Spam
Spam are the bad effects of unsolicited or void messages. There is risk of abuse, fraud, or phishing.
Indications
[edit]- Unknown or strange domains
- Unexpected e-mails from abroad
- Unrelated e-mail domains, not corresponding to the "sender label"
- Multiple e-mails the same day from the same domain, possibly using different, or "random" usernames
- Messages about expired accounts, domains, credentials, card readers, tax returns, investments
- Suffix usernames
- Foreign domains for domestic institutions or companies, e.g. FOD (Federale overheidsdienst)
- Unexpected e-mails from the bank
- Exotic financial transactions: legacies, lotteries, emergencies
- Exotic law firms
- UPPERCASE text, uppercase sender addresses
- About "hot" techniques, like solar cells, crypto currency
- Fake e-mails gimmicking official corporate style
- Using the RE: subject prefix (to suggest some previous communication)
- Unsollicited, unexpected, or unrelated procurement
- Non-conventional style
Counter measures
[edit]- Block unwanted top domains (country codes).
- Block unwanted language codes (only accept regular language codes).
- Block unwanted senders, or domains.
- Inspect URL links before clicking; suspect random URLs not corresponding to corporate internet domains. Instead use your own "bookmark" links.
- Be very careful if the message is too good to be real.
- Send fake messages to e.g. verdacht@safeonweb.be