I know this question is out there in LEFT field. However, keeping in mind that, the last few threads were about web related issues ... I thought why not?
Recently, I have been inundated with unsolicited e-mails (spams). Is there someway or a software that you would recommend that would help alleviate this annoyance.
Currently, I am using Windows XP, and Outlook as my e-mail browser.
1. I have created filters ... they help reduce some traffic, but not all.
2. I have attempted to reach the sender to politely request to remove me from their mailing list. Most of them provide fictitious e-mail addresses or websites.
3. Contacted my ISP service provider, not much they can do.
Thank you all in advance for your time, and indulgence.
Cheers!
To expand on your question --
Conventional wisdom from the "experts" (ZDNet, TechTV and so on) suggests that one should never write to the opt out address that is provided at the bottom of spam mail. The thinking behind this is that, by writing to this address, all you are doing is verifying that yours is a valid email address. Therefore, you'll only end up on more spam mailing lists. However, I know someone who took the time to opt out of all the lists that she was on and she has seen a great reduction in spam received.
How do most people handle this? Do you opt out or do you just delete the spam as it comes in?
thirsty
Some ISP's offer spam filtering while the mail is still on their server so the spam never gets to you. I know Earthlink offers this feature. I imagine other ISP's do as well.
thirsty
Under no circumstances, contact the spammer and request to be removed.
AT best they will ignore you, at worst they will sell your name to other spammers because you have now verified you are reading your email.
The only people I would ever try to unsubscribe from are recognized groups which YOU have actaully signed up with to receive email. Anyone who just sent you email out of the blue...there is nothing you can do.
I automatically trash any email that doesnt specifically have me in the TO or CC box.
I automatically trash any email that comes from certain countries.
I also trash any email that contains certain spam phrases.
AT this point, if you are innundated and have been trying to unsubscribe, you should probably get a new email address (for personal use only) and only give it to actual people that you exchange email with. USe your old trashed email address to sign up for things on the web and never check it anymore.
I have a domain name that is a popular word and often used by people responding anonymously. So I used to get anywhere from 200 to 400 a day.
To solve that, I have a Hotmail account, which allows you to use Exclusive filtering (other services may allow that as well). It only allows in mail from sources that are on my address list, as well as any particular words that I choose for the subject or From line.
I can't get mail totally out of the blue from an old lover, but, that's life.
I use a mail service that is on an ISP that is not my primary, and it has saved me a lot of headache. The ISP that I use for mail is attbusiness.net which provides SPAM control that is quite good. It is about 84% effective in identifying SPAM. I send it to trash and empty the trashbin regularly without ever looking at it. I've developed a lot of confidence in the service.
I never respond to junk mail.
Eventually you get removed due to lack of response.