English-Zone.Com - Anti-Spam Page

English-Zone.Com
...the BEST English-Learner's site on the 'Net!

All you've ever wanted to know about spam...
And how to avoid it!

Q: What is Spam?
A: Spam is unwanted e-mail

Q: How do I know if an email message is spam or not?
A: Unwanted email messages have subjects such as:

Amazing New System Takes $70,000 Off Your Mortgage
University Diplomas
Re: Your E-mail (e22496)
ONLINE CASINO
Fire the Boss and break the Alarm Clock!!!
This is Adult Related Material - You Must be...
Necessary Information For You!!!
Get Rich Quick!
I have the answer for you...
Hi honey! I'm 18 today....

And more...

Q: What can I do to avoid receiving spam?
A: Here are some ways to avoid spam:

1)	Never respond to Spam! If you respond, the spammers will know your e-mail address is a working address.
2)	Don't post your e-mail address on your website! Spammers' robot software travels through the Internet looking for text that reads "something@something.something". When it finds that text, it adds the address to a database of other e-mail addresses. Then the addresses are sold to spammers. If you want to post your email address on your site, then alter your email address by using SiteLaunch's Email Garbler Post the altered address on your site instead.
3)	Use a second e-mail address in Newsgroups. Spammers are able to pull your e-mail out of newsgroup messages. Don't list your e-mail address there.
4)	Don't give your e-mail address out without knowing how it will be used. Try to stay anonymous. Read the Privacy Statement before you give your email address, and don't fill out Web forms unless it's absolutely necessary.
5)	Use a Spam filter. Spam filters are designed to separate Spam from important e-mail. Yahoo and Hotmail both have filters to their free e-mail service entitled “Bulk Mail”. Some filters can be downloaded from the Internet.
6)	Never buy anything advertised in Spam! Spam exists because somewhere, someplace out there, there are millions of people who respond to it. If a company uses spam to advertise - do not buy anything from that company!
7)	Alter your e-mail address when listing it. For example the following e-mail address: user_nospam@uce.com does not really exist, but spammer robots won’t be able to find out the real address. Some other examples: user(at)uce.com user@spam-is-bad.uce.com user.no-spam@uce.no-spam.com
8)	Report your spam to SpamCop! This site analyzes the spam mail and finds the true address. Then they report the spam to the owner of the server. 90% of the spammers' accounts get closed! Hurray!

Q: Why is unwanted email called "Spam"?
A: Here's the answer according to the people at www.spam.com The term "SPAM" was adopted as a result of a Monty Python act in which a group of Vikings sang a chorus of "SPAM, SPAM, SPAM . . . " louder and louder, silencing all other conversation. Unwanted email does the same thing - it is louder than all other conversation on the internet.

(NOTE: SPAM is a registered trademark of Hormel Foods Corporation. When referring to luncheon meat, “SPAM” should always be written in capital letters; when referring to unwanted e-mails, a lower-case "spam” is correct.)