Prevention

How to Control Junk Email -- Really!

By Tara Swords

In the course of a day, most of us receive a slew of emails from people we do not know: spam messages, chain letters, e-newsletters, and advertisements. So in the midst of this daily onslaught, how do you know which emails and attachments are safe to open, and which are not?

Here are some strategies for safely managing your emails so you can keep your computer secure from threats such as viruses, Trojans, phishing scams and identity thieves.

1. Filter out the junk  
Spammers will send consumers 113 billion spam emails every day in 2007, going up to 235 billion spam emails a day in 2010, according to estimates from research firm Radicati Group. In other words, no matter how much junk you get today, it’s only going to get worse.

Fortunately, your email program probably filters out junk mail for you. Most spam filters these days do a pretty good job, so don’t turn yours off.

Just remember that technology isn’t perfect. Junk mail folders won’t intercept every piece of spam and will occasionally grab a legitimate message. Before you empty the junk mail folder, do a quick visual scan to save any legitimate messages.

2. Don’t click on links from people or businesses you don’t know  
People who want to steal your bank account numbers, passwords and PINs are very clever at devising ways to fool you into giving them the information. Their best trick is sending you emails that look official -- such as an email that looks like it’s from your bank. These emails are known as "phishing."

Never provide personal information online unless you’re sure who you’re dealing with, says Jeff Godlis, director of communications at i-SAFE, an Internet education organization. Also, watch out for emails that appear to have been sent randomly rather to you personally.

“Your bank would usually use your name, or not send account information over email,” Godlis says. “Also beware of urgent wording trying to get you to click on a link without thinking --