impossible and you will have to rely on your spam filter. The kind of spammers that send you junk like this do not care if you complain to them or unsubscribe to the emails. In fact, unsubscribing just confirms to them that your email address is real which may encourage them to send even more spam.
• Make sure your PC security program is running and is up to date. Lots of spyware is designed specifically to steal information such as your email address and spy on what you spend your time looking for on the internet. All this to let a third party tailor spam/promotions to your specific interests. You will never be able to stop spam mail if you keep "inviting" it.
• There is nothing wrong in giving out your email address on the internet, but just be smart about it. Does the site you are visiting look professional and legitimate? Of cause this isn't always enough but it's a start when you want to stop spam mail.

I dont think it is possible to stop spam mail 100% but only to limit it. This should be your objective and just let the spam filter handle the rest. Use a professional security solution that cover all the aspects of internet security and privacy - including a spam filter. This is what i do and I find it is the easiest solution to many problems like to stop spam mail.