Spam...

[BlckMgk]

Ive recently just started receiving large amounts of spam and I don't know how to make it stop.

Usually its legitimate advertising and I can get my self removed, but the stuff I'm receiving now has no way to remove myself from their list and its usually the same messages over and over again, i.e. "Home Loan" "Viagra" etc etc.. It seems the root addresses are coming from germany, and australia etc so its very shady business going on here. things like: @iveco.com.au

Is this a virus/spyware on my computer? Or is this just something where they got a hold my my e-mail some how and i'm just screwed? Will spam filters help prevent me from receiving this?

Need help, anything is appreciated.

-B

[Chairboy]

Hold on...  you've actually been following the 'removal instructions' in spam?

Second only to actually purchasing the things advertised, this is one of the least wise things possible to do.  By 'unsubscribing', you're often confirming that the emails are read by humans and being added to other lists of higher value.  

By using the 'remove me from your list' options, you have unwittingly signed up for massive volumes of spam.  

Your best bet is to acquire quality spam filtering software, there's no way to fix this otherwise (short of changing email addresses).

[Skuzzy]

Once you reply to any SPAM message, your email address is gauranteed to be listed with every spammer in the world shortly thereafter.

Part of, most of, the reason SPAM exists is to build a database of real email addresses so it can be sold.

There is no such thing as legitimate spam.  Most spammers are really good about fooling you with what appears to be legitimate information.

Also, you can ignore the email address they come from.  It is and will always be bogus.  They forge the email header.
===

Change your email address is the best way to stop it, and NEVER reply to spam again.

[dmf]

The first person who writes a anti-spam program that actually updates itself and works is a mulit billionare

[BlckMgk]

Darnit.. thanks for the info gents.

[Vulcan]

Originally posted by dmf
The first person who writes a anti-spam program that actually updates itself and works is a mulit billionare

Oh theres good antispam stuff around, its just not for personal users. We use Ciphertrust, because I run a 'demo lab' at work I also have a second layer using Sonicwalls EmailSecurity (formally Mail Frontier). Spam is at 0% in my work email box. Very very few false positives as well.

The problem is unless you're a 25 user organisation minimum its not worth looking at.

[lukster]

After years of begging I finally got my mother to stop sending me those e-greeting cards. You want to put someone on a spam list just send 'em one of those. If you receive one and open it you just got moved to a more active list.

[eskimo2]

[Billy Joe Bob]

wasnt that from the mythbusters exploding spam/lava lamp / bean myth?

[bikekil]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Frog

[Dago]

Originally posted by lukster
After years of begging I finally got my mother to stop sending me those e-greeting cards. You want to put someone on a spam list just send 'em one of those. If you receive one and open it you just got moved to a more active list.

I maintained my personal email for years without one pc of spam, until one day a friend put my email address on a "send this to a friend" of a video clip.  Been getting increasing spam ever since.   I have given him crap for that.  I will have to change my email eventually.

[nirvana]

E mail address i've had since 2001 get's about 100-250 spam messages per hour, the fun ones are when they come from the past or future.  We're talking 2 months ahead and way back to 2001.  I use that e mail address to sign up for unimportant stuff and my other e mail address for serious stuff, it gets about 2 spam messages a week.

[OOZ662]

Originally posted by bikekil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Frog

Might wanna read the article if you're still using it, bikekil.