Spam
DEFINITION
Spam describes any unsolicited communication—sent either via email or instant message (IM)—intended for commercial gain. The term spam encompasses a broad array of activities, many of which—such as the distribution of phishing emails.
Recently, image spam—spam that displays its message in an image rather than in body text—has emerged in an effort to evade detection. Spammers also randomize these images using different sizes, backgrounds, and borders to prevent being blocked by spam signatures.
HOW TO TELL IF YOU’VE BEEN TARGETED BY SPAM
- Spam often, though not always, includes nonsensical, misspelled, or crude subject lines. Subject lines for much of today’s image spam are related to the sale of pharmaceuticals and luxury goods, or to providing “hot stock tips”
- Spam often, though not always, comes from email addresses and/or people who are unfamiliar to you
- Email that does not contain your name in the “To” or “CC” fields is likely spam
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PCS AND MOBILE DEVICES FROM SPAM
- Purchase and install anti-spam software. Trend Micro offers the following anti-spam solutions for individual users: Trend Micro Internet Security.
- Be sure your personal firewall is activated.
- Keep all email and IM security patches up to date.
- If you receive an unsolicited email and suspect it is spam, delete it without opening it.
- Reject any unsolicited IM communications, and consider pre-emptively blocking any messages from users not on your buddy list.
- Check with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to see what level of protection is provided against spam
OTHER RESOURCES
