Spam and Virus Information

Many e-mail frustrations are caused by spam and virus-related issues. Below is a definition of each and how it may affect your email.

What is Spam?

Spam is the act of sending mass emails of the same message in the attempt to get people to see commercial advertising or schemes; for example, to save or to make money.

There are two main types of spam:

• Cancelable Usenet spam, which is sent over newsgroups.
• Email spam Sent to email users that have a direct email address. This method is often done by scanning web pages for for email address.

What is a Virus?

A computer virus is a small program written to alter the way a computer operates, without the permission or knowledge of the user. A virus must meet two criteria:

• It must execute itself. It will often place its own code in the path of execution of another program.
• It must replicate itself. For example, it may replace other executable files with a copy of the virus infected file. Viruses can infect desktop computers and network servers alike.

There are five recongized types of viruses:

• File infector
• Boot Sector Viruses
• Master Boot Record Viruses
• Multi-Partite Viruses
• Macro Viruses

This copied from Symantec.com

What is a Hoax?

Hoaxes are messages that are nothing more than chain letters which asks you to forward the message to as many people as possible. How can you help kill hoax emails. By not forwarding them, spotting a hoax message is very easy if you pay attention to the following:

• Does the email say the following?
• Free giveaways in exchange of forwarding
• Fake virus alert messages that are confirmed by companies like Microsoft or Yahoo
• Warnings about companies or government program
• "Send this email to everyone in your address book" Also the use of the languaged within the email; for example:
  • Danger
  • Warning
  • Worse Ever
  • Anything IN ALL CAPS

New Viruses: