Email SPAM

The simple use of electronic mail for communication between users has become one of the top targets for attacks and hacker exploits. This weeks discussion we will focus on e-mail spam and how it’s being used to place virus on your system or redirect you to phishing website to gain person information. We’ll also discuss ways to protect your self against these threats.

Spam is basically unsolicited mail used sometimes to advertise services sent in bulk. Most users, while checking their email, may receive this type of mail and don’t know how to treat it, because recently spammers have created spam mail that looks like legitimate advertisements from commercial websites.  Once received and read the user is lead to believed that clicking on the links setup in the spam will direct them to gifts, prizes, or savings from the actual authentic commercial websites. But in reality this will lead you to download virus or malware used to destroy the uses of your system. Also, you can be sent to phishing sites, which are used to gain your personal information to use it for malicious use. The best way to protect yourself from such attacks is to

1.     Never click on the links of any mail. If your directed to download information from an unsolicited email it’s most likely a something bad being downloaded. Take the time to exit out of the mail and find the proper site.

2.     Never type your personal information into pages you have been redirected to. Take the time here also to find the authentic site.

Using these steps can save you from such problems as identity theft and system failure or loss.