Post by Rod Wood - Tired of SPAM? No not the meat in a can but that other garbage that turns up in your computer.
 
Consumer Reports ShopSmart magazine offers these five tips to protect yourself from spam:

(1) Never respond to spam. That just lets spammers know that your e-mail address is active.

(2) Avoid shopping from a spammed offer. At the very least, you're encouraging spammers to send out more junk mail. At worst, you're compromising your system. If possible, don't open the messages at all.
 
(3) Never provide your password in e-mail, and do not verify your account or provide other information by clicking on an e-mail link. No reputable company would ever ask you to do so.
 
(4) Set up two e-mail accounts, one for friends and the other for subscribing to online services like newsletters and for posting on forums.
 
(5) Make sure your antivirus and antispyware programs are activated. If you've just bought a computer, make sure you're running full versions of the software and not just short-term trials. If your e-mail provider offers an antispam program, activate it.
 
Have you had any bad experiences with spam? Feel free to write me.