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Email Essentials > Spam

Do you get hundreds of unwanted emails from complete strangers? Yes? Then you're a victim of Spam. Find out how to fight back!

A recent survey discovered that 1 in 20 Internet users in the UK have lost money through spam emails.

Spam is email which has been sent to you and hundreds or thousands of other people without permission. Spam is usually commercial - someone is trying to sell you goods or services. People who send spam are called spammers . Spam is cheap ? it doesn't cost much for spammers to send out billions of emails.

Spammers buy, swap or steal lists of valid email addresses. They use software that creates millions of random email addresses from well-known Internet Service Providers. They also gather addresses from web sites where people have signed up for free offers.

Most spam or junk email is just a nuisance BUT some can put your computer, your bank account and your privacy at risk. You could be tricked into revealing personal bank details by spammers sending you messages you think are from your bank. You could download a virus which would destroy your computer, or without knowing it, provide spammers with information about your movements.

You need to be able to beat spammers!

Spam Challenge: Find out if you know enough to protect your PC from spam.

1. What is email spam?

• Email coming from mailing lists you have subscribed to
• Email from your friends
• Unwanted, bulk, commercial emails

Spam is unwanted, bulk emails, which are usually commercial, offering goods or services.

2. Which of the following should you do to reduce the amount of spam you receive?

• Use technology to help block spam
• Be careful about sharing your email or instant message address
• Improve your computer's security
• Buy a more advanced PC

Internet Service Providers often provide email filters. Web mail providers, such as Hotmail, and some email programmes, such as Outlook, also provide junk email filters which block spam. Filters can do different things. Make sure you get the one that does what you want. Be careful about sharing your email or instant message address.

3. What should you do if you receive an email message that seems to be spam?

• Reply to it
• Delete it without opening it or clicking any links in it
• Click a link in the message to see who sent it to you so you can report them
• Forward it to a friend to see what they think

Delete junk email. Only reply to messages you recognise. Never forward chain emails. Once your personal details are out there, anyone can use them.

4. What steps can you take to help protect yourself?

• Don't give your email address out to just anyone.
• Use up-to-date email filters
• Never open email attachments unless you know what they are
• Report spammers and scammers to authorities
• All of the above

Don't open email attachments or click on links. If you are not sure who the sender is, delete the message. If you want to open it, but still aren't sure, save it to your hard disk and use your anti-virus software to check it. If in doubt, wipe it out.

Well done, you've completed the Spam Challenge! But Spam's not the only danger with emails. You also need to know about Phishing (fishing!)?