Archive for the ‘Simple Suggestions’ Category
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 |
The issue of having publically viewable email links that aren’t able to be harvested is still occurring
If this makes sense to you then please comment and explain how?
- I want a visitor to my site to be able to easily copy my email address to their email application.
- I don’t like images or feedback forms because of the above reason
- I am receiving copious quantities of email spam from my web site email address
To me the solution seems obvious … if someone is serious in making contact with you then they will complete a contact form in the first instance. Once they have proven their bona fides and you respond they then have the privelage of spamming the heck out of you (pun intended).
Andreas from Zargony has an article Scramble email addresses in views to reduce spam … the interesting thing about this article, which relates to the use of Ruby on Rails to achieve the scramble, is that nowhere did he provide a live example to prove that it actually works.
I figure that if it actually worked then this statement would not be there … The question is left open, if this method is worth anything.
Action: If the value proposition you place on your web site is compelling to the viewer then a simple form will not be a mountain to climb. The next thing to think of is if that form is getting punished with tyre kickers then make the form longer, collect more data, to get the serious people to contact you.
Posted in Simple Suggestions, Spam Talk | No Comments »
Monday, April 21st, 2008 |
Today three things have happened that serve to remind me that we get what we ask for when it comes to spam.
David Hinson - has written about how his email communication is clogged to the extent that he may give up using it.
Spoofing Madness - A client and I have been inundated with spoofing bounces the likes of which we’ve never seen. He’s about 12 hours ahead of me from a start view point but I’m running at around 300 a day.
So with all this spam happening … why are we receiving this unwanted mail?
Because we asked for it.
In all instances we’ve plastered websites, forums and more saying click here and send me an email … and we’ve been receiving just what we asked for.
- I’m working with my client to address his issue.
- Mine I’m not fussed about as it’s part of my spam activity tracking process.
- David … I can’t answer for but there are some pointers as to why on his blog.
Action: Remove all mailto: links from your site and adopt Actions 3,4 and 5 and things will improve markedly
Posted in Simple Suggestions, Spam Talk | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 |
The PayPaI phishing is back again.
Initially this email looks very plausable but still has the PayPaI address.
Dear PayPal Customer,
As part of our security measures, we regularly screen activity in the PayPal system. During a recent screening, we noticed an issue regarding your account.
Our system detected unusual charges to a credit card linked to your PayPal account.
Case ID Number: PP-xxx-xxx-xxx
For your protection, we have limited access to your account until additional security measures can be completed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
To secure your account and quickly restore full access on your account, we encourage you to log in and perform the steps necessary to restore your account access as soon as possible by clicking the link below:
There was more but be assured PayPal won’t be sending you such an email.
ACTION: If you implement Action 3 emails such as this don’t arrive or you just hit delete deleted because they arrive in teh wrong place.
Posted in Simple Suggestions, Spam Talk | 6 Comments »
Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 |
The spammers shoving out the Paypal Phishing emails have now got a system whereby immediately a legitimate email comes from Paypal their system cranks into gear.
A legitimate email appeared from Paypal (PayPal Business Newsletter Feb 08) and about 2 seconds later the phishing email appeared in my spam attractive email.
Subject: PayPal - Please restore your account access
Dear PayPal Customer,
As part of our security measures, we regularly screen activity in the PayPal system. During a recent screening, we noticed an issue regarding your account.
Our system detected unusual charges to a credit card linked to your PayPal account.
Case ID Number: PP-xxx-xxx-xxx
For your protection, we have limited access to your account until additional security measures can be completed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
To secure your account and quickly restore full access on your account, we encourage you to log in and perform the steps necessary to restore your account access as soon as possible by clicking the link below:
Failure to verify and/or update your personal records, or if you choose to ignore our request, may result in further limitations or eventual account closure.
We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Please understand that this is a security measure intended to help protect you and your account. account.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Sincerely,
PayPal Account Review Department
Please do not reply to this e-mail. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered. For assistance, log in to your PayPal account and choose the "Help" link in the header of any page.
To modify your notification preferences, log in to your PayPal account, click the Profile sub-tab, then click the Notifications link under Account Information. Changes may take up to 10 days to be reflected in our mailings. PayPal will not sell or rent any of your personally identifiable information to third parties. For more information about the security of your information, read our Privacy Policy at https://www.paypal.com/privacy.
Copyright © 2008 PayPal Inc. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. PayPal is located at 2211 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95131.
ACTION: Remember Paypal won’t send you such an email.
If you think it’s legitimate then don’t click the link go direct to Paypal site and proceed from there. The same with your bank or credit card company as well
Apply Spam Strategy 3 and you never need worry about these emails.
Posted in Simple Suggestions, Spam Talk, Spam of the Day | No Comments »
Thursday, February 14th, 2008 |
If you’re a member of Facebook you probably already know about this but even so it deserves a reminder.
One of your friends sends you an invite to an application, which when added presents you with a page encouraging you to "invite x amount of friends" to use the application fully or simply gives you no other option but to send invites.
It’s a pretty low effort to try and get a an application to become popular and finally Facebook administrators have been draged into seeing this for what it is.
Facebook platform policy has undergone an update to include specifics on what various applications can and can’t do with regards to forcing invites to play their game.
As per usual many of the developers of such applications haven’t bothered to take notice and consequently Facebook recently sent out a mailing to all offending developers informing them of a temporary restriction on invites for their application, whilst reiterating the updated policy.
ACTION: Protect yoursel if you insist in using the social networking sites. Apply strategies 3 and 4 and you can be assured of keeping unwanted emails at bay
Posted in Simple Suggestions, Spam Talk | No Comments »
Saturday, January 19th, 2008 |
I’ve been testing Gmail with a vengance in the last month and it just loves to dump Aweber and Autocontactor emails in the spam bin.
I canged my email address on 9 newsletters I subscribe to who sue these two systems, thinkign they cut through the spam trap issues, because of their "credibility".
Oops … every email sent by these "internationally recognised" marketers ended up in Gmail Spam. Not ONE got through as a "real live email"
So I’m keeping an eagle eye out on things … are you?
Do you bother or let the auto delete thing happen as Gmail does so nicely for you?
ACTION: If you use Gmail or other filter based process remember …. Filters don’t work as you have been led to believe.
Posted in Simple Suggestions | 4 Comments »
Saturday, January 19th, 2008 |
SoftScan recently announced that with spam levels reaching 97.02% and viruses accounting for just 0.11%, less than 3% of all email scanned was legitimate in December 2007.
I’m not sure about you but here’s Decembers spam stats for me
- My 12 Spam Strategy Protected accounts = 1
- GMail Accounts - 2 protected accounts = 5
- Gmail Unprotected = 600
- FastMail - 3 accoutns unprotected = 20
So Gmail isn’t all it’s cracked up to be … if you don’t Spam Strategy Protect it
FastMail is better than my gut feeling said
My own addresses using the Spam Strategy Protection work as they should.
ACTION: Take the simple no fus method … apply the 7 Spam Strategies
Posted in Simple Suggestions | No Comments »
Saturday, January 19th, 2008 |
SoftScan recently announced that with spam levels reaching 97.02% and viruses accounting for just 0.11%, less than 3% of all email scanned was legitimate in December 2007.
I’m not sure about you but here’s Decembers spam stats for me
- My 12 Spam Strategy Protected accounts = 1
- GMail Accounts - 2 protected accounts = 5
- Gmail Unprotected = 600
- FastMail - 3 accoutns unprotected = 20
So Gmail isn’t all it’s cracked up to be … if you don’t Spam Strategy Protect it
FastMail is better than my gut feeling said
My own addresses using the Spam Strategy Protection work as they should.
ACTION: Take the simple no fus method … apply the 7 Spam Strategies
Posted in Simple Suggestions | No Comments »
Thursday, January 10th, 2008 |
Besides this place, I work with small businesses seeking to change and create new directions. In working with these people I require that they refrain from using the words don’t, not and no when we communicate.
In applying that philosophy to spam we are each going to have to be some what more responsible than we have been for keeping spammers from getting through with a few clicks of the mouse.
What I have difficulty in understanding is why Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail and others haven’t refined their systems to block mail from everyone except those we choose to get mail from, rather than who we don’t want it from.
This seems like a pretty simple concept to me.
I’m sure for most of us, the list of people we would allow would be way smaller than a list of people we would disallow. That way all mail from unknown people would just disappear.
I know about "white" and "black lists" but this takes the process a step further
I thought this was a simple concept easily applied … may be my simplicity is the issue.
ACTION: Think on this apprach a little more as there are ways of achieving this.
Posted in Simple Suggestions | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 |
Iwas asked this question yesterday by a prospective buyer of the Spam Strategy Guide
Spam itself isn’t a security issue it’s what you as the recipient do with that spam that is the security issue.
The security issue relates to phishing.
Phishing is where somebody purportes to be an individual or organization that you have a relationship with, and they use this false relationship to steal information from you.
A lot of people have been getting spam that purports to be from PayPal.
These e-mails ask you to verify your accounts by sending in your name, address, credit card numbers, social security number, mother’s maiden name–even your dog’s name. Vast amounts of personal information are stolen this way.
That isn’t specifically spam, but it is facilitated by spam, because the phishing is done by sending spam to lots of victims.
ACTION: NEVER respond to ANY organisation asking you to verify confidential information that is related to banking, creditcard, Paypal or eBay access confirmation.
Those organisations don’t send those sorts of emails so they are all fake.
Adopt Strategy 5 and eliminate this issue.
Posted in Simple Suggestions | No Comments »
