Spam/spyware and protection

Definition:

Spam is "unsolicited commercial email."
Spyware is any kind of software that is used to collect information from the computer user and change the user's settings without the computer user's notice or permission.
Both spyware and spam can be stopped with the appropriate type of protection provided by spam filters and anti-spyware software. For the filtering of spam, there are three different types of filters that can be used - simple, heuristic, and Bayesian filters.

Details:

Basically, spam is email that is sent out to a mass of people in an effort to draw them in and to convince them to buy what the spammer is advertising. These spam emails are usually characterized by offers, gift cards, rewards, etc. that are too good to be true - such as "the secret to losing weight" or "$100 Gift Card to McDonald's."

By emailing millions of people these ridiculous offers, the spammers increase their chances of actually having a buyer. This idea encourages spammers to gather even more email addresses in order to increase their probability of getting a buyer.
But, the spam email is unwanted by the email user, which prompts annoyance and a more stringent standard of spam filtering on their email in an attempt to get rid of spam.
As a result, spammers resort to purchasing email addresses from their sources in order to still get the message to an email user. Because of this, everyone is subject to getting spam messages if they have an email address.

Spyware is often contracted through deceiving the computer user through the use of automatic installation messages asking only for permission to install, spyware included in the installation of applications, and through downloading the spyware directly without really knowing it.

A simple filter will filter junk or spam email through the occurrence of words in an email - such as the appearance of the word "free" or "reward." If an email shows up with any of those words, it will be automatically filtered into the spam folder of the email.

Both heuristic and Bayesian filters are more advanced filters that attempt to filter through the number of the occurrence of the word rather than the word itself. Because of this, the likelihood of the accidental deletion of a message that is needed is diminished to close to none.
An example of a good antispyware program that can be used is Windows Defender. This program is designed specifically to defend against any type of spyware.
Sometimes, antispyware programs are packaged with other protective software such as antiadware, trojan removal kits, and antivirus softwares.

mmmmmmmary	Latest page update: made by mmmmmmmary , Oct 22 2008, 3:17 PM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by mmmmmmmary view changes - complete history)
	Keyword tags: Spam/spyware and protection More Info: links to this page

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