What is Spam? Signs and Ways To Avoid

Spam and advertisements can often overlap. One example would be a company sending you constant emails about sales and deals. While many of these messages don’t contain harmful links, some hackers try to mimic these emails with malicious intent. For example, a spammer might send phishing emails to gain access to your account or hardware disguised as a promotional email.

Types of Spam

Spammers use many different types of communication modes to send unwanted messages. Some spam might be marketing ploys to get you to purchase a product or service, while others contain malicious intents. One common method is image spam, where spammers use images to circumvent text-based spam filters, posing risks such as malicious links. Let’s go through a few different types of spam.

History of Spam

The term “spam” originates from an iconic Monty Python skit from the 1970s, where a group of Vikings in a restaurant sings about SPAM, a canned meat product. The relentless and unavoidable repetition of the word “SPAM” served as a metaphor for the pervasive nature of unwanted electronic messages. One of the earliest and most pronounced instances of spam occurred in 1978 when a marketer named Gary Thuerk emailed 393 recipients on the ARPANET to advertise a presentation for a new line of computers. This unsolicited email was met with significant backlash, as it violated ARPANET’s acceptable use policy, marking the beginning of the ongoing battle against spam.

Email Spam and Spoofing

Email spoofing occurs when a sender creates an email address similar to a legitimate sender and asks you for payment, account verification, or updated billing information. The goal of email spoofing is to trick you into giving away sensitive information. These types of spam emails will contain similar branding to the legitimate company. For example, a spammer might use the same logo as PayPal and send emails from multiple email addresses to increase the chances of deceiving recipients.

Phishing Scams

Phishing scammers try to hook you into remitting sensitive information, like your credit card numbers or account login information. Unsolicited email messages are a common method used in phishing scams. Phishing scams aren’t limited to email. In fact, phishing scammers might send you a text message, call your phone number, or direct message you on social media.

Tech Support Scams

Tech support scams are becoming a popular spam tactic. This type of scam alerts you of a fake technical problem and asks you to call support by reaching out to specific email addresses or calling a certain number. The person on the other end of the tech call will ask you for sensitive information to gain access to your account or device.

Spam Calls / Texts

Spam calls and texts are also common. Junk mail, another form of unsolicited communication, also plagues internet users. A spammer will send you an urgent text or leave a convincing voice message. Having spam detection and spam filters on your electronic devices is a great way to thwart unwanted emails, texts, and phone calls.

Social Media and Instant Messaging Spam

Social media spam is becoming more popular. Marketing messages, especially those sent through social media, require obtaining user consent to ensure compliance with regulations. Spammers will send a spam message to your inbox or comment on your post asking you to click a link or purchase a product. Many of these spam accounts will have very few followers and posts.

Understanding Spam

Spam is a complex issue that affects individuals, businesses, and organizations worldwide. Understanding spam requires knowledge of its types, techniques, and consequences. Spam can be categorized into various types, including commercial spam, phishing spam, malware spam, and social engineering spam. Spammers use various techniques to send spam, including phishing, spoofing, malware, and social engineering. The consequences of spam can be severe, ranging from financial losses to identity theft. By understanding the different facets of spam, individuals and organizations can better protect themselves against these unsolicited electronic messages.

How to Identify Spam Messages

Identifying spam messages is crucial in avoiding potential threats. Here are some common characteristics of spam messages:

• Unsolicited messages: Spam messages are often sent without the recipient’s consent.
• Unfamiliar sender or sender with a suspicious email address: Legitimate senders usually use their real names and email addresses.
• Urgent or threatening language: Spam messages often use urgent or threatening language to create a sense of panic.
• Requests for personal or financial information: Legitimate senders usually do not ask for personal or financial information via email.
• Suspicious attachments or links: Spam messages often contain suspicious attachments or links that can harm the recipient’s device.

To avoid spam messages, users can use spam filters, report spam messages, and be cautious when clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown senders. By staying vigilant and using these strategies, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to spam attacks.

How to Stop Spam with Spam Filters

Although it’s very difficult to completely stop spam emails and messages, there are a few different tactics you can use. Message advertising has played a significant role in the evolution of digital communication, with early instances of spam, such as Canter and Siegel’s immigration law services, shaping the perception of unsolicited electronic messages. Let’s explore these items in more detail.

Spot Phishing Attempts

Phishing attempts can be difficult to detect, especially when scammers use similar branding and email addresses as legitimate sources. If you’re in a rush, you might accidentally click the link or enter your information. The best way to reduce your chances of falling victim to phishing attempts is to look for a few key indicators.

For one, verify the email address. Does the domain match a legitimate sender? Even one letter or number being off can indicate a phishing attempt. Next, look for missing personal information. If you’re a customer of a company, they should have your name on file. If the message does not contain your name, it hints at a phishing attempt.

Another factor to look for is grammatical errors. Companies thoroughly vet emails and messages before they are sent out. If the message contains grammatical errors, think twice before you respond or click on links. If anything looks or sounds suspicious, block the spam call or the message sender.

Report Spam

Email providers have advanced controls in place to sift through spam emails; however, some can slip through the cracks. If you notice spam emails in your inbox, report the message to your provider. Most carriers have a spam reporting button that blocks future emails from the sender and alerts the provider of the spam attempt. Reporting spam in search engines can also help crack down on fraudulent websites.

It’s important to note that unwanted emails can come from legitimate senders, like a retail company. If you don’t want to receive these messages anymore, you can unsubscribe from the email list. Generally, this option will be found at the bottom of the email. Remember to verify the legitimacy of the sender before clicking on any email links.

Use Two-Factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication is a great way to protect your sensitive information from cyberattacks. Cybercriminals usually don’t have access to two of your devices, preventing them from accessing your sensitive information. All devices, especially business devices, should have two-factor authentication set up. For example, your employees will need to enter their password and then a code that populates from another device, like a cell phone.

Leverage Cybersecurity Software for Spam Detection

Cybersecurity software is a great option for reducing your risk of spam. For one, cybersecurity software runs in the background to detect malware and other harmful software. These programs will shut down your device before the hacker can access any sensitive information. Another way you can leverage cybersecurity software is in your purchasing department with Eftsure. If an employee clicks on a fictitious email and enters the company’s bank information, you can easily identify the fraudulent transaction and take the appropriate steps.

Summary

• Spam is unwanted or unsolicited emails, text messages, and phone calls.
• Some spam can come from legitimate senders, while other spam has malicious intent.
• There are many different types of spam, including email spoofing, phishing scams, tech support scams, spam calls, spam messages, and social media spam.
• To prevent and detect spam, it’s important to be able to spot phishing attempts, report spam, use two-factor authentication, and leverage cybersecurity software.