Junk and unwanted email

Junk email is unsolicited, unwanted email which you receive. Below is a description of some types of junk email with links to computing service documentation for more information.

Your email address may be found from (among others) usenet postings, websites, mailing lists, or simply by guessing. Never reply to spam as either this confirms to them that they have emailed an active email address or if the real sender forged the from address of the email, your reply will go to an innocent victim.

The most common form of junk email is known as spam. You can filter your email messages to move the spam messages into a seperate folder.
If you get emails reporting that you have sent emails which contained a virus which you know you didn't send, you are a victim of what is known as collateral spam. The computing service have a page describing collateral spam.
If you receive an harassing email to your damtp account and you wish to report it sent the email to abuse@help.ac.uk. The computing service have a page describing what is a harassing email.
If you receive an email which is warning you about a virus you need to identify whether is is a hoax warning or a real warning. Two sites which will list hoax warnings are
- NAI/McAfee Hoaxes page
- F-Secure Hoax Warnings page.
The computing service have a webpage with more information about Hoax Virus Warnings.
If you recieve a chain email message asking you to pass the message onto some number of people - do not do so. Instead delete the message. The computing service have a page describing chain mail and how to deal with it.

Useful Links

Please email any suggestions, corrections, broken links, or errors to itweb [itweb@damtp.cam.ac.uk]