10 ways to reduce e-mail SPAM. Everyone hates e-mail SPAM, but if you use e-mail (as we all do), SPAM-EMAILS are a fact of life. 1 or 2 spam emails a day are to be expected, but if the majority of your mail is SPAM or JUNK you need a quick lesson in SPAM management. Here are our top 10 tips on reducing or eliminating EMAIL SPAM.   1. NEVER UNSUBSCRIBE… from SPAM or JUNK emails Even if you think the email is genuine, by hitting the unsubscribe link on your email or your phone, you may simply be confirming that your email is genuine. This will prompt the spammers into sending you more SPAM and give them the opportunity to sell on your email details to other spammers. example: PC/Laptop/MacBook/iMac Example: Smartphone   2. NEVER open suspicious emails in a browser Many SPAM emails will have a link on them saying “open this email in a browser” or “if you cannot read this email click here“, such as the example below. NEVER click on these links or any other links on suspicious emails as this will either confirm your identity or worse still, infect your computer with a virus.   3. ALWAYS REFUSE to accept “Read-Receipt” requests Spammers will sometimes attempt to confirm your email address by requesting a read-receipt (see image below). NEVER accept this receipt because just like in item 1 above, all you are doing is confirming that your address is a genuine one and you will invite even more SPAM. Select “No” when you see a message similar to this. 4. In Outlook – block pictures in HTML messages Although this renders most emails unreadable and it is switched on Automatically in Outlook it is highly recommended by Microsoft.. By default, this feature blocks automatic picture downloads and other external content in messages if the content is linked to a server. If you open a message that has external content when this feature is turned off, the external content downloads automatically, inadvertently verifying to the server that your e-mail address is a valid one. Your e-mail address can then be sold to a spammer. You can unblock external content for messages that come from sources that you trust. 5. If a company uses e-mail messages to ask for personal information, don’t respond by sending a message Most legitimate companies will not ask for personal information to be sent in e-mail. Be suspicious if they do. Such a request could be a spoofed e-mail message disguised to look like a legitimate one. This tactic is known as phishing. If the possible spam appears to be sent by a company that you do business with — for example, your credit card company — then call the company to verify that they sent it, but don’t use any phone number that is provided in the e-mail. Instead, use a number that you find by using other means, such as directory assistance, a statement, or a bill. If the request is a legitimate one, the company’s customer service representative should be able to assist you. 6. When installing new software or a new online service, make sure you are NOT agreeing to sign up to their newsletter or agree to receive promotional materials. Every time you sign up for a new service or purchase a program or software, there are often check-boxes which are ticked by default, where you maybe inadvertently “agreeing” to receive junk-mail from that or other associated companies. Some companies (including major corporations and banks) ask if they can on-sell your information to third parties!!! …be very careful when apply or downloading anything from the Internet. Watch out for check boxes that are already selected When you shop online, companies sometimes add a check box that is already selected, which indicates that it is fine with you if the company sells or gives your e-mail address to other businesses (or “third parties”). Clear this check box so that your e-mail address is not shared. 7. Configure your email to block SPAM email and Phishing threats Rather than using the limited SPAM protection methods provided by your ISP or website host. You can have more-powerful email spam handling, upgrading your email to Microsoft Hosted Exchange or use Outlook 365 to give you much more power to delete SPAM and phishing threats at source. The best available protection again Phishing is from Microsoft and is called “Advanced Threat Protection” or “ATP” and is available to anyone using the following Microsoft Hosted Exchange or Microsoft Office 365  Business or Enterprise subscription plans. Exchange Online Plan 1, Exchange Online Plan 2, Exchange Online Kiosk, Exchange Online Protection, Office 365 Business Essentials, Office 365 Business Premium, Office 365 Enterprise E1, Office 365 Enterprise E2, Office 365 Enterprise E3, Office 365 Enterprise E4, Office 365 Enterprise K1, Office 365 Enterprise K2, Office 365 Education. Advanced Threat Protection” or “ATP” and is available to anyone using the above Microsoft Hosted Exchange or Microsoft Office 365  Business or Enterprise subscription plans and is an additional $2.86 per mailbox per month You can re-direct your existing email address through Hosted Exchange and Advance Threat Protection to eliminate SPAM and Phishing emails and still seamlessly send and receive using Apple mail and your current email address. Call us for details. How to stop emails going to junk folder However, no matter what email program you use, each usually has to be configured to block spam email either automatically or manually. The way this is done, varies according to the email program you are using. Select the program you are using from the list below.   Email Programs Office 2007 (for Windows) Office 2008 (Entourage) for Mac Office 2010 (for Windows) Office 2011 (for Mac) Office 2013/2016 (for Windows) – Office 365 Office 20013/2016 for Mac – Office 365 Windows Live Mail Apple Mail (iOS – iPhone/iPad) Android Mail Webmail Gmail Yahoo Mail Hotmail/Outlook 8. Turn off  automatic processing of meeting requests Spammers sometimes resort to sending meeting requests and messages that include requests for read and delivery receipts. Responding to … Continue reading How to reduce the amount of e-mail SPAM you receive