EBizInsider

You log on to check your e-mail and there it is. �Increase your endowment with this magic formula.� Unfortunately, the magic formula isn�t a mathematical equation and the endowment has nothing to do with your stock portfolio. Congratulations, you�ve been spammed!

Since this article is appearing in �the magazine for e-commerce professionals� let�s assume you not only have an e-mail account, but you use it � A LOT. We�ll examine both sides: (1) reducing the amount of spam in your in-box; and (2) ensuring you as an e-merchant aren�t filtered and blocked as spam.

A Brief History of Spam
The word �spam� first was used to refer to junk e-mail in 1978 by members of bulletin board services and the U.S. Government controlled ARPANet (the predecessor to the Internet). In 2004, the U.S. Congress adopted the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography And Marketing Act or �Can Spam� Act, making mass distribution of unsolicited e-mail punishable by heavy fines, imprisonment, or both.

Hormel Foods, which manufactures and sells SPAM luncheon meat doesn�t object to the use of �Spam.� However, the brand name �SPAM� in all caps, is trademarked and the use of the meat can picture or logo are strictly prohibited when referring to e-mail spam.

Reducing the amount of spam in your in-box
Spammers get your e-mail address by a process called �harvesting� where a system combs the internet for e-mail addresses. To prevent being harvested, don�t list your e-mail address on your website. Instead, use a customized contact form that shows you�re reachable, but doesn�t include your e-mail address.

Spam also targets addresses beginning with common phrases like �info,��help,� or �support.� If you must put your e-mail address on your site, create something unique. If you specialize in gardening tools, perhaps john-the-gardener@yoursite.com.

Avoid using your primary e-mail address when you participate in online forums and newsgroups. Also, pay attention to online forms, and be sure to check or uncheck the box associated with �Share my e-mail address with people we think might share your interests� as appropriate.

Use a tool to filter spam into a �Junk Mail� filter. The big e-mail providers (Yahoo, MSN�s Hotmail, Google�s gMail) all provide built in junk filtering and allow you to upgrade your account to a �professional mail� package for advanced customization. If you�re using another provider, check to see if they provide filtering, or use a third-party service like postini.com to do the job.

Send unwanted spam to your ISP�s abuse desk and the Federal Trade Commission by forwarding the message to spam@uce.gov. The FTC uses e-mail stored in this database to pursue law enforcement actions against people who send deceptive spam e-mail.

Spam is a fact of e-commerce life. The better you know your adversary, the better you�ll manage.

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