Help On Spam Mail!!!

[civiltech]

Hello all...

In the past few months the amount of spam I'm getting has ballooned. I've never bought anything on line, do not give out my address, and only one other site where I post (very rarely) put up a notice that there was evidence of "trolling." and not to post your email anymore which I followed.

However, I am getting more and more spam on my fencingmail.com account. What is also a little weird is that it is cc: to other fencingmail.com accounts. Anybody have an idea why? How to deter this? Anyone else having the same problems lately?

Look forward to some enlightenment.

[MikeHarm]

Your info was sold for a quick buck to the spammers, thats why you're getting it, no way around it except anti spam software.

[Peach]

Actually, most of the mail I get which purports to come from friends is viruses--someone's computer is infected on which my (and their) addresses reside. I have three different accounts, and at different times in the last year one of them (it varies) may be getting as many as 20 a day. Right now my work account is getting all the virus stuff.

I recommend virus software. MacAfee is good. For a quick fix, PC Pitstop will do a scan online for free the first time.

[esskreemr]

As the postmaster for a smallish business, I know from experience that the spam issue is getting continually worse. There are things that you can do. Unfortunately, they may or may not have any effect. Once advertisers get your name, they sell it to other advertisers so that problem gets progressively worse. Sometimes, the only recourse is to close the email address and open another. Here is a short article on what you can do, other than spend copious amounts of time tracking the spammers down:

http://www.earthlink.net/home/tools/...tips/fighting/

[MikeHarm]

One thing that isn't often mentioned is legal action you can take. In many states including Michigan for instance, they were concerned about people getting junk faxes using up people's paper, so they passed laws to fine for unsolicited faxes, that because of the wording are also are applicable to spam email.

In Michigan the law is that if you receive any unsolicited electronic communication that can be printed you can sue the person in small claims court and get $500 per transmission. Small claims laws is that they don't get to use a lawyer to defend them, and you can sue any part of the company that is responsible. For example, if you got spam saying that Sears was having a sale, you could sue the Sears store down the road from you. Some folks have really been raking in the dough on it, and courts have upheld it.

So you see, while it does suck getting spam....this could also be a great opportunity for some creative 'fundraising'.

[Maeve_Mari]

One thing that isn't often mentioned is legal action you can take. In many states including Michigan for instance, they were concerned about people getting junk faxes using up people's paper, so they passed laws to fine for unsolicited faxes, that because of the wording are also are applicable to spam email.

In Michigan the law is that if you receive any unsolicited electronic communication that can be printed you can sue the person in small claims court and get $500 per transmission. Small claims laws is that they don't get to use a lawyer to defend them, and you can sue any part of the company that is responsible. For example, if you got spam saying that Sears was having a sale, you could sue the Sears store down the road from you. Some folks have really been raking in the dough on it, and courts have upheld it.

So you see, while it does suck getting spam....this could also be a great opportunity for some creative 'fundraising'.

This sounds like a better idea than getting a part time job!

[Soldier]

Unfortunately, the source of most spam is far too obscure for that. I really wouldn't feel like trying to track down just whom to sue behind, for example, the anal sex lover's porn site that sent me an ad.

While I get hundreds of spams a day, I just grit my teeth and delete them - I am entirely too obstinate to close down swordsman@fencingmail.com - just too perfect a name!

[flyingfencer]

I would suggest using a spam filter and an email client that provided ample spam filtering capabilities. I believe Netscape 7.1 has some decent spam filtering capabilities.

Also, this is a link to spambayes, which will filter your spam:

http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/

In addition, I would highly recommend using software to combat illegal popups and spyware. Spybot Search and Destroy is an excellent program:

http://www.safer-networking.org/

Finally, this is good article on wired that gives you a number of alternatives for protecting your computer from viruses and spyware in general:

http://www.wired.com/news/infostruct...w=wn_tophead_2

[mifencer]

Kind of on the subject:

Does anyone know any good shareware (free) firewall software?

Thanks.

[flyingfencer]

Sure, there are a number.

ZoneAlarm is a good one:

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp

Also, Outpost Firewall:

http://www.agnitum.com/download/

[noodle]

a few more tips on spam:

first, if you put your raw (unobfuscated in some form) email address on any webpage on the internet, a spam script in some form will harvest this email address and put it on spam lists.

second, if you register for random stuff (like, register for something to read an article, etc etc) that you don't personally know about or tell you up front that they do not sell your email address, they sell your email address.

third, if you ever reply in any form to those spam mails (i know some of my family has tried to reply to spam mail to tell them to take them off the list), then your email is counted as a verified address (one that actually goes to someone) and you're targeted more.

fourth, there are a lot of emails that have links on the bottom that tell you to click them to unsubscribe. some of those are valid. but others act in the same manner as replying to spam mail as per above. if you don't know where the email is coming from, don't click this link.

fifth, lots of email clients have filters. use these to automatically redirect spam to other places based on keywords. this definitely helps.

last, if you're really having a lot of problems, consider getting a new email address somehow.

[CutLass]

Kind of on the subject:

Does anyone know any good shareware (free) firewall software?

Thanks.

You get what you pay for.

Firewalls have become extremely important today. Spend a few dollars and purchase reliable and upgradeable firewall software (in addition to respectable virus scan software too.) It's become, unfortunately, an essential fact of on-line life.

[Dan H]

Greetings Friend I Am John Q. Fencer Undersecretary Of Footwork For The Heir To King Golibutskwame Of Nigeria's Fencing Talent Fortune. The Heir Is Due 50,000,000 Long Perfect Lunges With Disengage-doubles Usable In Any 14-14 Bout, But This Fortune Is Being Suppressed By Blind F. Referee, Evil Dictator Of Nigeria. As You Are My Trusted Business Partner, I Am Prepared To Offer You 17% Of These Lunges For Your Usfa Member Number, Current Ratings, Any Fencing Dvds You Own, And A Sack Of M&ms. With Peanuts.

[noodle]

DON'T BUY EPEE BLADES ON MAY 19TH


IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES DID NOT PURCHASE A SINGLE NEW EPEE BLADE FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THE FORGES WOULD CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES.

AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS OF OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE MAJOR FORGES.

THEREFORE MAY 19TH HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED "STICK IT UP THEIR <font size="1" color="red">expletive deleted</font> " DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE NEW EPEE BLADE THAT DAY.

THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT.

...

[Peach]

If you don't immediately send all your Raisin Bran box tops to Kyrgyzstan, we will kill this dog and little Timmy will die.

[CutLass]

DON'T BUY EPEE BLADES ON MAY 19TH
IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES DID NOT PURCHASE A SINGLE NEW EPEE BLADE FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THE FORGES WOULD CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES.

AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS OF OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE MAJOR FORGES.

THEREFORE MAY 19TH HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED "STICK IT UP THEIR <font size="1" color="red">expletive deleted</font> " DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE NEW EPEE BLADE THAT DAY.

...

And don't drive your gas guzzling car to the store that day either. Let's show them all that "We Got The Powa!"

[Soldier]

If you don't immediately send all your Raisin Bran box tops to Kyrgyzstan, we will kill this dog and little Timmy will die.

My roommate last semester was from Kyrgyzstan. I hate him.

[Louweasel]

My roommate last semester was from Kyrgyzstan. I hate him.

*laughs and nearly spits coffee all over the keyboard*

I was just reading your thread entitled "cynical" and a couple of your other posts, and thinking "Oh bless, Soldier is such a sweetie, I can't believe he is really a military man, he seems so nice and cuddly" - and then I read this!

You crack me up, mate! I don't know why but your comment above just caught me right on the funny bone...

[Zelda]

Lou, its a British thing......either that or you are spending too much time looking for computer access!

[noodle]

And don't drive your gas guzzling car to the store that day either. Let's show them all that "We Got The Powa!"

people not buying gas for one day will not lower prices. the only thing that will lower gas prices will be to conserve and lower the ammount of gas you use over a long period of time. this will make the demand for gas to go down, requiring the gas companies to lower prices to get more people buying. crude oil is fungible, the companies can throw it into a different market. not buying gas for one day will not cause a major gas backup.

edited to remove spelling gremlins