What is SPAM? Why is it called SPAM? What can I do to block SPAM? How do I setup my SPAM filter in SurgeMail? Where do Spammers get my e-mail address? How can I prevent my e-mail address from getting to Spammers? "Remove me from this list" or not to "Remove me"?

What is SPAM* ? SPAM is a slang term for mass-mailed unsolicited e-mail. Spamming is sending many messages of the same content to people who have not requested it. Most spam is advertising, often by dubious companies for dubious products; such as get-rich-quick schemes, quasi-legal services, and pornography sites. Spam costs the sender only his monthly Internet fee. Costs incurred are paid by the recipient, the ISP, or the carriers, rather than by the sender. * SPAM is a registered trademark of the Hormel Corporation (with no company affiliation with the e-mail terminology). Why is it called SPAM ? Folklore has it that the name has been taken from the SPAM song in Monty Python's "SPAM-loving Vikings" sketch. The Vikings, who were sitting in a restaurant whose menu only included dishes made with SPAM, would sing this song over and over: "Spam spam spam spam, spam spam spam spam, spam spam spam spam..." The volume level of their singing made it impossible for the other people in the restaurant to hold a conversation. Thus, the SPAM connection with your e-mail box. With your box overwhelmed with SPAM, it's difficult to find legitimate personal mail to carry on personal correspondence. What can I do to block SPAM? You can adjust your e-mail settings in order to block unwanted mail, through our SurgeMail program. Click here to log into SurgeMail. Where do the Spammers get my e-mail address? These are some of the places where your email address may be found by a Spammer: News or Use Groups Mailing Lists Net Meeting Web Sites Internet E-Mail Directories Chat Rooms We at Internet Adventure DO NOT give out or sell your email address. How can I prevent my e-mail address from getting to Spammers? Spammers usually "harvest" email addresses from News or Use Groups. It is a good practice not to include your e-mail address in the format of the message (reply address). If you want for people of the group to email you, the recommended method is to add your email address at bottom of your post in the following manner: mail me at helpdesk at elkgrove dot net. This way the computers programs that are looking for the @ sign will bypass your address. "Remove me from this list" or not to "Remove me"? Use the "Remove me from this list" option only if you subscribed yourself to be on that mailing list. Otherwise, we recommend that you do not reply to "Remove me from this list" addresses, as this only confirms that your e-mail address is active, and directs more unwanted e-mail to your account. Also be wary of clicking an URL embedded in an unsolicited message, as this may reveal your address to that web site.

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