Re: ** READ THIS BEFORE POSTING - answers to frequently asked questions 2003.08.24

From: Karl Levinson [x y] mvp (levinson_k_at_despammed.com)
Date: 08/25/03 

Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2003 11:17:43 -0400

I believe most people use software to help them delete spam automatically
instead of reporting it or tracking it down. See below for some free ways
to do this:

http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#spam

Microsoft wouldn't go into your email to investigate, nor would you really
want them to, because 1) spam is too big a problem for them to help all
their customers like this, 2) you wouldnt' want Microsoft to block your
email for you, 3) only you can know what emails you want blocked, 4)
blocking spam emails is an ongoing process that can't be fixed in just one
shot, 5) you'll probably want and need to block the email using software on
your computer , 6) if you're using POP3 email [instead of HTTP email], then
all your email is already on your computer and is no longer on the Microsoft
server, and Microsoft has no possible way to go into your computer to look
at your email, and 7) you or Microsoft tracking down spammers won't prevent
you from getting hundreds of other unwanted emails. like the Sobig.F
virus-related "undeliverable" email messages everyone is getting nowadays.
Those emails come from innocent people and not spammers, so there's not a
lot you can do to report that.

It is pretty useless I think to report spam, because the source is hard to
track down for a lot of reasons, and there are always going to be anonymous
email servers on the internet that spammers can find and use, and also you
get so much spam from so many different sources that you can't possibly
research it all. Think about it: if you got a spam email, you can be sure
that at least 5,000 other people got it too ,and others from that same
spammer. If those other 4,999+ people weren't able to put this spammer out
of business yet, you won't either.

Blocking spam also requires wise use of your email address. Both you and I
have posted real email addresses to a Usenet newsgroup here, which means
that spammers will be harvesting both of our email addresses and start to
send spam to them.

Last, 20 spams in 3 days is unfortunately nothing compared to the amount of
spam that I and others get. It could be a lot worse.

"nora coyle" <lcsw89@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:00ae01c36a77$ea3a2f00$a501280a@phx.gbl...
> Karl,
>
> I've attempted everything you suggested, and a few more on
> my own. I am being absolutely innundated with porno e-
> mail messages. It started about 2 months ago, just a few
> which I always deleted. Over the past 3 days, I've
> received 20! When I wrote to MSN, they told me to forward
> the messages. I thought you weren't supposed to open
> messages like that. I don't know how to forward without
> opening them. I called Microsoft, but they're busy with
> the viruses. Then I looked into reporting spam, and
> apparently you have to have the ISP information on them
> all? Again, they'd have to be opened to do that. Can't
> Microsoft just go into my account and investigate? That's
> all I want.
>
> Nora Coyle
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Before you post a question to a
> Microsoft.public.*.security newsgroup, note
> >that your question may already be answered below:
> >
> >Answers to Top Frequently Asked Questions:
> >http://securityadmin.info
> >
> >My question is not mentioned below. How do I get an
> answer immediately,
> >with no waiting?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#moreinfo
> >See also: http://www.google.com/groups?
> as_ugroup=microsoft.public.*
> >See also: http://www.google.com/advanced_group_search
> >See also: http://www.google.com
> >
> >I want to post a problem or question to the newsgroup.
> What info do I need
> >to post in order to get a correct answer quickly?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#netiquette
> >
> >
> >I have the RPC Blaster worm "virus," what do I do?
> >http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
> >ALSO NOTE: www.grisoft.com is free antivirus, USE IT.
> >
> >My computer is giving RPC Remote Procedure Call messages.
> >There is a TFTP message or file on my computer.
> >My computer keeps locking up, and/or rebooting, or
> telling me that it will
> >reboot in 1 minute.
> >http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
> >ALSO NOTE: www.grisoft.com is free antivirus, USE IT.
> >
> >Where can I download the Blaster worm / RPC DCOM patch?
> >http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com OR
> >http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.asp
> >
> >I just heard about a new Microsoft security patch
> update. Where can I get
> >the patch?
> >http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com OR
> >http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.asp
> >
> >I just installed a Microsoft security patch update, and
> now my computer is
> >having problems.
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#patchbroke
> >
> >I received an email from Microsoft / Microsoft Support /
> Microsoft Internet
> >Security Center claiming to be a security patch [or
> comprehensive Internet
> >Explorer update]. Is this a virus?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#microsoftemail
> >ALSO NOTE: www.grisoft.com is free antivirus, USE IT.
> >
> >I received a virus email from a Microsoft email address.
> Who do I report
> >this to?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#microsoftemail
> >
> >I'm having a problem caused by the JDBGMGR.EXE Teddy
> Bear "virus" hoax, or I
> >want to replace this file.
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#jdbgmgr
> >
> >I forgot my Windows logon password and can't log in. How
> do I reset it?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#password
> >
> >I have a problem or a question with a virus or with
> antivirus.
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#virus
> >NOTE: www.grisoft.com is free antivirus, USE IT.
> >
> >Why is Outlook Express blocking my attachments
> as "unsafe"?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#attachments
> >
> >How do I stop getting pop-up messages? Or adware? Or
> spyware?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#pop-ups
> >
> >How do I block people from viewing adult or objectionable
> content on a
> >computer?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#contentfilter
> >
> >How do I block spam emails?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#spam
> >
> >There is a Content Advisor password blocking me from
> certain web sites.
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#contentadvisor
> >
> >How do I delete an FTP folder that a hacker put on my
> computer and I cannot
> >delete?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#ftpfolder
> >
> >Have I been hacked? What do I do if I've been hacked?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#hacked
> >
> >How do I re-secure a computer that has been hacked?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#re-secure
> >
> >How do I test or improve the security on my computer to
> avoid being hacked?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#harden
> >
> >How do I investigate a suspicious IP address that may be
> trying to hack me?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#trace
> >
> >How do I report a hacker?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#reporthacker
> >
> >How do I use a port scanner or vulnerability scanner to
> test my security?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#portscanner
> >
> >How do I encrypt my files and/or hard drive?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#encryption
> >
> >How do I get a firewall? IDS?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#firewall
> >
> >I want to use the IPSec filtering or IP filtering feature
> of Windows to
> >block certain ports and have a problem or question.
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#ipsec
> >
> >I have a problem or question with the XP ICF firewall.
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#icf
> >
> >I have a problem or question with the IIS URLScan tool.
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#urlscan
> >
> >How do I change the banner on my computer or server to
> hide what software
> >version I'm using?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#banner
> >
> >How do I enable Windows Auditing to tell who logged into
> Windows or who
> >accessed a file?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#auditing
> >
> >How do I inspect and disable programs that start up when
> Windows starts?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#startup
> >
> >How do I use RUNAS or let someone use RUNAS to run
> commands as administrator
> >without having to type the password?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#runas
> >
> >How do I let non-administrator users run Defrag or change
> their IP address?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#runas
> >
> >
> >My question is not mentioned above. How do I get an
> answer immediately,
> >with no waiting?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#moreinfo
> >See also: http://www.google.com/groups?
> as_ugroup=microsoft.public.*
> >See also: http://www.google.com/advanced_group_search
> >See also: http://www.google.com
> >
> >I want to post a problem or question to the newsgroup.
> What info do I need
> >to post in order to get a correct answer quickly?
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#netiquette
> >
> >Note that this is NOT a full list of all the questions
> answered in the FAQ.
> >Chances are, your question has probably already been
> answered. The complete
> >FAQ is at:
> >http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm#contents
> >
> >
> >I hope this is helpful. Feedback, suggestions and
> criticism regarding the
> >FAQ are welcome and may be emailed to me.
> >
> >kind regards,
> >Karl Levinson, CISSP, MCSE, MVP
> >email: levinson_k@despammed.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >.
> >

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