Everyone has been angry at least once after receiving a spam e-mail in their inbox. But what are these spam e-mails really about?
The term ‘spam‘ refers to the sending of unwanted and unsolicited messages; these messages are sent to a large number of recipients, usually by e-mail (but also by phone call or SMS), filling e-mail inboxes all over the world. This practice is not only annoying, but also dangerous, since the aim is to misappropriate users’ data.
Where is our data stolen from?
Spammers, i.e. those who send these unwanted messages, have several ways of collecting e-mail addresses: from Internet sites, by relying on specific illicit software capable of creating e-mail contacts using widespread names and surnames, by purchasing databases from private agencies.
Lots of ways to spam
The different forms in which spam e-mails occur are:
- Advertising: a large number of sellers of illegal products on the Internet use spam for advertising purposes; this type of e-mail also includes links to apparently free offers, which later turn out to be subscription traps.
- Phishing: in this form of spam e-mail, the sender is made to believe that the company (usually a nationally known business) is asking the recipient for confidential personal information such as bank account or credit card details; the data requested and entered into ‘trap’ sites linked to that e-mail are literally stolen and end up in the hands of web criminals with the consequences we can imagine.
- Malware(a generic term used to identify various forms of viruses including worms and spyware): they can enter your computer via spam e-mail and enter your system by opening programmes, links or attachments in the e-mail.
How to defend yourself?
A few simple behaviours and attentions can make all the difference. To summarise:
- when signing up to any platform/site, one has to pay attention to the treatment of privacy;
- limit the dissemination of one’s contact details on social networks and various websites;
- never reply to spam e-mails;
- never open any links or attachments in the e-mail.
In addition to individual best practices, spam can be prevented by using targeted technologies associated with mail services. At IT solution, we have also identified a targeted solution that enables e-mail communication and minimises spam, the Collaboration Suite.
Technically speaking, the Collaboration suite is an e-mail server (in which you will also have access to calendars, web access files, contacts, tasks, chat) capable of providing protection from spam, viruses and phishing; a constantly available tool, with stored data safe from unwanted access thanks to reliable and advanced backup with HotSync and Disaster Recovery.