Tulsa World: To stop unwanted e-mails, reader must take an active role

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To stop unwanted e-mails, reader must take an active role

By PHIL MULKINS World Action Line Editor
Published: 11/5/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/5/2009 4:35 AM

Dear Action Line: I'm sick to death of receiving unwanted e-mails from strangers trying to sell me something. How do I stop it? — L.T., Tulsa.

Spammed I am: The Federal Trade Commission explains how to stop it in, "You've got spam: how to 'can' unwanted e-mail" at tulsaworld.com/FTCspamcan .

Internet marketers pitch products and services by using "spam," also known as UBE (unsolicited bulk e-mail) or UCE (unsolicited commercial e-mail).

About 80 percent of it comes from 200 spammers using "botnets" — robotized personal computers appropriated by malicious software that makes them send spam to unfiltered, unprotected computer e-mail accounts.

Industry estimates of 100 billion spam messages daily emphasize what a problem spam really is.

E-mail filter: Check your e-mail account to see if it provides an e-mail filter that removes spam or channels it into a bulk e-mail folder. Make this a consideration when selecting an Internet service provider, or ISP.

Reduce spam: The FTC suggests "not displaying your e-mail address in public," including newsgroup postings, chat rooms, Web sites or in an online service's membership directory. Opt out of online member directories. Check privacy policies before dealing with a Web site, and don't provide your address to those that sell them.

Dictionary attacks: Spammers use "dictionary attacks" to sort through possible passwords

at large ISPs, hoping to gain entry to get more e-mail addresses. Common names are defeated quickly and get more spam than those including numbers and letters.

Report spam: Let the FTC know about the spam you receive by sending it to spam@uce.gov. The agency stores these in its Consumer Sentinel database, which is shared with hundreds of law enforcement agencies pursuing spammers. Let the FTC know when your "remove me" request is ignored by filling out its online complaint form; see tulsaworld.com/FTCcomplaintform . Include the full e-mail header so the agencies can follow up on your complaint.

ISP abuse desk: Send a copy to your ISP's abuse desk — often called abuse@yourispname.com or postmaster@yourispname.com. This lets the ISP know about the spam problem on their system and helps them stop attacks. Include a copy of the spam and its full e-mail header, and state that you are "complaining about being spammed."

Sender ISP: Most ISPs want to cut off spammers who abuse their system. Include the message and its header and state you are complaining about its spammers.

SpamCop: Since 1998, SpamCop has been the premier service for reporting spam. The service determines the origin of unwanted e-mail and reports it to the relevant Internet service providers. By reporting spam, you positively impact the problem. Reporting unsolicited e-mail also helps feed spam filtering systems including, but not limited to, SpamCop's own service — tulsaworld.com/SpamCop .

Submit Action Line questions by calling 699-8888 or by e-mailing phil.mulkins@TulsaWorld.com or by mailing it to Tulsa World Action Line, PO Box 1770, Tulsa OK 74102-1770.

By PHIL MULKINS World Action Line Editor

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