Say the word “SPAM” and people cringe. Anyone and everyone who deals with emails and electronic information feels the SPAM blues and wishes they could somehow avoid it.

I read a tweet today that said something to the effect of “I hate SPAM more than I hate the real chatty person sitting next to me on an airplane”. That’s saying something!

Some more common forms of spam include promoting phishing sites; enticing users to download a video or an application; malicious code or rouge code which provides others access to your profile and personal information.

Since Social Networking thrives on “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”, “friends” on social networks are more than happy to open links, forward information you request be forwarded, etc. And guess what? This results in an instantaneous SPAM infection to others, unknowingly!

Here are some techniques which will prevent you from being a SPAM-spreader:

• Set your website privacy settings on “high to protect your identity.
• Think before you accept friend requests – do you know or want to know this person?
• Limit access to your profile
• Careful what you click on; links may be dangerous
• Report Spam to site owner when you encounter it

Be careful out there, SPAMMERS are not always “harmless”