Security Tips to Prevent Hijacking and Stop the Flow of Spam

You too may be a spammer
May 2008
by Blake Crone

We seem to find unsolicited and inappropriate email every time we check our inboxes. But these SPAM emails don’t all come from the dark and dingy corners of the online world. They sometimes come from our very own homes…

Spamming is frequently done using compromised or infected computers, which are referred to as bots or - when used in a group – botnets. This makes the perpetrators of SPAM hard to nab. Many people who have become part of a botnet innocently and unknowingly send thousands of SPAM emails.

Your PC can be infected by a virus, the function of which is to send junk email constantly. In fact, it is estimated that almost a quarter of all PCs connected to the internet are part of a botnet. It's scary knowing your personal property can be used for such a nefarious act!

There are of course steps you can take to ensure your computer is not compromised and is clear of both viruses and spyware contained in SPAM and SPAM email itself. Below are sure-fire 5 tips for the average online surfer:

• Never open attachments in emails unless you know the sender and verify that the attached file is safe.
• Do not open emails from unknown senders. These could contain viruses and/or inappropriate content, both of which can lead to a compromised PC.
• Take measures to ensure SPAM email never reaches you. There are software options that can make certain that known SPAM will not make it your inbox.
• Use caution when visiting unknown websites. Many times, these seats are just vehicles used to infect PCs with harmful viruses and spyware.
• Arm yourself with anti-virus and anti-spyware software. This can be the difference between a healthy PC and complete disaster.

With the information given, hopefully nasty and intrusive viruses, spyware and SPAM can be out of your online life forever!