Q How can I avoid spam e-mail?
A According to International Data Corp., about 30% of all Internet traffic is spam. While you can never eliminate junk mail altogether, here are a few tips to reduce the amount of spam directed at you or your company.
Protect your inbox. Don't give out your e-mail address to anyone you do not intend to correspond with.
Use free Web mail. For merchants and others you do not correspond with on an ongoing basis, use a free account such as Yahoo or Hotmail. This way you can keep your primary inbox clean of spam mail.
Use fake addresses. Don't give out your real e-mail address unless you need information or technical support from the organization.
Don't post your address. Resist the temptation to post your e-mail address on websites, chat groups or forums. Spammers often harvest addresses from these locations.
Never answer spam. Most times you will be sending the message back to a robot and confirming that the e-mail is legitimate. This often leads to an increase in spam mail.
Opt out. When you buy a product or service online from a reputable company, it will provide an opt-out option in the e-mail. This will remove you from the mailing list.
Read the privacy policy. Be clear on what a website can and cannot do with your e-mail address. If there is no privacy policy on a website, stay clear.
Tristan Goguen is president of Toronto-based Internet Light and Power Inc. (www.ilap.com)
