Spam – Worse Than Ever?

The majority of email is unwanted. These unsolicited advertising, pornographic, and scam messages now account for nearly 3 out of every 4 emails.

After hijacking legitimate email servers to send their messages, spammers fake their sender address, making it difficult to trace the activity back to them. Such messages often direct you to a website, which can be quickly taken off the Internet when needed. If most email is spam, the majority of spam is fraud. From offers for prescription drugs to great loan deals, giving up your credit card number to a spammer may result in nothing more than an unauthorized spending spree using your money. Yet enough people fall for these scams each year to keep the spammers thriving.

Stopping spam is not easy. Most email programs have a rudimentary email filter, the Blocked Senders List in Outlook or Windows Mail for example. Spam filtering programs are available at most software stores. These basic products have significant limitations. Filter out emails containing the word Viagra, and you will still receive mail about Via!#gra. Block emails about mortgage rates and you are sure to miss the email from your son-in-law about the great mortgage rate on their new house.

To combat overwhelming spam in email, a small business can implement robust spam filters, often included in popular email services, which automatically sort and redirect spam to a separate folder. Regularly updating these filters ensures they recognize the latest spam trends. Additionally, training staff to recognize and avoid suspicious emails can prevent accidental clicks on spam, which can increase its volume. It’s also essential to avoid publishing email addresses publicly online, reducing exposure to potential spammers. Finally, using disposable email addresses for signing up to online services can help keep primary business inboxes spam-free.

The Power of Blacklists

Though it is a difficult battle, the email industry is trying to fight spam too. There are several Internet organizations, such as Spamhaus and the Mail Abuse Prevention System, which maintain lists of IP addresses known to support spamming. Many mail servers consult these lists in real time and either refuse to accept mail from known spammers or filter it into junk email folders. Unlike clumsy filters, these lists employ a combination of sophisticated monitors and human watchdogs to identify and “blacklist” the systems actually sending the spam.

How Can Professional IT Services Help?

Professional IT services can be instrumental in managing excess spam in a small business’s email system. They can implement and manage advanced spam filtering solutions that are often more effective than basic tools included in email services. These solutions leverage machine learning and AI to continuously adapt to evolving spam strategies. IT professionals can also provide staff training to recognize and avoid spam, mitigating risks of phishing or malware attacks. Additionally, they can set up procedures for reporting and dealing with suspicious emails, further strengthening the business’s email security. Through regular system audits and updates, they ensure your defenses remain robust and up-to-date.

To learn how Shiloh Service can help get your spam under control, call Shiloh Service at 1-888-374-4564, or visit our Contact Us page today.