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Avoiding Spam

Here are some simple things you can do to help keep spam at bay!

• Never respond to spam
  Do not be fooled by their offer to take your name off their list or “unsubscribe” links. What they really want you to do is confirm they have a working e-mail address. Also, if you respond they are likely to sell your address to other spammers meaning you’ll soon be flooded with even more spam.
• Don't give your email address without knowing how it will be used
  Be sure to read the terms of use and privacy statements of any site before telling them your address. Find out how they will use your personal information.
• Always opt out of receiving "Special E-mail Offers" when registering wiht certain websites
  Giving the “Ok” to special e-mail offers is also giving the “Ok” to be bombarded with internet junk. Make sure to read the fine print…this option is often automatically selected for you so you must make the effort to exclude yourself from these lists
• Never buy anyting advertised in spam
  The reason people spam is because they can make money. They make money, like all advertisers, by convincing people to buy a product. If no one buys the things advertised in spam, companies will quit paying spammers to advertise their products.
• Report spam abuse to internet service providers
  Most e-mail providers such as hotmail and yahoo, prohibit their users from sending spam. If you forward the spam message to them (abuse@hotmail.com, abuse@yahoo.com), they will close the account and investigate the claim if necessary.
• Keep your anti-virus program up-to-date
  This is very easy to do as UT faculty, staff and students. The university provides anti-virus software for FREE. You just have to download it from the Bevo Ware website.