Hate getting spam mail? Not sure what spam is? Think your cousin Lenny was spammed once, and youre pretty sure he said it hurta lot? Here, Gary Sparks, manager, Baptist Information Systems, unlocks the mystery of spam and suggests ways to deter spammers.

  When we talk about spam in this article, were referring to the e-mail kind, not the mystery meat famously lampooned by the Monty Pythons Flying Circus troupe back in the 1970s. Spam, in this context, refers to any unsolicited commercial e-mail you may receive. This includes those e-mails with miracle cures for all that ails you, get-rich-quick schemes and other offers that seem too good to be true and probably are. If youre like most of us, youve seen a dramatic increase in the number of this type of e-mail in your mailbox over the last few months.

  There are many ways your e-mail address can fall into the hands of a spammer (one who sends spam), some of which are your own doing and some of which are insidious. Here are a few:

• When you register at Web sites, especially ones youre unfamiliar with
• When you post a message on a newsgroup or Web message board
• When you allow Web pages to send e-mails on your behalf (for example, e-greeting cards, news stories you want your friend to see, etc.)
• When you subscribe to a mailing list
• When a spammer purchases an e-mail list with your address (such as the one you just subscribed to above)

  Basically, it comes down to two things: cost and volume. Compared to direct mail, the cost to send an e-mail is very small. Also, an average e-mail server can send more than a million e-mails per hour. By combining low cost and large volumes, spammers can distribute a large number of spam e-mail messages and rely on only those few that actually respond to purchase their product or service.

  To be honest, its not that easy, but here are some tips that might help alleviate the problem:

• DO protect your e-mail address. Give it only to people and organizations you are willing to receive e-mail from.
• DO read the privacy policies on Web sites where you submit personal information, such as your e-mail address, to understand how they may use (or sell) your information.
• DO use the tools your e-mail program offers to file away spam or junk e-mail. For instance, Outlook 2000 allows you to add the sender to a junk senders or adult content senders list that should delete any further mail from that address.
• DONT open the spam if you can help it. If an e-mail appears to be from someone you are unfamiliar with or has a subject you know indicates it is spam, then delete it without opening it.
• DONT forward the spam. This only provides the spammer additional e-mail addresses. Also, many spam messages have offensive material inside.
• DONT respond to the spam. Even if the sender offers the ability to unsubscribe by replying or clicking on a Web link, be warythis often confirms to the spammer that there is indeed someone monitoring that e-mail address and could result in more spam than before.

  Basically, it comes down to two things: cost and volume. Compared to direct mail, the cost to send an e-mail is very small. Also, an average e-mail server can send more than a million e-mails per hour. By combining low cost and large volumes, spammers can distribute a large number of spam e-mail messages and rely on only those few that actually respond to purchase their product or service.

To be honest, its not that easy, but here are some tips that might help alleviate the problem:

• DO protect your e-mail address. Give it only to people and organizations you are willing to receive e-mail from.
• DO read the privacy policies on Web sites where you submit personal information, such as your e-mail address, to understand how they may use (or sell) your information.
• DO use the tools your e-mail program offers to file away spam or junk e-mail. For instance, Outlook 2000 allows you to add the sender to a junk senders or adult content senders list that should delete any further mail from that address.
• DONT open the spam if you can help it. If an e-mail appears to be from someone you are unfamiliar with or has a subject you know indicates it is spam, then delete it without opening it.
• DONT forward the spam. This only provides the spammer additional e-mail addresses. Also, many spam messages have offensive material inside.
• DONT respond to the spam. Even if the sender offers the ability to unsubscribe by replying or clicking on a Web link, be warythis often confirms to the spammer that there is indeed someone monitoring that e-mail address and could result in more spam than before.