Don't Open Junk Mail

Junk mail, or spam, is email that tries to sell you fake products or pornography, offers you ways to make lots of money, or promises to get you out of debt. The point is to make you want to click on the links inside it, which can put viruses on your computer, sell you bad products, or take your money. Email messages that do not show your email address in the “to” or “cc” lines are often spam.

Protect yourself from spam:

Do's:

• Do delete spam without opening it.
• Do set the spam blocker in your email program to medium or high. (Be sure to check your junk mail folder in case it accidentally catches mail from someone you know.)
• Use Anti-Virus Software.
• Do keep security patches up-to-date.
• Install a Firewall.
• Do reject all email and instant messages from people who you don’t know.

Don’ts:

• Don't open spam.
• Don't click on links in spam. These links can lead you to a Web site that might put a virus on your computer.
• Don't reply to spam as this gives the sender your address.
• Don't open any email attachments from anyone you do not know. These emails and attachments may contain viruses or spyware.

Report Spam

The danger in reporting spam is that you might open it and accidentally click on the links inside. Many services recommend you simply delete it. However, you can forward spam to your Internet Service Provider or the Federal Trade Commission. But do not open the spam and send it back to spammer, since that gives away your email address.