[WEB4LIB] Re: Preferred public email accounts

[Louise Alcorn]

Yes, you're right of course.  I'm aware of that rule of thumb, and didn't previously try this.  I did this initially in preparation for my extended absence, and somewhat in the nature of an experiment.  I was as surprised as anyone as to how well it worked.  I still get spam, but I do get *less*.  

A few have cropped up again, which I am keeping vague track of.  My interest has been to try to track back where they got my name/email from in the first place.  The ones that are just obviously trying *every* Yahoo! address are one thing, but those that are getting my address from another source interest me, as I'm assiduous about when I buy anything online, or deal with an online company, to check the "do not sell my name" box or whatever.  I won't do business with a company that doesn't offer me that option or which doesn't follow through on it.

This is simply an interesting hobby for me.  I know having a Yahoo account means I'm going to get spammed--the price of having free email, as far as I'm concerned.  I reduce what I can, and delete the rest.  The almost daily missives from kind gentlemen in Africa who want me to help them launder money are, at this point, a mild amusement to me.  I block and move on.  I'm far more upset by these when they come to my *home* email, which I pay for and which I give out to *no one*.  

Now if only I could get Yahoo! to get rid of *blinking* banner ads, I'd be completely content :-)

Best regards,
Louise

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Louise E. Alcorn     --    Reference Technology Librarian
West Des Moines Public Library
4000 Mills Civic Pkwy
West Des Moines IA 50265
(515) 222-3573      louise.alcorn at wdm-ia.com
http://www.wdm.lib.ia.us

>>> Thomas Dowling <tdowling at ohiolink.edu> 10/04/02 03:19PM >>>
At 11:51 AM 10/4/2002 -0700, Louise Alcorn wrote:
You've been lucky.  The general rule of thumb is never to use those "Click 
here to unsubscribe" links.  Most spam services actually use those 
responses to verify that your address is valid and put it onto higher 
priority spam lists.