How to improve your email security and reduce spam in your inbox

Spam also includes junk mail. Spam is email communication that is sent to people without their permission or consent. Recipients' addresses are often taken from Usenet postings or websites, obtained from databases or simply guessed from known names and domains. Spam is used to advertise almost any product or service, from "adult" articles to website logo designs. Hackers also use it to spread viruses or links to malicious websites that collect personal information such as credit card numbers and passwords for sites like eBay and PayPal.

To the normal user, these messages appear genuine. The link even has a legitimate-looking domain name. "Phishing" is the term for this method. Here are some clever tactics and tips you can apply immediately to reduce spam and improve your email security.

- Set up your anti-virus software to automatically scan all incoming emails for viruses. Malicious software is still routinely distributed by email. Make sure your antivirus software is up to date.

- If you frequently sign up for "freebies" or other online offers, set up a separate email account just for this purpose. Yahoo!, Hotmail and Google Gmail offer plenty of storage space in their accounts by default.

- Use a free disposable email provider such as Sneak Email - http://www.sneakemail.com if websites do not accept free email addresses from the above services.

- When you send an email to a blog or website, format it so that only a human can understand it. For example, if your email address is johndoe@hotmail.com, write it as "Johndoe at hotmail.com".

- Never open a message from an unknown sender, but delete it as quickly as possible. This applies in particular if there is an online connection. Replying to a message only confirms to the spammers that the e-mail address is "live".

- Do the following if you receive an official-looking message from your bank, eBay or another website that you are not sure is genuine: Log in to the website normally through your browser instead of clicking on the link contained in the email. When you log in, you should see a notification if there are indeed major problems. If possible, contact the customer service department of the website in question by telephone.

- If possible, use stand-alone spam filter software. This software searches for spam-like characteristics in your email, e.g. terms such as "click" or "teenager". It also compares emails sent by senders against a "friends list".