Is the electronic equivalent of junk mail it is less targeted and is considered an unwanted e mail?

by GOsafeonline | 23 October 2012

Electronic mail or Email is one of the easiest and most convenient channels where we can transfer information and share data with others. However, it is also common to receive information or emails that contain malicious attachments or dubious messages. Some email service providers filter and mark such dubious emails with the word “SPAM” in the subject of the email, indicating to the recipient that the email is either a junk email or unsolicited email with dubious content sent to numerous recipients by the sender. Clicking on links in such spam email may direct the recipient to phishing web sites or sites that download malware to the victim’s computer.

It is not surprising that most of us have encountered numerous spam emails in our inbox and believe it or not, your behavior online contributes to the spam messages that you receive. Here are five simple ways to fight spam and to protect yourself online:

1. Never give out or post your email address publicly
   You should remember that everyone can easily access the Internet. That means, spammers are also lurking on the Internet and are constantly seeking available email addresses which they will send spam emails to. Posting your email address publicly allows others to send spam emails to you, or worse, hack your account if you are using a weak password.
2. Think before you click
   There might be instances where your email service providers’ automated email filter mistakenly mark legitimate emails as spam email due to its content (e.g. the email contains a hyperlink). However, in most cases, emails marked as “SPAM” or redirected to the spam folder of your mailbox are sent by spammers. Subject of spam messages usually include offer of cheap prescription drugs, advertisements on new medicines, and status of packages from shipping companies. Make sure that you scrutinize the content of spam emails before opening any attachments (even if it looks like an innocent text or image file) or clicking on hyperlinks. Refrain from downloading contents blocked by your email service providers in such emails too.
3. Do not reply to spam messages
   Almost all spam messages are malicious emails sent by unknown sources. These sources could be hackers who aim to hack into the computers of their victims. Never respond to spam messages because through this, the spammer will know that the email address is active and thus, it increases the chance of your email to be constantly targeted by the spammer.
4. Download spam filtering tools and anti-virus software
   Spam filtering tools and anti-virus software can help to scan the emails that you received for malware. If the emails that you received contain malware, the malicious content would be quarantined and you would be prevented from opening it. This helps to alleviate the chance of emails containing malware from infecting your computer. As such, do select spam filtering tools and anti-virus software with such features to reduce your woes of having to decipher email contents.
5. Avoid using your personal or business email address
   Do not use your personal or business email address when registering in any online contest or service such as applications, deal updates, etc. Many spammers watch these groups or emailing lists to harvest new email addresses.

There are many ways to avoid being a victim of spam messages. But the most important thing is to be cautious in opening your emails. Always make sure that the emails that you open are from trusted sources and do not look dubious. If you received any of such suspicious emails, you may forward them to the Singapore Computer Incident Response Team (SingCERT) for their investigation.

What is spam?

Spam is digital junk mail and unsolicited communications sent in bulk through an electronic messaging system. Unrequested, disruptive, and usually promotional, spam messages are designed to flood as many inboxes as possible. Traditionally, spam has been sent via email, but also includes SMS and social media messaging.

If the definition of spam is unsolicited messages usually sent in bulk, spamming is the act of sending these messages. And the person who actually sends the messages is a spammer. Often, spamming is commercial in nature, and though the spam is bothersome, it isn’t necessarily malicious or fraudulent (though it can be).

Why is it called spam?

The use of the term “spam” to describe this type of invasive blanket-messaging is a reference to a Monty Python skit. In it, a group of diners (clad in Viking costumes, no less) loudly and repeatedly proclaim that everyone must eat Spam, regardless of whether they want it or not. It’s similar to how an email spammer will flood your inbox with their unwanted messages.

When spelled with a capital S, “Spam” refers to the canned pork product that the above-mentioned Vikings love. Use a lowercase S to discuss the endless flood of emails and other messages that you never asked for.

What kinds of spam are there?

You can fry it, bake it, scramble it with eggs, eat it on a sandwich, or even serve it with rice and seaweed. But when it comes to the electronic variety, there’s an equally diverse menu available. Here’s a short list of what you might expect in the wide world of spam:

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  Email spam: Your garden-variety spam. It clogs up your inbox and distracts you from the emails you actually want to read. Rest assured, it’s all extremely ignorable.

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  SEO spam: Also known as spamdexing, this is the abuse of search engine optimization (SEO) methods to improve search rankings for the spammer’s website. We can divide SEO spam into two broad categories:

• Content spam: Spammers cram their pages full of popular keywords, usually unrelated to their website, to try and rank their site higher in searches for those keywords. Others will rewrite existing content to make their own pages seem more substantial and unique.

• Link spam: If you’ve come across a blog comment or forum post that’s filled with irrelevant links, you’ve encountered link spam. The spammer is trying to exploit an SEO mechanic known as “backlinking” to drive traffic to their page.

• 
  Social networking spam: As the internet grows ever more social, spammers are quick to take advantage, spreading their spam via fake “throwaway” accounts on popular social networking platforms.

• 
  Mobile spam: It’s spam in SMS form. In addition to spammy text messages, some spammers also utilize push notifications to draw your attention to their offers.

• 
  Messaging spam: Like email spam, but quicker. Spammers blast their messages out on instant messaging platforms including WhatsApp, Skype, and Snapchat.

How to recognize spam

Regardless of how it reaches you — as email spam, social network spam, or one of the others — most spam fits neatly into one of a handful of “genres”. Once you get an idea of what most spam looks like, it’s easy to recognize it when it comes your way.

If someone gets control of your email account, you might find yourself inundated with spam. You can pop over to our handy Hack Check tool and see if any of your passwords have been leaked.

Learn how to detect spam by looking out for the following types of messages, all illustrated with recent examples from my personal email account. Because my email service automatically blocks some elements of spam emails, many images in the emails are not visible.

As you read through this section, pay close attention to the actual email addresses in these examples. Notice how they’re all very long and largely composed of random letters and numbers. This an intentional act on the spammer’s part which helps obfuscate their identity.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it should give you an idea of the most common types of spam emails out there.

• Health and medical services: Miracle cures, weight-loss shortcuts, dietary supplements of dubious repute, hair loss therapies, anti-aging solutions, alternative medicines — all of these and more are frequently hawked by spammers. The vast majority of these products are nothing more than empty promises.

  
  A spam email promoting a diabetes treatment

• Dating & adult content: This category also covers a lot of ground, ranging from online dating services and matchmaking agencies to adult websites and bedroom performance enhancements.

  
  A typical spam email advertising an online dating service

• Computers, internet, and tech: Spammers try to take advantage of how many people aren’t computer experts. Don’t let them fool you with software or hardware offers, internet or mobile services, or general electronics advertisements.

  
  This spam email is advertising a home security solution

• Service enrollment: These involve the spammer trying to convince you to enroll in a long-term service. Educational programs and various types of insurance are common choices. Note how the example email uses urgency as a social engineering tool to try to rush the reader into making a quick decision.

  
  This spam email appears to be sent by a health insurance agency

• Financial services and awards: Spam of this type promises to help you alleviate monetary woes with low-interest loans, debt assistance, or outright cash prizes. Don’t buy in!

  
  Here’s a spam email promising some monetary relief

Again, these examples are not intended to represent all the possible angles a spammer might take — just a few of the most pervasive.

Spamming vs phishing

The difference between spamming and phishing lies in the intent of the spammer (or phisher). Spammers are a nuisance, but they usually aren’t out to hurt you. They’ve got something to sell, and they’ve decided that spamming is an effective technique for promoting their product, offer, or service. (Of course, those products and services may be low quality or fraudulent.)

Phishers, on the other hand, are cybercriminals after your sensitive personal information, either via deception or through the use of malware. Like spam, phishing scams are often bulk-mailed, but with more nefarious goals that may include fraud, theft, and even corporate espionage.

The email shown below is an example of the infamous advance-fee “Nigerian prince” phishing scam, the aim of which is financial theft. A browser with anti-phishing technology, such as Avast Secure Browser, can protect you against this type of scam.

Why am I getting spammed?

“If I don’t sign up for spam, how can spammers find me?” The disappointing truth is that many companies earn money by selling your email address and other contact info to third parties. This problem has gotten so bad that in 2018, the EU passed the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a series of rules aimed at limiting what companies are allowed to do with your personal details.

Spammers use spam because it’s cheap. It costs next to nothing for a spammer to blast emails out to anyone they can find. If only a handful of recipients respond favorably to the campaign, the spammer will easily see a return on their investment.

Because most spammers use spoofing to conceal their identity from recipients and internet service providers, it’s difficult to hold them accountable for their actions. The low risks and costs make spam an attractive option for less-scrupulous advertisers and marketers.

How to prevent spam

Spam doesn’t have to be a visible part of your daily digital life. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can learn how to stop spam emails and also reduce the amount of general spam sent your way. At the same time, you’ll learn how to block spam emails by preventing them from appearing in your inbox.

• Use your email client’s spam-reporting function. Most popular email providers will have a handy button you can click to report an email as spam. By doing this, you can “train” your email to get better at detecting spam. Any emails detected in this way will be sent straight to your spam folder, bypassing your inbox entirely. If your selected email client isn’t auto-detecting spam and phishing emails, switch to one that does.

• Conversely, tell your email client which emails are not spam. Every so often, take a gander at your spam folder, and if you find anything in there that doesn’t belong, move it to your inbox. This helps your spam filter learn which emails it can ignore.

• Sign up for things with disposable or fake email addresses. Lots of ecommerce platforms and internet services require an email address for use. If it’s not absolutely necessary, don’t use your primary email for throwaway signups like eBook landing pages or gaming apps. You never know who’s going to sell it to a spammer.

• Don’t engage with spam in any way. This applies to all types of spam, not just emails. Don’t click links, don’t download attachments, and never respond to a spammer. If you do, it may lead them to believe that you are a receptive target — meaning that they’ll send you more spam.

• Don’t publish your contact information. Spammers can and do find contacts online. Try your best to keep your online presence as private as possible. This also extends to your phone number and physical address.

• If someone you know has sent you spam, tell them. If you’ve received a spam message from a trusted contact, tell them that their account has been hacked and used for spamming. This way, they can take corrective measures and regain control.

• If you manage a website, use current software and security measures. Keep your website’s software up-to-date to protect yourself from spammers looking to exploit vulnerabilities. At the same time, implement Captcha technology on login pages, comments and other interactive areas.

• Use strong security software.With spam and other online risks continuing to threaten your security, you need a strong antivirus app that gives you real-time protection against the assortment of threat vectors out there.

Stay protected with world-class antivirus protection

With billions of spam messages sent every day, even the most airtight inbox is going to spring a leak sooner or later. Make sure you’re protected against spammy links and attachments that may be harmful to your device.

Spammers send billions of emails every day. Though modern email providers catch most of them, they don’t catch them all. Avast One is a comprehensive security solution that protects you in real time against the viruses, malicious links, and attachments that often accompany spam emails.

That’s just one of the many ways the free Avast One keeps you safe against online threats.

Is a system of marketing by which organizations communicate without intermediaries to the target customers to generate a response or transaction?

Is unsolicited unwanted commercial email messages?

Do US government has passed laws regulating the use of email marketing because?

Which of the following is a disadvantage of direct mail marketing?