What to do when you don't
know what to do:
Call Accent on Computers! 203-625-7575.
June 15, 2007
The Evolution of Spam
Dear Larry,
I get spam messages like everyone else though every so
often I get some that actually contain junk: random characters that appear
totally meaningless. Why is this happening? Is this a problem with my e-mail or
a problem with the spammer’s e-mail?
J. M.
Dear J. M.,
Neither. In fact, this is a cunning tactic employed by
spammers to fool and confuse anti-spam filters and help future spam get through
to your inbox. Frequently referred to as “word salad” or “selfless spam,” this
sort of e-mail is a literal example of junk mail. By reducing the effectiveness
of spam filtering, the messages are helping all future potential spammers. And
this is only one of many new methods spammers are using to prey on innocent
computer users everywhere.
Another commonly used strategy is the “embedded web beacon.”
In this case, a spammer embeds in its e-mail message a small, hidden image that
links back to content on a secret web site. When you open the e-mail message and
activate the image, your e-mail program follows the link back to the site in
order to display the picture. The result is that the web site now has a record
of who and when made the request. Most good e-mail programs these days will
automatically disable linked pictures embedded in e-mail messages unless you
specifically indicate that you want them displayed. Examples of these include
newer versions of Microsoft Outlook as well as Windows Mail, the e-mail software
that’s part of Windows Vista. If your e-mail program is unable to do this,
another option you can use is to turn off the auto-previewing feature, which
displays the content of the e-mail when you click on the sender or subject of
the message.
Also, beware of spam or even legitimate looking e-mail that
asks you to click a link to be taken to the sender’s web site. This technique,
known as phishing, is employed to make you think your bank, mortgage company,
eBay, or PayPal is writing you and requesting confirmation of sensitive
information. You click a link in the e-mail and this in turn takes you to a web
site that for all intents and purposes looks like the real thing. You’re then
requested to enter a password, a social security number, or other confidential
data. To avoid this sort of trap, simply avoid linking to financial and other
critical web sites via e-mail links. If your bank really wants you to take care
of something on their web site, you’re far better off opening your Internet
browser and manually typing in the web address.
Spam and spammers are getting more and more devious and in
some cases, more dangerous. Protect yourself by being an intelligent computer
user. You wouldn’t walk down a dark alley at midnight in the city or offer
sensitive financial information to a complete stranger on the street. In the
same token, don’t surf blindly to unfamiliar or disreputable web sites and be
careful who you talk to via e-mail or chat rooms.
This is Larry Schneider, logging off.
