Spam Exchange: Stop That Unwanted Email
Spam Exchange
Spam can be a real productivity killer if not managed properly. Many hours of otherwise productive time can be wasted filtering through unwanted email.
That's why we've created this special page within the site to advise on some of the ways spam can be managed in your Microsoft Exchange Server.
We all have experienced some degree of spam in our mail boxes. For a few of us it isn't much of a issue, but for others the amount of unsolicited mail, received on a given day, can be quite time consuming and irritating. The unsolicited mail comes from so many places that responding to the, “Click to unsubscribe”, is fruitless. By and large, you might get more spam messages then regular ones.
How do you get rid of or minimize the effect of these unwanted messages? That issue is up for debate. A few will claim it is most effective to get rid of the spam before it actually reaches the user. Other folks believe that solely the user can accurately identify junk e-mail. Both viewpoints have validity and provide their own pluses and minuses.
Eliminating junk before it reaches the end user will surely minimize the load on the exchange server. An additional potential benefit is that virus risks should be blocked from the user, decreasing the risk of contamination on your overall system. However, with these rewards come problems. Junk blockers are in no way completely precise in identifying spam, so the possibility of email getting incorrectly recognized as spam is always there. When your end users do not get the messages they are expecting, valuable time is lost in pursuing and reinstating these emails. Just reviewing your Junk mail folder at home will verify the inaccuracies of any junk e-mail filter
The option of filtering junk, at the end user level, also has its pros and cons. Your help desk will likely be happy that it will no longer have to field all those missing email phone calls. Nevertheless the burden of managing all of that undesirable e-mail now rests with the user. Undoubtedly the end user is more efficient at discovering spam, but do you really want them spending a lot time searching through and organizing their e-mail directories?
What's the best way to get rid of or lessen the impact of these unwanted emails? That issue is up for discussion. Some will claim it’s most effective to remove the unsolicited mail before it actually gets to the end user. Other folks insist that only the end user can precisely identify junk. Both opinions have credibility and present their particular advantages and disadvantages.
All of us have encountered some level of unsolicited mail in our mail folders. For a few of us it’s not much of a issue, but for others the degree of junk, received on a given day, can be very time consuming and aggravating. The unsolicited mail originates from so many different sources that responding to the, “Click to be removed from our list”, is pointless. By and large, you may get more junk emails then normal ones.
Removing spam before it reaches the end user will certainly decrease the load on the exchange server. Yet another potential advantage is that virus threats may be blocked from the user, minimizing the risk of infection on your overall system. However, with these benefits come disadvantages. Spam blockers are certainly not totally precise in discovering junk, and so the potential of e mail getting incorrectly recognized as unsolicited mail is always there. When your end users do not receive the emails they're anticipating, energy is wasted in pursueing and restoring these messages. Just reviewing your Junk mail folder at home will verify the inaccuracies of any junk filter.
The alternative of blocking junk e-mail, in the user level, also offers its benefits and drawbacks. Your tech support is going to be happy that it no longer has to field all of those missing e-mail phone calls. Nevertheless the burden of managing all of that undesirable e-mail now rests with the end user. Certainly the end user is more efficient at identifying junk e-mail, but do you really want them losing a lot time searching through and organizing their e-mail files?
A recent report showed that over 82% of all US email is spam. With about 980 million email accounts around the world, it would be interesting to see what the world wide spam percentage is. Spam is becoming more and more insistent and with spammers teaming up with virus writers, the situation is growing increasingly malicious.
Software technicians work non-stop to block, combat and inform the public of new spam tactics. One such tactic is the "Literary and Poetry" spam. People open their emails to find entire chapters of books or entire poems in the email body. This has left quite a few people scratching their heads. The reason why spammers are now using this approach is it allows them to bypass spam filters.
Spammers never use their own email address, but will typical have thousands if not millions of disposable accounts. They can send spam out to millions upon millions of emails within minutes. The use of open proxies are often used to hide the spammer's location or the will take control of a host computer (a victim's computer filled with the right malware, viruses and worms) and send out mass spam. All the while, it remains completely undetected. With such a hit and run technique is can be very difficult to track down spammers. When they are found fines and/or jail time is common punishment.
There are numerous tricks that people can use that can off-set the amount of spam they receive. Most if not all email providers have their own encryption and security software to minimize spam. Then of course there are spam filters as well as white and black lists that individuals can use to decrease spam. Anti-virus software usually has spam guard features that can assist. Some anti-spam methods work better than others, so it's always best to research to find the best one that works for your needs.
There are millions of heartbreaking stories of people who have been victims of spam. The best way to avoid being a victim is never click a link of someone you don't know. Also make sure your email provider has a good spam filter and get a good anti-spam blocker from a reputable Anti-virus company. Plus stay on top of all the new spam trends. These spammers are becoming more sophisticated and now that they have partnered up with virus writers; spam is may just get a brand new face. Don't be caught unaware.
Spam put simply is bulk email sent out by individuals or companies to try to get business from people. In many cases these are not targeting you in particular, but you are one of thousands of recipients, and the people or businesses are 'fishing' for responses. If you are unlucky enough to open or respond to any of these, your email address gets collected and put in a pool, sold to other spamming companies, which brings you even more unwanted solicitations.
So, how can you prevent spam from getting in? Well although you can't get rid of ALL spam, because spammers have creative ways to get into your mail. They will use people's names as part of the spam, like "Alice wants to help you with your credit history," or some other name. There are ways though that you can cut down on the amount of spam that you have to deal with every day.
First is turning on or up the spam filters on the email provider. Usually there is some kind of tab you can use. While this won't prevent all spam,
the majority will automatically go into you spam file. When you
are going over your emails, don't open anything at first. Look
down the list of senders, and if you don't recognize a sender,
then click on the check mark and move it to your spam folder
without opening it. If you get an email from someone you don't
even know, that is a spam, get rid of it.When you are online, doing your business, whether it is browsing the internet, buying products or whatever, be very careful about who you give your email address out to. In some cases you can inadvertently be supplying your address to spamming pools. Only give your email out to companies you trust, like Amazon, or Ebay, to name a few. Make sure you read the fine print to make sure these companies are not going to try to solicit you business, or sell you address to the highest spam bidder.