Spam, spam, spam, junk email, chain letters, jokemail ...& Spam
an article by R Lipsky

Since mail is the main gateway for letting viruses into today's computers, then it a source that must be addressed. The internet mail system has been around since the late 60`s. Today it is on the verge of overload, with spam, junk emails and joke mails being passed around so freely. Spam and jokes fill up our in box quickly these days no matter what service you subscribe to. The more mail that circulates, the more overloaded the internet mail system gets. Virus hoaxes spread rampantly. An email gets sent to an unsuspecting recipient that tells of a horrible new virus that was found. It usually tells that a reputable company such as Microsoft or Symantec found the virus, thus making the message sound more credible. It goes on to tell of the hideous destructive power of the new virus, so you should email all your friends and warn them. So you forward the email to everyone in your address book, with good intentions, and most of your friends do the same. The virus itself is not real. But now you've caused hundreds or even thousands of emails to be sent out in a chain reaction. That is an illness that plagues the already overburdened email system. Joke mail and chain letters spread in the same manner. We must all use restraint and avoid the temptation to send out these mass mailings.

Spam that reaches our box is also overloading the email system, and make it possible for us to accidentally delete, or lose a piece of mail that we should be opening. We may also get a virus through these emails. Spam, along with all unsolicited junk mail should be deleted immediately. Thus avoiding any potential threat. Some utilities and mail systems can filter spam and junk mail for us before it fills up our boxes. This is a good thing to take advantage of. Email filters can filter out all mail from a certain address, a certain domain, or even messages with certain keywords in it. You can also choose to filter out all mail except mail from certain addresses.

Never download any files from a stranger or unsolicited source. This applies to attachments to an email or on an unknown, suspicious, or irreputeable website. Even downloads from people you may know can contain viruses. Newer viruses attach to people's email address books, and can email their virus files out to those recipients. The email will look like it came from your friend, so you open the attachment. Nothing seems to happen and you think there was just a problem with the file, but you just unleashed the virus upon your own system and by doing so you have also put your friends in your own address book at risk as well. If you receive an email attachment from an acquaintance, the best thing to do is to email them back and ask them simply, 'what is this that you sent me?' If their answer is '..uh I didn't send you anything' then delete the file immediately, and definitely do not open it! If they say that it is pictures from their recent trip, it is probably fine to check it out. If you must open an unknown attachment scan it with an antivirus utility first just to be sure.

If you should need assistance eradicating bugs on your system click here and explain your problem on the message board ,
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...continued next month.

*Rich Lipsky is the owner and operator of ComputerHelp911.com, a local company that specializes in solving computer problems for local residents and businesses since 1995.
Rich is available for questions, or for
consultation. You can reach him at:

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