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Harry Waldron - IT Security

Security Developments, Software Updates and Best Practices

SPAM email - Avoid every URL, even those that allow you to opt out

Email SPAM emails are simply traps to entice folks to buy items or worse yet to take $$$ from folks with nothing in return.  Users should treat SPAM email they way they would telemarketing calls or postal mass marketing mail.

Sometimes spammers give you the option to supposedly "opt out" within the email message.  However, can you trust someone to truly let you opt out; when as a spammer, their ethics may be in question?  As the sender's email address may be forged (spoofed) your request may not be received.  If it does get back to the sender, you might end up sharing your email address as a "clean address" that will be added to many more SPAM data bases.  Worse yet SPAM messages are full of adware, spyware, and even viruses.  

The best option is to line up all email messages from unexpected senders, and delete them all without opening them. 

AVERT Blogs (McAfee) - Unsubscribe getting Worse
http://www.avertlabs.com/research/blog/?p=274

QUOTE:  My advice is simple: Never unsubscribe from email you did not specifically request

Email EXAMPLE >>> Click here for an example of why URLs in email messages might be dangerous Wink