Whether it was Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa or just an opportunistic break from work, chances are you are back at your desk this morning opening up the internet world we all live and work in each day. So if you are like me, you are sorting through the post-holiday platefuls of spam! From my email to my Facebook and Linkedin accounts my new friends are trying to interest me in Viagra, weight loss, computer equipment, business advice and various other unmentionables. It’s like a bad wreck on the interstate; you know you shouldn’t look but you just can’t help it. It always amazes me to see the number of different methods they use to get through.
So can you be saved from this attack of random advertisements? Not completely, but you can eliminate a fair number before they reach your email by using a good spam detector (Pineapp is my personal favorite). If you cannot afford a spam device, at the very least use a good antivirus/spam product like Trend Micro.
My engineering counterparts at CCP are also fond of blocking spam at the point of the router and suggest using a professional firewall.
As for your social networking sites my recommendation is that you correspond frequently with the vendor to voice your complaints. Facebook recently changed their privacy policies and upgraded protection for their users due to a grass roots proactive campaign by its’ members.
If you tweet then you are all too familiar with the offensive invitations to “follow” someone who is obviously not using the outlet appropriately. Twitter is now addressing this issue due to membership complaints. Keep them coming and hopefully they will upgrade the system.
Even using the latest equipment, software and business practices, some clever marketers will still get their message through the gauntlet. I believe the most sage advice to keep your blood pressure from rising is to sort through the message with some levity. Delete, enjoy your coffee and move on with your day!