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Spam

What is spam?

Spam is an email message sent to multiple recipients who did not ask to receive it. Email messages are not considered spam if a user has signed up to receive them or if they come from a trusted source.

What is spam protection?

Spam protection, also known as anti-spam, helps keep you and your family or business safe from dangerous web site spoofs that can lead to your PC, potentially compromise your identity, and threaten the security of what you value.

Is phishing a form of spam?

Yes, phishing is a dangerous form of spam. It is a method of fraudulently obtaining personal information, such as passwords, social security numbers, and credit card details, by sending spoofed emails that look like they come from trusted sources, such as banks or legitimate companies.

Why do I need a spam protection?

Everyone needs spam protection because registering with just one web site can result in hundreds of junk emails per week, not to mention the danger of phishing emails described above.

To help prevent spam, McAfee recommends that users do the following:

  • Don't publish your email address on any web site or discussion forum.
  • Use a separate email address to sign up for newsletters, online postings, and trade shows. If your mailbox starts receiving an abundance of spam, you can delete the mailbox or filter it more aggressively.
  • If you didn't sign up to receive an email, or if you don't recognize the sender, do not unsubscribe from the list. By unsubscribing, you show the spammer that your email address is active.
  • If you use web-based email services, report spam to the service provider. This helps the provider more accurately determine which messages are spam .
  • Use anti-spam software, which blocks 97 percent to 99 percent of spam, to significantly reduce the spam in your inbox.
  • Keep a collection of mail you want to stop receiving and determine which email addresses or phrases in the messages don't change. Use this information to keep further unwanted email out of your inbox by creating filters.
  • Do not reply to spam. And, most importantly, don't buy anything from spammers.
Spam research
Security Information Library