Unsolicited E-Mail, Junk Mail, SPAM Mail, Phishing… let’s just call it SPAM and we all have gotten this type of trash in our email inbox.
As a rule of thumb you should never open attachments or click links within emails when the email comes from an unknown source or seems fishy.
Here are some simple do’s and don’ts to keep your personal information and computer safe from malicious emails.
DO:
- Do, delete Unsolicited emails (SPAM).
- Do, Call some you know that knows about computers if you’re unsure if it’s SPAM, never open the email or forward it.
- Do, mark it as junk. If someone SPAMs you more than once, you can right click the email and choose the “Junk” option to block them forever.
DON’T:
- Don’t open the email!
- Don’t forward the email to someone else for review!
- Don’t click links in the email!
- Don’t open attachments !
SPAM filters remove millions of SPAM email messages every day however, on occasion SPAM email does slip through the cracks.
Sometimes the emails look legitimate, they play on your fear or curiosity with subject lines like:
- Important FBI notice
- Your Credit Card is stolen
- Your computer has a virus
- Your requested information
- Blank email with only a link or attachment
Or the SPAMER will claim you won something, anything to get you to click a link or open an attachment. Many times these links and attachments will infect your PC with a virus and you won’t even know it. Other times the link or attachment will try to get you to willingly submit information to them such as personal information and/or your credit card.
Don’t fall for it, if you think it’s bad then it is bad. If you’re not sure it’s probably SPAM. Don’t open emails from unknown sources and never click links or open attachments if you’re unsure about the source.