How to Avoid Getting Spam and Junk Email

Spam is the scourge of the Information Age. Just as telemarketers invade your phone line, electronic advertisers get to you through email. Believe it or not, spammers get their information about you from none other than you. If you want to avoid getting spam and junk email, you have to take a few precautions while you are online.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access
• Computer

1. Read the privacy policy of your email provider. Make sure that your email address isn’t being leaked out right from the source.
2. Use the spam and junk mail filters of your email service. These services are included in the price for your email, so you might as well get your money’s worth.
3. Mark or check spam that slips through the filter. Some email providers such as Yahoo have their own spam filter that uses your input to become better at intercepting junk email.
4. Double-check online forms. If your email information is not required, don’t give it out.
5. Get more than one email address. If you’re really serious about avoiding spam, use a separate email address for each aspect of your online life. Have distinct addresses for personal, business, shopping and networking. This keeps the important addresses free of spam and junk email.
6. Purchase and use anti-spam software. This usually comes bundled with virus protection and privacy software. Good examples include Norton and McAfee.

Tips & Warnings

• Scan electronic forms carefully. Some forms have check boxes that give you the option to not have your information permanently stored by the site. Use this tool to keep your inbox free of junk email.
• So how do you get more than one email address? Use several free email services. Yahoo, Google and some other companies offer free email service. Create a unique email address at each service and strictly use that email account for one task.
• Do not put your email address out in public areas of Web sites. Anybody who can access the site can use your address to send you a bunch of stuff that you don’t want.