Recognizing a message is SPAM can be tricky. That is why many virus protection providers offer services to prevent and protect against this practice. It is widely believed all email filtering services should stop all SPAM for your business; however, junk email still gets through.
Known as antispam tools, these tools should stop inappropriate messages from coming in. However, despite their usual efficiency, they can sometimes classify legitimate messages as fake.
It is good practice to check the SPAM folder from time to time in order to make sure that no important information was accidentally sent there.
How to identify SPAM.
Keep in mind; SPAM has common characteristics. These are the common SPAM attributes. Keep an eye on the following.
- A dead give-away, email message from a sender you do not know with a call to action, such as click on this link.
- Emails with people with whom you didn't share your address.
- Emails that you did not expect to receive, especially with subjects unrelated to your interest.
- Offers of products work miracles in a few days, such as remedies for instant weight loss.
- Ads for products with too many advantages.
- Sensational stories that ask to be shared, like conspiracy theories that Aliens landed at Wrigley Field.
- Newsletter of a website you have never visited.
- Emails with confusing titles, which seem to establish a conversation with you. For example: “Hello, remember me?”
- Messages with links for you to click in if you want to win a gift.
- Texts with warnings that message is not SPAM. After all, legitimate emails don’t have to say they are not fake.
What is the impact caused by SPAM?
Apart from being inconvenient to the user receiving unwanted messages, there are some problems caused by SPAM that must be taken into consideration to avoid this practice:
Waste of time - Every time a user receives an unsolicited message, she spends part of her time deleting Spam.
Decrease in productivity - People who use email as a work tool spend more time to get to important messages because of the number of inappropriate emails.
Plus, there is the risk of clicking a malicious link corrupting valuable data from your computer.
Not receiving important emails or attached files - If the mailbox is full of Spam, it is possible that the user doesn’t get a few emails, especially those that are larger and need space to be received.
Financial frauds - Some messages have links that install computer programs that commit fraud or induce people to fill out data on financial institutions' cloned sites.
Loss of messages - Because of the large number of Spam, you can delete essential messages, forget to read some email, thus taking longer to respond.
Receive inappropriate content - There are several inappropriate or offensive messages sent to random email lists.
None the less, you may receive content doesn't match your beliefs and values.
How to avoid SPAM
At times, it may seem impossible to avoid receiving SPAMs. Fortunately, there are a few precautions that can help you protect yourself from this type of content:
- Always keep your antivirus software updated
You must have an antivirus on your computer that can block potential attacks on your data. However, your information isn’t protected by only having this tool installed.
So, update the security software whenever necessary. Besides, use the antivirus periodically and make it a habit not only in your corporate computer but also in your private one.
It is essential to install antivirus software on your mobile phone too. After all, it is common to use mobile phones to access the Internet.
If you notice unusual behavior in your computer or mobile device, remember to scan it for viruses. And if the problems persist, it is necessary to reinstall the entire operating system.
- Do not share your personal data
Email and bank account information is highly confidential. Therefore, you should not share them on suspicious pages. Malware codes sent to your email may be able to turn your system into a server for sending SPAM.
It’s usually not easy to see that your computer is infected. Most people only figure it out when the device gets very slow or if there are connection problems.
With banking information, the danger is in the unauthorized transactions that can be performed. When this happens, the user may suffer financial losses. For example, a high-value transfer, bill payments, or purchases that weren’t made by the user.
- Avoid sharing chain messages.
Don’t share suspicious messages. Usually, they are used to capture email addresses and use them to send SPAM without the user's consent.
Besides, several stories shared in chains are false. That’s why you need to check the integrity of the information, not to share lousy c
- Use anti-spam tools
The anti-spam tool is essential because it directs suspicious messages to a SPAM folder outside your Inbox. So, even if you don’t have this tool installed on your computer, try to use access to providers' resources.
- Separate your emails into categories
If at all possible, try to have more than one email and separate them by category. You can, for example, have an account just for subscribing to lists and receiving promotions. So, you can prevent individual SPAM emails from getting to your personal or commercial emails.
- Don’t believe in all the special deals.
Avoid clicking popups and buttons that lead to extraordinary free gifts. It is always important to check first if the gifts are even real, and if the site that offered them is trustworthy.
Several institutions already have on their pages information that confirms or not the sending of free gifts, promotions, and discounts. So, remember to analyze all the messages you get before clicking everything that appears on the Internet.
- The one's I tell my mother.
The IRS does not email you. No, a crown prince in Nigeria doesn't want to marry you and he certainly does not have any money.
How to find a solution to avoid Spam and Identity fraud to protect your business
Iron Cove Solutions is a partner with third-party vendors like Proofpoint Essentials; an email filter solution, and Okta; an Identity management tool that protects your working environment with Multifactor and Okta Verify. To find out additional information give us a call at (888) 959-2825
Book Recommendation
Excellent Book about SPAM by Brian Krebs called Spam Nation