Forms to Stop Spam and Viruses
- stop spam and viruses by using web forms
Having your email address on a web page or in web page coding is becoming increasingly hazardous.
Email Harvesters
Spam mailing lists are now using automated email harvesters to collect email addresses for their lists. These harvesters trawl web pages for anything that looks like an email address and then simply add you to their lists.
Email Viruses and Worms
A related and more serious problem is email viruses and worms. The new generation of email viruses are designed to maximize their distribution. They do this by searching the host computer for email addresses both in email address books and local files. They then send themselves to these addresses and often appear to come from one of them. So if you have a web page containing your email address sitting on somebody's computer (which happens as soon as they view your page) it can be found by viruses. This will result in not only you receiving a contaminated email but other email addresses found on the computer may also be sent an infected email appearing to come from you. This type of virus can make you appear to be the source of virus infected emails by faking the email from address.
Protecting your Email Address
To address this problem it is worth considering removing harvester and virus readable email addresses from web sites.
Two basic steps to protect your email address:
Use images to display the email addresses on web pages, not text. By simply replacing the @ sign with an image we get
somebody
ezyform.com
The email address is no longer identifiable as an email address by automated programs but remains human readable.
The second step is to only use forms that prevent the form delivery email addresses from being read by harvesters and viruses. Form1 forms incorporate the delivery email address in their server side code, not in the web page source code where it can be viewed by anybody; or anything; that reads your web page. Server side code is fully executed on the web server (the web host computer) and is not delivered to the users browser.
Unlike standard form processing scripts the delivery email address of a Form1 form is not displayed in browsers or browser source code and cannot be harvested by spam emailers or viruses. If you view the source code for most standard forms (from the web page go View, Source in Explorer or View, Page Source in Navigator) the recipient email address for the form is displayed. With Form1 forms this is not the case.
Managing Spam and Virus Generated Email
Forms also allow you to take control of the email delivered to your inbox. Using forms in conjunction with email filters to screen emails you can eliminate any email that is not submitted via your form. To do this simply set the form data to include a specific and unique text identifier. This can be included in the form as a hidden field or a preset subject. Then match your email filter to only accept emails that include this unique text identifier.
You should also set any email not sent to a valid email address on your domain to be rejected. In order to ensure that real email is not bounced and customers left wondering why you did not respond set up an auto response for the default rejected email to advise that it has not been delivered. This ensures that if a real person sent the email they will be able to contact you using your web site form.
Example Rejected Email Auto Response:
Your email has not been delivered.
Due to the escalating challenges and reliability issues facing standard email delivery please submit all communication via our online Support form at www.ezyform.com.
Our form submissions apply the Form1 processing engine to minimize spam and manage email contact. Additional detail on Form1 is available at http://www.softswot.com/Form1Info.php.
This message was generated when our server received an email claiming to be from your email address. If you did not send this email it may have been forged. The email from address is often faked by spam and virus generated email. If you do not wish to contact us no action is required.
Regards
www.ezyform.com
Anti Virus and Spam Filtering Software
Current Anti Virus and Spam Filtering software is a valuable investment. We use the Symantec Norton Anti Virus Live Update system which automatically updates our anti virus software so we are sure our virus protection is always current. If your sever does not provide spam filtering software try G-Lock SpamCombat. Spam filtering software that lets you remove spam emails from your mail server before they reach your inbox.
| SpamCombat | G-Lock |
| Resource Type: Software | Resource Application: Communication and Presentations, Internet |
| Cost: US$35.00 Pricing Details | System: Windows |
This spam filter is an reliable antispam software that detects and eliminates spam from your inbox. Spam emails have become an ever increasing problem, and nowadays it is practically impossible to use email without receiving spam in large amounts. G-Lock SpamCombat is your powerful solution for clearing your Inbox from spam, virus, and junk emails. G-Lock SpamCombat has a user-friendly interface and is easy to set up and use. SpamCombat is provided with a set of powerful filters and also allows you to create your own filter rules to block spam from entering your inbox. | |
Rating:   | Source: www.RESOURCEdb.com |
| McAfee VirusScan | McAfee |
| Resource Type: Software | Resource Application: Communication and Presentations, Technology, Web Development |
| Cost: US$34.99 Pricing Details | System: |
Never go online without the latest anti-virus protection. Fast-spreading mass-mailing viruses, worms and Trojans like Mydoom, Bagle and Sasser can easily infect exposed PCs over dial-up or broadband connections, forward themselves to your email contacts and even help remote hackers hijack personal information. That's why award-winning McAfee VirusScan-trusted by millions worldwide-automatically scans your email, attachments, shared disks and downloads, then immediately starts to clean or quarantine infections. Easy to download, install and use, McAfee VirusScan automatically checks for virus updates* whenever you connect to the Internet, so your protection stays up-to-date against the latest threats, including spyware. | |
| Rating: | Source: www.RESOURCEdb.com |
| PestPatrol | Computer Associates International |
| Resource Type: Software | Resource Application: Internet |
| Cost: US$29.95 Pricing Details | System: Windows Me/98SE/2000/XP |
eTrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware, gives you the ability to sweep your PC of malicious software designed to invisibly track the sites you surf, the products you buy, and the messages you send. After easy installation, your PC will stay free and clear of spyware, adware, and other non-virus threats, thanks to automatic updates designed to keep you one step ahead of sneaky software. Some of the biggest threats online are the hardest to detect. eTrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware keeps your personal information personal by detecting and removing software installed invisibly on your home PC, so you can surf, bank, and shop online with confidence. Comprehensive Spyware Detection and Removal- Provides complete protection against spyware, adware, keyloggers, Remote Access Trojans (RATs), and browser hijackers Real-time Protection - Proactively protects your PCs against new spyware threats Active Protection - Kills active pests in memory and zaps spyware cookies before they can phone home about you Automatic Updates - Makes sure you're always covered against the latest spyware threats Detailed Scan Results - Delivers the specific threat level of any pest found, and allows you to link to our pest database for more information Security you can Trust - Your security is backed by the industry's largest research team, the CA Security Advisory Team | |
| Rating: | Source: www.RESOURCEdb.com |
| McAfee AntiSpyware | McAfee |
| Resource Type: Software | Resource Application: Internet |
| Cost: US$34.99 Pricing Details | System: Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP |
Eliminate malicious applications before they can steal your identity "McAfee's spyware detection and removal functions placed it among the best antispyware tools we've tested" -PC Magazine, June 8, 2004. Is someone tracking your every online move? Essential protection for today's security-conscious Internet user, McAfee AntiSpyware quickly detects then safely eliminates malicious applications e.g., key loggers, remote-control programs, browser hijackers hiding on your system before they can rob your identity, snatch passwords or monitor browsing activity when you surf or shop. Erasing online roadblocks, McAfee AntiSpyware also foils adware programs that trigger annoying advertisements and sap system performance. Advanced Auto-Protect Technology alerts users when potentially hostile applications attempt to install and run, providing options to block the threat at the gateway. Multiple Scanning Options (On-Demand and On-Execution) allow users to perform thorough or custom scans depending on their need. The default setting performs a full system scan. One Year of Automatic Updates prompts users to download and install the most up-to-date protection against spying and tracking programs. Extensive Detection Database provides a thorough database of adware, spyware and keylogging programs. This database is continuously updated to keep up with the plethora of programs created daily by hackers. Uninstall Flexibility allows you the choice to uninstall tracking programs using that programs uninstaller (if available), or McAfee AntiSpywares removal technique, which removes all traces of the program. One-Stop-Shop Identification and Removal of all components and files associated with spyware; allowing users to remove any and all associated files in one click. | |
| Rating: | Source: www.RESOURCEdb.com |
Additional information on virus activity is available from Symantec Security Response.
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