Spam and Scam Prevention: Use Gmail

The next time you open your inbox, this article will help you learn how to prevent and deal with spam and phishing scams.

Gmail has a great number of security measures in place to filter out spam. Such emails still make it into the account, but 99% of the time they end up in the Spam folder (appropriately enough). The folder is well laid out, allowing you to delete all of it with a single click, saving you from sloshing through it all to delete it individually. When you continually get spam from the same address you can report them to Google's spam department, as well as make your own filter that will delete all mail from that address. Head to Gmail.com for more information about filters.

Spam arrives in your mailbox for various reasons, the main one being people can lookup your email address whenever you enter it online. While it doesn't mean you shouldn't tell anyone about it, you do need to be careful about where it ends up online. To that end, refrain from posting it in online chat groups or message boards. Don't give it out to everyone, especially people you don't know very well. Professional spammers have a talent for finding email addresses anywhere in cyberspace, at which point they'll either target your mailbox or sell your address to other spammers who will.

Along the same lines, try to keep all newsletter and ezine subscriptions to a minimum, and avoid them altogether if possible. Spammers can find these lists with frightening ease. Don't enter your name or email to any websites who ask for you to subscribe if you aren't 100% sure the owner won't sell it to a spammer. Granted, some newsletters may seem attractive, especially when they're offering something for free in exchange. Be careful in situations like this, and make sure you only subscribe to the newsletters in which you actually have an interest, not because you just want the free item. If you absolutely need it, consider setting up a throwaway account somewhere for that specific purpose. If the site looks suspicious or poorly designed, don't enter your address under any circumstances.

One of the most dangerous types of spam is the phishing scam. Phishers try to get at your sensitive information, like your passwords and social security number. These scammers are much more dangerous than your average spammer; they send emails pretending to be a well-known company, like a bank or Paypal. The email can also contain spyware that's difficult to remove from your computer, so it's best to delete these without looking at them, and never(!) click on their links. The link will take you to a site asking you to input valuable information they can then steal and use for their own purposes.

Links found within emails can usually be viewed beforehand so you know if they're legit. Just hover your mouse over the link without clicking and see where the link would take you. If the links don't match up, delete it right away.

In today's world you need to view spam though it were as dangerous as a virus, because these days it could very well be. The online world can be a dangerous place to be if you aren't careful. This article is meant to help make your online adventures safer.