SPAM e-mails... How do they do that?

[RD24601]

I’m not much a computer person, especially when it comes to in-depth knowledge of internet and the systems running those types of connections. I am curious, though, how so many places get my e-mail address. Particularly, as of late, I’m getting as many as 10-12 e-mails a day advertising on-line dating, web-cam sites, general on-line porn, etc… I’ve never given out my e-mail addy. I know there are ways to log my IP address but how do they translate that to my actual user name and address. I use microsoft internet explorer, is there some display, in that program, that advertises my actual address? And, the big question, that I’m afraid I already know the answer to, is there any way off a mailing list, once you get on it? You see the link at the bottom saying, “if you want to be removed from the mailing list click here….” but I’ve been told that just confirms the addy and you shouldn’t use it. Any direction guys (and gals)?

[Bone Daddy]

If you started getting those crappy emails it's already too late..I downloaded a spybot program to remove tracking programs ...Throw up a good firewall and it will block outgoing attemps..Activate a new email addy and use that exclusively only give it to friends, but even that won't stop the broadband spam, shot at every email addy..But I do enjoy the herbal viagra ads..:R

[mouse01]

Another way to avoid spam is to chose an email that is not going to be randomly picked by a spambot. If you are only getting 10-12 emails a day consider yourself lucky. I get about 100 at my ip mail. I don't even sort through them anymore. I just delete everything.

[RD24601]

Thanks guys for the info. Bone Daddy, what program are you talking about? Also, the addy being hit is a work addy so we use a very good firewall already. Thanks again...

rd24601

[BrainDamage]

The last issue of PC Magazine had a lot of information on how spammers get your address, and what you can do to stop a lot of spam.

Just go to the PCMAG website and search for the word SPAM... you'll get more info than you can ever imagine.

[HenryHack]

mouse:

Do you have a recommended way of choosing an email addr that is not going to be randomly picked by a spambot? I too get around 100/day but my filters keep out many of them but there are still a *lot* that get thru.

[Bone Daddy]

get yourself over to www.downloads.com and get a copy of ad-aware 6 it will find and delete some nasty programs running on your computer..Also Spybot-S&D 1.1 Rel 4 is a good program I use...

[RD24601]

I knew I was asking in the right place. Much thanks everyone. I'll give a couple of those suggestions a try.

rd24601

[HenryHack]

Hey thanks Bone Daddy! I'll give both of those a try. I appreciate your help.

[gizmo01]

Another thing to try would be SpamNet...it's basically Kazaa for spam. All the users connect to a server to report spam, so a good chunk of the spam I get is already filtered...without using keywords.

http://www.cloudmark.com/products/spamnet/

I get about 50-60 a day, and this filters about 70%-80% automatically...you need Outlook tho...

Originally posted by Bone Daddy
get yourself over to www.downloads.com and get a copy of ad-aware 6 it will find and delete some nasty programs running on your computer..Also Spybot-S&D 1.1 Rel 4 is a good program I use...

[mouse01]

Any real word with numbers after it will be picked up on. Try using something that is not a word and throw a couple of numbers in the middle. Oh and here is the biggest part. Tell people you give it to not to put it in their address book. If they do this it will only be a matter of time before you start getting spam again.