| Frequently Asked SPAM Questions |
- How did the spammers get my e-mail address?
- I've been spammed, what do I do now?
- Where should I send Junkmail complaints?
- Do "Remove" requests really work?
- Does Red Shift have filters to keep spam from getting through?
- How can I keep the spam that does get through the network filters to a minimum?
- Why do I often get junkmail that's not addressed to me?
- What can I do to keep from getting added to mailing lists?
- What should I do if I need to give an e-mail address but don't want to disclose my private e-mail address?
- Where do I find the headers of my spam email to report it properly?
- How do I change my SPAM filter settings?
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1. How did the spammers get my e-mail address?
E-mail addresses can be pulled from newsgroup posts, web pages, irc clients, web browsers and from other Internet software. It's also possible that your address was added to a list from a form that you filled out someplace on the World Wide Web.
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2. I've been spammed, what do I do now?
You have a few different options.
- Some prefer to just delete it and not give it any more thought. When you aren't sure how to complain, or who to complain to this is the best way to handle it.
- Others prefer to find the originating network themselves from the full headers, then send the message to the administrators of that network. If you prefer to handle it in this manner make sure the complaint is sent to the proper address.
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3. Where should I send Junkmail complaints?
Most networks reserve the Abuse and Postmaster addresses for e-mail problems. There are a few networks that have special addresses to be used such as Mailspam, Fraud or Mail-abuse. A network will usually list their complaint address someplace on their Web site. If you are not sure, send your complaint to Postmaster.
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4. Do "Remove" requests really work?
We do not feel that proper attention is paid to Remove requests by the spammers. We actually recommend that they not be sent! There have been many instances in the past where addresses that send these types of requests have been added to "extra-reliable" address lists, and have received much more spam.
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5. Does Red Shift have filters to keep spam from getting through?
Network filters are exactly what they are listed as, network filters. They are an all or nothing solution that defers all mail or lets all mail through from remote networks. When spam makes up a small portion of the e-mail that we receive from a network we will not consider adding them to the filters. In cases where an overwhelming majority of incoming e-mail from a certain network is spam, that network will most likely be added to the filters.
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6. How can I keep the spam that does get through the network filters to a minimum?
We recommend using an e-mail program that has filtering capability. Two of the most common are Pegasus and later versions of Eudora. There are many others that do the job, too. Go to any Web site that offers downloadable programs: shareware, freeware, or commercialware. You can find the best one to suit your needs, at the price that is right for you. You can usually put in your own filtering criteria so that any mail you do not want will not get through.
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7. Why do I often get junkmail that's not addressed to me?
Spammers use lists of e-mail addresses. The specialized programs that are used to send spam will take a list and use the BCC: (Blind Carbon Copy) features to send to all addresses on the list, without any of the recipients seeing the addresses, including their own. It's important to remember: the To:, From:, and other fields of the e-mail that are usually visible DO NOT contain the addressing information that is used to deliver e-mail to your mailbox. The address information is contained in the Envelope of the e-mail that is discarded when it arrives at the e-mail server. The e-mail server then places the message in your mailbox. If it was in your mailbox, it was addressed to you. The Red Shift Network will not place unsolicited e-mail in any mailbox for a fee, nor do we condone the abuse of our customers in any way relating to spam.
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8. What can I do to keep from getting added to mailing lists?
The best way to prevent getting spam or getting added to mailing lists is to keep your e-mail address private. Trusting your e-mail address to close friends and family will usually not result in spam. Placing your e-mail address in "Address Areas" of Internet programs, online submission forms or anywhere in a public forum such as one or more newsgroups however, is practically a guarantee that your address will be placed on a list somewhere. "Munged" addresses or disguised addresses ( Abuse at Red Shift dot Com) that appear to be immune from automated address collecting "Bots" are usually added to the list manually by the spammer.
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9. What should I do if I need to give an e-mail address but don't want to disclose my private e-mail address?
Setting up a public address from one of the free e-mail services on the Internet such as Hotmail, Bigfoot, Iname, or Usa (just to name a few) for public posts is often the best way to go. These sites offer a fine service that includes many features (including filtering), ensuring that abuse of your private address is minimized or deferred altogether.
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10. Where do I find the headers of my spam email to report it properly?
Spamcop.Net has a link that explains how to find the headers in multiple email programs. Click HERE to visit that site.
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11. How do I change my SPAM filter settings?
If you are using a Apple/Macintosh computer, please click here.
If you are using a Microsoft Windows computer, please click here.
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