Wes Groleau said:Pete said:I have only received 3 spam mails in the last three weeks
Quoted message said:Then you are fortunate enough to have an address that doesn't fit any of the 'guessing' algorithms
that spammers use.
On the contrary, the address you see in this post is harvested frequently.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:and not a single incidence of a virus for over 8 months. I
Quoted message said:Then either your ISP is filtering them or you have NO acquaintances using Windows.
My ISP does provide filtering.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:The only way to be spam free is to adopt the recommended techniques. As soon as you do - then you
will see the difference almost immediately. And the best thing of all, there is no way for the
spammers to get arround it.
Quoted message said:I've used all these techniques. They make a big difference but they don't make one spam-free. And
they all have disadvantages. Some of the disadvantages are worth it (to me) and some are not. For
the latter, I gave up that particular technique.
Hmmmm.........perhaps it wasn't 'tight' enough.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:1] Have two or three mail accounts that you can access, if you wish, either by pop3 or web based
interface. Select one [the one provided as a matter of course by your access provider] as
your main mail facillity. With this one - adopt the following policies:
Quoted message said:Indeed. I had three. I gave NO ONE the "main" address. I gave friends a despammed.com address
which forwarded to the 'real' address (after the filtering set up by them). I used myrealbox.com
on Usenet because that one had some filtering but still (allegedly) allowed me to write my own
rules for what their conservative filters didn't catch. Dropped them because the rule mechanism
didn't work.
oops
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:[a] Never ever quote it either on the web, usenet or any other electronic communication medium.
Allow access to it only to friends, relatives and trusted business contacts but never quote
it in a direct e-mail in the body. Not even
Quoted message said:If you give your "real" address to ONE novice Windows user, in three months hundreds of them will
have it. Half of those will be forwarding urban legends that they received WITH your address inside
in an unsnipped header from an earlier forwarding.
That is usually the way of things. I only use my 'main' account for sending to 'trusted parties' who
are not novices. All others only know of one of my 'other addresses' which I either access via the
web to select those I want or have forwarded. So when my stupid daughter sends me a joke from work -
which has also been sent to a dozen other people
- it never gets to my main account. No she does not have my main address. I am not that daft - yet.
[quote="Quoted message"][quote="Quoted message"][b] Never quote it on commercial forms or surveys.[/quote][/quote]
Quoted message said:Bingo! On the paper side, I still get junk mail where the second address line is literally "NO
JUNK MAIL"
In the UK there is a service called The Preferential Service. You apply to them for an exemption
mailing. They send you a huge 'tick box' survey form on which you are encouraged to indicate what
mail [spam] you'd like to receive. [daft init?] But the trick is to tick the no boxes. They will
then erase your mail and phone details from the lists that are compiled and sent to those who pay
for them. The service is valid for a year. It takes about three months to kick in but it does work
90% of the [censored] did stop. It has started again.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:2] The other mail accounts - should be:
[c] Used when it is necessary to have a vailid mail account as a means of validating entitlement
or identity to acquire internet service facillities.
Quoted message said:See www.sneakemail.com
Ok..............
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:[d] Use one only for use on usenet and do not do so without
[snip]
[e] Use one for web based applications such as form filling
Quoted message said:Currently I have a Unix account that allows me to do things like [email hidden] AFAIK (I
don't look at most of the spam) address-harvesters don't pick those up. Only the almost certainly
NOT spam or viruses are forwarded to my 'real' address.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:5] Never use 'Rich Text' or HTML format for creating or responding to mail.
Quoted message said:That doesn't help me at all. But I sure wish the rest of the world would comply.
LOL
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:6] Never download or accept an attachment unless you can positively identify the sender by name.
Quoted message said:Obviously. However, if you need this rule, then you ARE getting spam or viruses to apply
this rule to.
No not necessarily. Just because there is no body out in the street at 2 am does not mean I can
wander about naked.
I apply the rule to all in coming mail. Without exception. I have failed to respond to mail and been
telephoned by the sender some time later. I explained why I never responded. It seemed to have the
desired effect.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:7] Never download a mail unless you can positively identify the sender by name.
Quoted message said:i.e., never accept help with technical questions or diabetes questions from anyone except your face-to-
face acquaintances. Require all your customers (if you have any) to use snail mail for support.
That was not worded very well. Was it? But I think you know what i mean by that. Some of my
corespondents use anacronyms or silly names etc but I do recognise them as I do yours and others
that are 'regular in here'. Then there are those that I expect to respond eg [email hidden] or
similar. And there again there are those that appear [email hidden] If a mail is
unsolicited and originates from anywhere or anyone other than those in my address
list.................splat - gone.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:8] Avoid using clients that are the most popular. ....
Quoted message said:Even if that means giving up techniques you have mentioned that aren't supported by what's
available for your O.S. ? (or do you suggest I give up all my anti-hacker features just so I can
use a Windoze e-mail client?)
nope.......I think there is a miscommunication somewhere here. I use a bastardised version of 98SE
but do not use standard or common programs. I usualy prefer those written for 95 before 98 and up
existed. Many would be electerrorists are not interested in exploiting old stuff. No cudos - been
there done that etc.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:9] Never ever use the Windoze Address Book facility or any other address book that is 'built
into' your mail client. Use a standalone software and copy/paste addresses. There
Quoted message said:I don't use an address book at all. If I did, I certainly would not pick one that is inconvenient
in order to avoid seeing spam that I already never see.
Well that's fine for you. I also do not use an address book. I use a Data Base.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:are a lot of free ones available. Or create your own.
Quoted message said:HA! 99% of the viruses come from computers whose owners are incapable of creating address book
software.
All you need is a text editor............duh.....
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:10] Never ever use the 'REPLY' facillity in your client. Most automatically insert 'Re:' as the
first characters in the subject line. If you do then ammend the subject line to delete 'Re'
before sending.
Quoted message said:Please explain how typing in (or pasting) an address has a greater anti-spam effect than allowing
the client to auto-paste the SAME address.
That was a direct reference to the 'auto complete' facillity provided by most windoze mail clients
which neccessitates a 'shared facility' to allow address book interaction. But you knew that. The
significance? ........
Typing in manually or copy\paste does not require a shared file. Therefore no direct access to other
mail addresses via shared or linked files. However, some viruses are capable of running about your
system to seek addresses wherever they may be. It's not new tech but after getting them it still has
to get out. Most are designed to utilise weaknesses in MS products, certain protocols etc. Anything
you can do to configure away from the normal is good.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:11] Never download a mail with 'Re' 'Hello' Adv Fwd [to mention a few] in the subject line and
avoid doing so yourself.
Quoted message said:Don't receive "re" or "fwd" ? In other words, tell your friends (if you have any left by now)
"Don't bother trying to communicate with me unless you're willing to obey all MY anti-spam
policies.
You missed the point didn't you? My associates do not send mail that has Re, Fwd etc in the subject
line. Those that are likely to do so using an alternate account which as I have stated, is accessed
via the web. I didn't say they could not communicate with me. The whole point is that I have a mail
address that is secure from attack. I also have a few that are vulnerable. And my system is not.
Do you measure your worth by the number of people you refer to as friends? Curious. I have work
associates and family who mail/video me. I have a few associates in far flung places who mail me. My
friends phone me and occasionaly mail me files otherwise we go to the pub for a chat.
My friends and I do not communicate on usenet.
Quoted message said:The others go to /dev/null very early in the filtering process.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:12] Never ever respond to a spammer or follow a link provided in the body of the mail if you have
inadvertantly downloaded it.
Quoted message said:Wise advice.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:13] If you complain to a spammer then do not use youe main mail address to send the complaint.
Use one of the others
Quoted message said:Don't complain to spammers.
Agreed but there are those that insist on doing so.
Quoted message said:Ignore them if you don't have the and talent to complain to someone who can actually do something
about them.
Goes without saying.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:14] Never CC or Fwd mail.
Quoted message said:Doesn't stop you from getting spam or viruses. Merely gets you into mailboxes of people who are
following your rule #11
There are many viruses that are propogated by mail that carries in the subject line Re: Fwd: Hi: and
others. Also, some spammer mail tools generate these and similar en masse. The proof is out there
hang on a minute.............here we go
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Return-Path: <[email hidden]> Received: from ppp-67-126-131-
234.dsl.irvnca.pacbell.net
(67.126.131.234) by [] id 401D2638000F469E; Mon, 2 Feb 2004
67:127:45 +0000 Received: from [] (authenticated (0 bits)) by 67.126.131.234 with Microsoft SMTPSVC;
Sun, 01 Feb 2004 22:05:36 -0600 X-Authentication-Warning: pptmtvgqr zcoreo 410 Date: Sun, 01
Feb 2004 22:05:36 -0600 From: "Weldon Tyler" <[email hidden]> Reply-To:
"Weldon Tyler" <[email hidden]> Message-Id:
<8458115110.0293110700294913501223@qkaquzxgo> To:
Subject: Re: extolling telefunken
References: <92361579186931107051983@fktbhfeoy> In-Reply-To: <92361579186931107051983@fktbhfeoy> X-
Mailer: juickgp nigfxm, dmavnr Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="--
464299035208030903"
Hey there! I want to thank you for your fast reply yesterday. I just found a site where you can
order mediqcations cheaper than in any drupgstore and it is really huge saving. They can write you
prevscription so no need to spend all day in waiting rooms and pay a doctor. Frbee shirpping in any
country. Follow this link to check out
Best regards, Weldon Tyler ++++++++++++++++===== Did you notice the Re:? BTW this one was clean but
another I selected was in fact carrying a load. But it got nowhere.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:15] Never send unsolicited mail yourself - to private individuals and do not use your main
account for 'cold mailing' to others. Not even reputable businesses.
Quoted message said:Doesn't stop you from receiving the [censored]--but it's certainly the civilized way to behave.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:16] Use an AV product - and there are free ones about - which will scan boot up and all mail
inbound and outbound.
Quoted message said:If you receive "not a single incidence of a virus for over 8 months", why bother?
It is unwise to assume that you are 100% safe. Again you missed my point. The only mail I download
to my system is mail arriving directly to my one main address via my ISP. Access to it is severely
restricted as I have explained. Hence I do not get attacks or spam. However, if I were to access
mail via the web and decide to download it, then I open a window of vulnerability. Also, there is
the possibility that one of those who do have my address might be infected. I do not think it wise
to take the chance when there is no need. I always AV my out mail.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:17] Use a browser cleaner such as Spybot/Adaware every other day to remove trackers etc. Also
remove Cookies/History every week.
Quoted message said:I accept cookies only from specific sites and discard them on browser exit. I never take spy-ware,
so I don't need to remove it.
Depends upon how you prefer to browse. Not everyone wants to operate the way you do.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:18] Disable or remove all internet protocols from your system tha are not essential. Such as
IPS/SPX and remove Netbios from Networking if you do not need it. For usenet/web and mail you
only need TCP/IP
19] Use a firewall - there are free ones available such as Kerio.
20] Use a 'Port Listener' - again free - to monitor what ports are bing accessed.
Quoted message said:My firewall blocks everything except protocols specifically allowed. And blocks IP addresses owned
by outfits that refuse to (or can't) shut down their hackers. It also logs what's going on, in, or
out. (actually, it's supposed to, but after a recent upgrade, logging seems to be broken.)
Ooopppps. Mine does the same.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:21] Never leave your equipment unattended, on and connected.
Quoted message said:I have my reasons for leaving it on. But since it's dial-up, I don't let it keep the phone busy round-the-
clock. :-)
LOL I know..........I used to leave mine on because I used it as forwarding/notification service and
used to access it when out and about but there was a power failure some time ago and my sys got
trashed. I cannot be doing with a backup so i developed an alternate strategy and now switch off
when I am away.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:22] Unload all Network capability if not in use.
Quoted message said:See above.
Quoted message said:To make a long story short (he should have said that an hour ago) your "minimum" contains items
that would be inconvenient for me (and possibly others) with NO benefit. It contains others that
would definitely help the spam/virus problem--at the cost of telling my parents and siblings "Since
you are computer illiterate, I don't want to hear from you again."
I think you missed the point but it do not matter. I probably shouldn't have bothered.
Quoted message said:To make it even shorter: _Y_M_M_V_
Diagnosed 20/03/03 Type II D&E + Metformin + Gliclazide
+ Asprin 210lbs at Dx to BMI 166lbs achieved. To mail: aspen at freeuk.com