Re: newbie asking for help with outlook express

From: Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\) (user_at_#notme.com)
Date: 10/14/04 

Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 17:37:00 -0700

Chuck, good advice but she should use a fake, non-existent domain along with
some character as I've done with mine as in #notme.com. First, the spammers
aren't only harvesting the e-mail address they also are harvesting the rest
of the information including the domain that leads them to the ISP. They
then use a scattershot method for hitting as many possible combinations as
they can generate @that domain and they will use her name to generate in
various combinations to see if they hit a valid ID which brings them to an
active e-mail address.

Second, by using an invalid domain, any spam generator will end up sending
the e-mail nowhere into something of a cyber black hole as opposed to
clogging up some ISP's pipes and some Internet backbone as well. 

-- 
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
"Chuck Davis" <ChuckDavis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:1121E262-3B55-4327-A729-57A9ABD81F69@microsoft.com...
> Since you are already on the spammers list, that list will be sold and
> resold. This will only excaberate the problem.  Secondly never post your
> e-mail address to a discussion group. If you really want to place your 
> e-mail
> address on these sites, try this: GailsREMOVETHISShed@webtv.net
>
> Spammers programs scan these sites for address frequently. I suggest that
> you get a new e-mail address. One that can't be easily generated by a
> computer.  Something like Gails22558Shed78251@webtv.net
>
> "Vanguardx" wrote:
>
>> "Gail B" <GailsShed@webtv.net>
>> wrote in news:21710-416D6BED-76@storefull-3113.bay.webtv.net:
>> > hello, i connected my computer up to the internet today and was told
>> > to use outlook express for my email.  every time i connect and go to
>> > outlook express i am getting a bunch of spam in my inbox.  can someone
>> > please give me step by step instructions on how to stop or prevent
>> > this from happening? i would most certainly appreciate any help given.
>> > thank you
>> >                                             gail
>>
>> Who is your e-mail provider?  Do they provide a webmail interface?  Do
>> they have an account settings page?  If so, do they have an option to
>> enable spam filtering?  If they don't provide spam filtering then check
>> into e-mail providers that do provide it.  Spamcop.net has accounts that
>> are supposed to be spam-free but there are plenty of e-mail providers
>> that include spam filtering.
>>
>> Otherwise, install a client-side spam filtering product.  I use SpamPal
>> and several of its plug-ins (all are free) and they have their own forum
>> for getting help, but there are lots of anti-spam products.
>>
>> Announcing your true e-mail address in newsgroups is a guaranteed method
>> of ensuring to up the amount of spam you receive.  Spambots roam the
>> newsgroups looking for e-mail addresses.  Munge it or use a bogus one
>> (if you never want to take a discussion offline from the newsgroup to
>> move it to e-mail).  If webtv.com is your ISP then
>> http://www.webtv.com/pc/experience/email.asp says they provide spam
>> filtering.  However, if it is the same level of filtering as afforded to
>> Hotmail accounts then get used to some spam.  Microsoft hasn't been very
>> effective in their spam filtering.  I've had both Hotmail and Yahoo
>> accounts and Hotmail gets hits a lot more with spam than my Yahoo
>> accounts.
>>
>>
>> -- 
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