What steps can I take to minimize spam email? What is spam email? Why is spam email an issue? Spam email is generally annoying, and can slow down computer networks and the delivery of legitimate email, and increase your download costs.

Why is spam email an issue?

Have you ever observed that you are getting few mails based on your search criteria. Even Google does so. In my Gmail inbox i find suggested mail based on my search on Google. Sometime you will get message like "Congrats! you won the lottery and so and so…", play this video, its amazing or some power point slides (either from your friend or from strangers).

Do you check these stuffs through any anti-virus before opening it?

I guess more than 75% users will say no. What if on click on such things will crash your system or will leak your personal information. Have you even thought about it? if not then start thinking….. This is what we call spam and through Social engineering it is very easy to get information about you and about your system.

You might have read or heard about web security that is being provided by any banks. They use "https" protocol to make it safe and a lot of security features are there. You might have read these few  lines somewhere which is written below: We are committed to developing online and electronic products to help taxpayers meet their obligations and make the experience easier, cheaper and more personalized. We place significant effort and resources into ensuring the security and privacy of tax information and the integrity of our systems. However, it is equally important that you know about, and can minimize the risk of, certain information technology issues that could:

• cause you significant inconvenience or costs
• impact on your ability to deal with us electronically or online
• result in the loss or damage of your electronic information, or
• lead to your electronic records or tax details being misused.

If you manage your tax affairs using a computer system, or use the Internet or e-commerce systems to deal with the tax office, then you should be aware of spam email.

What is spam email?

Spam email is the electronic equivalent of junk mail. It is email that is not requested and usually not wanted. It is typically used to promote a particular product or service. The amount of spam being sent has increased significantly over the past few years. Some authorities claim that spam may account for up to 80% of all email in the world.

Spam email is generally annoying, and can slow down computer networks and the delivery of legitimate email, and increase your download costs.

Most significantly, spam email may be used to distribute computer viruses, spy ware or Trojans that could affect your computer or allow others to access your personal information. Related publications available are:

• Information technology issues for taxpayers – viruses and worms
• Information technology issues for taxpayers – spyware
• Information technology issues for taxpayers – trojans.

What steps can I take to minimize spam email?

• Delete all spam mail. Do not ask to be removed from a mailing list or follow hyperlinks to unsubscribe from further email. This just indicates your email address is active and you'll most likely receive even more unsolicited email.
• Never purchase anything from a company that sends you spam email. This only supports the activity.
• If you need to provide details to a particular website, review their privacy policies. Make sure you know what they will do with your email address and personal details. Do not provide your email address to any organisation you do not trust.
• Set up a spam filter if your email program has this functionality. This can reduce spam by marking, blocking or deleting spam email.
• Spam from Australian companies or individuals can be reported to the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) which administers the Spam Act 2003.

Spam emails produce as much greenhouse gas emissions each year as 3.1million cars, according to new research. A study for computer protection company McAfee showed that globally, spam uses 33 billion kilowatt hours (KWh) a year – enough energy to power 2.4million homes.

The research also found that the UK was the joint fourth biggest emitter of CO2 from spam in the world, creating 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
Greenhouse gases: Spam uses 33 billion kilowatt hours a year – enough energy to power 2.4million homes, claims the research. The Carbon Footprint of Spam study by researchers ICF said that nearly four-fifths of the energy use associated with the emails was in end-users deleting spam and searching for legitimate emails.

The report also claimed that spam filtering currently saved enough energy to reduce emissions equivalent to taking 13 million cars off the road.

More…

• Amazon in gay censorship row after removing thousands of titles from search field
• Online black market where stolen bank passwords sell for as little as 40p

Jeff Green, senior vice president of product development and McAfee Avert Labs, said: 'As the world faces the growing problem of climate change, this study highlights that spam has an immense financial, personal and environmental impact on businesses and individuals.

'Stopping spam at its source, as well as investing in state-of-the-art spam filtering technology, will save time and money and will pay dividends to the planet by reducing carbon emissions as well.'

Note: I liked this article and read it somewhere a month ago, so thought to share with you people.