By akademiotoelektronik, 03/12/2022

The risks of the Internet - LCL

Spam is an email or SMS that you never asked to receive. It is also called "spam" or "unsolicited message". These are most often advertisements, but also hoaxes, viruses, and even attempted scams (phishing).

What are the risks?

Spam is not necessarily dangerous: it is usually just an advertising message or a hoax. But sometimes, it can be mails including an attachment containing a virus. In some cases, these are unwanted text messages to encourage people to call premium rate numbers on 0899XXXXXX. In other cases, it will be phishing.

How do they do it?

A spam email most often contains:

Most "spam" is sent from networks of infected computers ("botnet of zombies" see malware). This technique makes it impossible to easily trace the source of the malice.

The address book of the infected computer is sometimes used to give credibility to spam.

In any case, if you consider that the email received is an unsolicited message, you can contribute to its eradication by reporting it to signal spam.

What reflexes to adopt?

These few rules will prevent your email address from ending up and "turning around" in these lists.

Do not give out your primary email address on sites

Keep this address for your private or professional correspondence, and for trusted third parties such as your bank or the administration. Outlook addresses. If the computer of one of your friends is infected, it is possible that your email is used by spammers.

Use another address for promotional offers and online purchases

Create another email address that you will reserve for this type of use: your purchases on the Internet, your newsletters, etc. Most access providers allow you to have several email addresses. When the amount of spam received on this box becomes too large, you can delete it and create a new one with a different name. You can also use a disposable mail which is only active for a limited time.

Read the fine print on sites

Do not reply to spam, do not call premium rate numbers

Use anti-spam software or service

ISPs offer an optional service that stops spam directly on their server, before you receive it. when you receive them based on rules that you define as you go. These solutions work well, but don't be surprised if you still receive some spam. New ways to circumvent these protections are being found every day.

What should I do if I think I've been spammed?

If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of the banking (or e-commerce or other) site, do not continue browsing. If this doubt concerns an LCL site, alert LCL.

Good to know

But how did they get my address? Who gave them?

A link in the email suggests that you no longer receive emails from this sender. If it comes from a legitimate site and you no longer wish to receive information from it:

If it is not from a legitimate site: