Computer Lady, Computer Tips.......

Note: If you get another e-mail account through Hotmail, my own email, or something different from your home e-mail you can avoid unwanted junk mail, these e-mail addresses are free. Just use the other e-mail for signing up for stuff and never give out your home e-mail to any internet company. This is what I do and I never receive junk mail in my home inbox, in outlook express. ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

Dear Computer Lady:

I have a new email and would like to know if there is any way to avoid getting myself in the situation of getting 20 plus spam emails a day as I did with my AOL account.

Do you get your self in this situation by just surfing the web or could it be actually signing up for things or is it strictly an AOL problem?

I have my own private email with outlook express and I have not received any spam yet.

Just wondering??

Thanks, Emily



Dear Emily,

Actually, the spam e-mails were caused by a combination of things. First, is the fact that AOL e-mail addresses do get more spam than many other companies.

A few ways you can avoid getting spam with your new e-mail address are:

1. Don't post your e-mail address on websites, or chat sites. If you want to sign a guestbook, or participate in an online activity that requires an e-mail address, open a disposable e-mail account at one of the free sites like Yahoo or hotmail. Spammers have robot software that just scans the web for any e-mail address and collects them.

2. Don't sign up for free drawings online. All this does for you is get you lots of junk mail.

3. Go to http://www.mailshell.com and sign up for free disposable e-mail addresses there. I have about 8 temporary e-mail addresses there, and when one starts to get too much junk mail, I just close it and use a different one.

4. Use a software program to filter out junk mail and bounce spam. If the spammers get a bounce message they will think that the e-mail address has been closed and take you off their list. http://www.mailwasher.net is one free program that will bounce messages for you.

Elizabeth

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FREE SOFTWARE OF THE WEEK:

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Dear Computer Lady,

I am on my high school reunion committee and I am the one who prints the labels for mailings. I would like to be able to put all the information I need such as address, phone number, spouses name, etc - but when I print them I want to be able to just pick out the address lines. What would you suggest is a good program to use?

Thanks for your help - Mickey

Dear Mickey,

I think I have a great program for you, and right now, you can download it for free. The program is called Avery Design Pro. You can read about it and download it from:

http://www.avery.com/us/software/index.jsp

Once you install the program, you can create a database with as many fields as you wish, and use the database to create labels. You don't have to include all the information in the database in your labels.

I have been using the program for quite a few years (I originally paid almost $80 for the program)

Elizabeth

:) :)