dealing with spam

[Benwa]

I'm sick of dealing with spam and popups. Sure, I've set my blockers so little gets into my mailbox. But I still have to empty it out of my junk box and it eats up so much room. And popups drive me nuts, I've gotten freeware that removes the spyware they install on your computer, but its still a pain to run the software.

Any ideas on how to fight back, within limits of the law. For example, I've heard of folks who get alot of junk mail (regular snail mail) fighting back. Anything with free paid postage (like free postage if you fill it out and send it back), you can cut out the postage part and paste it to a brick and drop it in a mailbox. Not only does the company get the brick in the mail but they are legally required to pay the hefty postage. Also heard of people who spam by fax and some fight back by replying with a completely black fifty page document. The pressure put on the spammers fax machine will burn out the printer head, very expensive.

Any cool ideas on how to take back our inboxes?

[Crossroads]

Man, I'd also love to know if anyone has any ideas. I'm tired of getting porn ads in my inbox.

Usually you can mail back the stuff that the spammers mail you (in snail mail) w/ those prepaid postage envelopes. I rip my name/identifying info off and mail back the prepaid postage envelope with the brochure, letter, and even the envelope it came in. :twisted:

[pisces2473]

It's funny that you guys take that much effort to stop junk mail. I just throw mine out or take it to my parents' for kindling in their fireplace. I'm glad some people have the time to mail things back, hahaha.

[coll214]

I really like that brick idea benwa :p ... as for inbox spam... who knows since if you send it back to them, they then have your legitimate email and you'll get twice as much crap. Short of letting your service provider know about the spam and setting up filters, there's not much else you can do... at least that i know of.

[cazort]

The best way I've found for dealing with Spam is to use Mozilla for your mail client. (It also makes a great web-browser--it blocks pop-up ads better than any other program I've used).

Mozilla has a very good built-in spam client. You TRAIN Mozilla by marking messages as spam and un-marking a message whenever it marks one incorrectly. Once you've been going for a month, you'll find that it makes very few, if any, mistakes.

Check it out:

http://www.mozilla.org/

And...it's open source software, so it's free, and it keeps getting updated, getting better and better as time goes on. Unlike microsoft, this means it gets faster, instead of slower! :-)

[Crossroads]

Well, if they'll take the time to send it to me, I'll take the time to rip my name off of it. I'm only going to shred my info up anyway, so why not send the 'leftovers' back? hee hee

If I'm not mistaken, isn't Mozilla based off of Netscape? And does it have the same issues? (Netscape 4.7 is usually very problematic in web.)

[Zuljin]

I used mozilla before, don't remember why I didn't like it...I heard it does have problem with some websites...however, I'm certain it's a solid free web browser with popup blocker...

netscape 7.1 also has popup blocker feature...

if you mainly use IE, download and install google toolbar (http://toolbar.google.com/)...it helps block most popups...also a quick way to search the web...

for spyware/adware...spybot - search and destroy (http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10122137.html?part=104443&subj=dlpage&tag=button), a freeware to detect and delete spyware/adware within registry and harddrive...only take few minutes to scan...plus new updates available constantly to keep it up-to-date...you'll be surprise how many lurks within your computer...

also, spywareblaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html) helps prevents spyware/adware automatically...again, new update availables weekly...

oh and when you mail back those bricks or whatever back to them, attach a "remove my name and address from mailing list" note...it's under the law for them to honor that reqest or else they'll face a helfty fine...

coll214 is right on about email spam...and there aren't any perfect email filters either (you will be rich if you create one)...a good way is set up free email with yahoo or whatever and use it when you shop online or register with websites...hotmail is doing a better job dealing with email now a day...I used to get dozens, now maybe 4-5...