Do not open an e-mail unless you know who it is from. If you open it, this signals that your e-mail address is active and more spam will follow

Do not reply to or forward junk e-mail

Be careful about giving out your e-mail address. If possible spell it out rather than using the @ symbol, for example: john at email dot com

Investigate getting software to block and filter e-mails. Some are free but you have to pay for the most sophisticated shields.

Use filters. Many on-line providers now block incoming bulk mail from known spammers and those using falsified return addresses. Some providers also offer tools to scan e-mail messages for common spam terms as "get rich" or "blah" and block them at the user's request. If your ISP doesn't offer blocking features, there are free and commercial utilities available for popular Windows e-mail clients, including Eudora and Outlook. Visit www.zdnet.com or www.cnet.com for helpful reviews and links to download specific spam filters.

Do not respond or retaliate. Vigilante tactics such as sending multiple replies or mailbombing typically prove ineffective. If the return address is fake, your reply will cause problems for an innocent system administrator; if it's real, the spammer will realize that your account is active. Instead, forward suspected spam to your provider--usually to the postmaster address--to alert them to the problem.

Protect your address. Often, spammers use software to "harvest" e-mail addresses from chat rooms, Web pages, online bulletin boards and Usenet postings. Consider using a separate e-mail address for participating in public forums.

Read the fine print. Before registering at a Web site, check its privacy policy; your e-mail address could end up on a marketing list sold to spammers. If the policy is unclear or none is posted, be wary--particularly where personal or sensitive information is involved.

Use a forwarding address. Many companies offer free e-mail accounts which can be used to screen messages and then forward those you want to an account whose address you keep private. Some of these accounts also come equipped with filtering capabilities.