August 22, 2007
To: UCOP Community:
From: Tara Brant, Manager, IR&C Technology Service
Desk
Many of you have recently noticed an increase in spam. In particular, you may be receiving messages with a zip or pdf attachment and varied or blank subject lines. We are working with our spam-filtering vendor to try to counter this particular attack.
Please continue to be savvy about spam so that you both protect yourself from possible fraud and protect the UCOP network from viruses and other threats. Tips for identifying and handling spam are listed below. Information about using our spam filtering software, Tumbleweed, is available on the Web.
Never make a purchase from an unsolicited e-mail.
E-mail users may fall prey to a fraudulent sales scheme, as well as get added to the numerous e-mail lists sold within the spamming community. Being on these lists increases the amount of junk e-mail you receive.
Delete any unsolicited e-mail message if you don't know the sender.
Most spam is merely annoying, but some spam messages may contain viruses and other threats that could damage your computer if you open the message.
Never respond to any spam messages or click on any links in the message.
Replying to any spam message, even to "unsubscribe" or be "removed" from the e-mail list, only confirms to the spammer that you are a valid recipient and a target for future spamming.
Avoid using the preview functionality of your e-mail client software.
Many spammers use advertising techniques that can track when a message is viewed, even if you don't click on the message or reply. Using the preview functionality essentially opens an e-mail and tells spammers you are a valid recipient, which can result in even more spam.
Think carefully before you provide your e-mail address on Web sites, newsgroup lists, or other online public forums.
Many spammers utilize tools to automatically surf the Internet and harvest e-mail addresses from public information and forums.
When sending e-mail messages to a large number of recipients, consider using the blind copy (BCC) field to conceal their e-mail addresses.
Sending e-mail messages in which all recipient addresses are exposed in the "To" field makes those addresses vulnerable to harvesting by spammers.
Never give your primary e-mail address to anyone or any site you don't trust.
Share it only with your close friends and business colleagues.
Use one or two secondary e-mail addresses.
If you need to fill out Web registration forms or surveys at sites from which you do not want to receive further information, consider using a secondary address to protect primary e-mail accounts from spam abuse. Also, always check the site for a box that offers to send you additional information, and select or deselect it, as appropriate.
