If your first mail in the morning is junk mail or spam, it’s enough to start your day off on the wrong foot. But did you know you can do something about it?
Spam, or junk mail is defined as identical, disruptive e-emails sent to a large amount of e-mail or cellphone users. When a receiver clicks on one of the links in the message, he/she is diverted to a phishing website or websites containing malware. Spam e-mails can also contain hidden malware scripts.
Recently there has been various iterations of spam and phishing. One variation seems to be from SARS, another from ABSA and yet another one from the IT department. Don’t ever respond ever to mail sent to you by “persons unknown”. If you are unsure phone or e-mail the IT Helpdesk (021-8084367) or e-mail them at helpinfo@sun.ac.za, otherwise call or e-mail your local computer expert who can advise or at least check-up for you.
Mail from Information Technology will always be branded and clearly addressed to you, will have an English and an Afrikaans translation and will always contain links that point to the “sun.ac.za” domain and never anything else.
Unsure how to distinguish between the real thing and spam or phishing e-mails? Read more about it on our selfhelp wiki and you’ll find various examples on our blog.
If you’re bombarded by spam om a regular basis, there’s one way of declaring war on it. Did you know you can send the relevant mail to IT so we can block the user, domain and/or service provider? Just follow these simple instructions below.
HOW TO REPORT A SPAM E-MAIL
- Start with a new e-mail in Outlook
- Click on File, New, Mail message.
- Type sysadm@sun.ac.za in the To-field.
- Type SPAM in the Subject-field.
- Click on Insert and choose Item OR click on the paperclip and choose Item.
- Select the SPAM (activate inetkey) e-mail that you want to send and click on OK.
- Click on Send.
For more a detailed description, go to our wiki.
[INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY DAVID WILES]
