In Case you're Unsure - The Potential Dangers of Spam!

In Case you're Unsure - The Potential Dangers of Spam!

I am, like a lot of other people, getting email 'notifications' from Microsoft about this or that which needs updating for my protection. In case you are still unsure, Microsoft doesn't send broadcast mail to everyone. The only reason they will send you something is if you've signed up for it.

As a general rule, don't believe anything you get in an email unless you are expecting it or it comes from someone you already know. Even then, be very suspicious because they might have caught a virus which is sending emails 'from them' without their knowledge.

NEVER, EVER click on links that invite you to "click here to update your system".

ANY email like "Microsoft have confirmed this to be a problem" (or Symantec or any other company) is almost certainly a hoax, so don't pass on these 'warnings' without typing the significant words into Google and seeing what the world has to say about them. There have been hundreds over the years and so far they have ALL been in my experience hoaxes. Passing them on just clogs up mail systems. If you're not sure, check first, with your IT Team.

We all still get huge amount of spam;hoax mails, promise of this mails, promise of that mails, Mr Umbopo's millions mails, Pay Pal security mails, bank security mails, Lottery winnings mails, the list is endless. Anti-spam systems tend to do a good job in blocking these emails but some will get through because they just can't be identified as spam: they contain lots of ordinary words; don't come from anywhere special; don't contain and 'key' words; the unwanted advert or content is just a graphic and a link to some new dodgy place which has to be reported and distributed to the world's spam engines. This takes time, during which the spammers move on to a new one.

At the moment, there are cleverly branded emails purporting to be from Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. They actually look like they have actually come from these companies....please IGNORE, they are Spam.

In short, keep your wits about you. If the email seems too good to be true, it probably isn't true.

For more tips, click on Internet/Web tips to grow your business.

Ian Lockyer

www.easimarketing.com

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