It is defined as the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages, particularly advertising, indiscriminately.
It can be annoying, a security risk, and a drain on resources. Which is exactly why in this article, we will delve into the various types of spam, the ways in which it can impact individuals and organisations, and the steps that can be taken to protect against it.
To be precise, we’re going to cover:
– What Spam is
– The different types of spam
– How to protect yourself from it
By understanding spam and how to defend against it, you can safeguard your personal and professional interests and make the internet a more enjoyable and secure place for all.
What is Spam?
Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages, particularly advertising, indiscriminately.
Spam is a problem for a number of reasons. It can be annoying for users to have to go through large amounts of unwanted messages to find the emails they actually want to read.
It can also be a security risk, as spam emails often contain links to malicious websites or attachments that can install malware on a person’s computer. In addition, spam takes up valuable storage space and bandwidth, and can slow down email servers and networks.
Which is exactly why both individuals and businesses should take the right measures against spam, in order to save costs should they become a victim of a malicious attempt.
Before we dive deeper into the protection measure, let’s have a closer look at the different types of spam.
4 Types of Spam to be Aware of
There are a number of different types of spam, including:
Type #1: Phishing Spam
This type of spam is designed to trick the recipient into giving away sensitive information such as login credentials or financial information. Phishing spam often purports to be from a legitimate company or government agency, and may contain links to fake websites that are designed to look like the real thing.
Type #2: Mailing List Spam
This type of spam is sent to individuals who have signed up to receive emails from a particular company or organisation. While these emails are not necessarily unwanted, they can still be considered spam if they are sent in large quantities or if the recipient feels that they are receiving too many emails from the sender.
Type #3: Penny Stock Spam
This type of spam is used to promote the sale of low-priced, highly speculative stocks. These emails are often sent to large numbers of people in the hope of finding a few gullible individuals who will buy the stocks, driving up the price and allowing the spammer to sell their own shares at a profit.
Type #4: Advertising Spam
This type of spam is used to promote a product or service. While not all advertising emails are spam, they can still be considered spam if they are sent to large numbers of people who have not expressed an interest in the product or service being advertised.
Now that we’ve been through the different types of Spam, it’s worth seeing how you can protect yourself from them, whether a single user or business.
How to Protect Yourself from Spam Attempts
Although we could mention several ways, we’ll focus on 4 that will help you protect yourself from Spam.
Email Filters
Most email clients come with some form of spam filter that can help to identify and separate spam emails from legitimate ones.
These filters work by analysing the content of an email and looking for certain characteristics that are commonly found in spam emails, such as excessive use of capital letters or certain words and phrases.
You can usually adjust the settings on your spam filter to make it more or less aggressive in identifying spam.
Be Selective
When giving out your email address, it’s important that you are selective.
After all, the more places you give your email address, the more likely it is that you will start receiving spam.
We suggest you be selective about who you give your email address to, and consider using a separate email address for online purchases and other activities where you might be asked to provide your email.
Don’t Trust Unknown Sources
If you receive an email from an unknown sender or a sender you don’t trust, don’t click on any links or download any attachments that the email contains.
These could be malicious and could install malware on your computer.
Use the Right Products
Installing a good software program can help to protect your computer from malware that could be delivered via spam emails. Make sure to keep your antivirus program up to date, as new threats are constantly being identified.
For example, a product like N-Able MailAssure will make sure that spams and viruses will be blocked, with a guaranteed 99%+ spam detection rate!
Now Over to You
Spam is a significant issue that can impact individuals and organisations in a number of negative ways.
By understanding the different types of spam, the risks it poses, and the steps that can be taken to protect against it, you can safeguard your personal and professional interests and reduce any potential unwanted costs.
If you’re interested in receiving expert advice on how to protect your business from malicious threats, don’t hesitate to contact us for more information!
