Re: *** ADMIN: Spam

Eric Graeb wrote:
> I generally try to reply to the spam and ask to be removed from there
> mailing list even if they don't have that option.  Quite often this will get
> me nothing more than a second copy of the email but I like to give them the
> benefit of the doubt that the got the address legitimately before I report
> them.  I only truly get annoyed if they ignore my request to stop which no
> legitimate small business person would.

It depends.  Most often it just confirms to the spammer that they
have a valid e-mail address, even if they *say* they will remove you
from their list.

The e-mail client I use at home (kmail) has an interesting option.
You can "bounce" the e-mail, and it will appear to the sender that
the e-mail was undeliverable.  It only works if the from: address is
valid, though.

Another hint:  When looking at e-mail from questionable sources,
make sure HTML rendering is turned off.  The occasional spam e-mail
includes a "web bug" that if requested can verify to the spammer
that the e-mail was indeed read.

Oh, and here's a trick I use on my personal web site:  I don't make
any secret of my home e-mail address, but it can be found on only
one page on my web site.  That page can only be reached through an
HTTP POST request (through a very simple 2-click form), which should
block any e-mail siphon from reading the address.

(But on the whole, I'm sure the reason I get so little spam e-mail
is due to spam blocking.  I know my personal ISP has it, and I
suspect the IBM firewall has it too.)

Cheers!  Hans