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Why shouldn't I post my email address in a public forum?

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I used to protect my email address, so that I wouldn't get any spam, but by the time I learned about how spam works it was too late for me to prevent it.

That resulted in me having to install programs that would filter spam away, but it was still client side so I had to download the 100+ spam mails each day. Then I switched to a provider that did the spam filtering for me on their server, and this has resulted in a dramatic drop in spam mails.

I actually tell people now that they shouldn’t hide their e-mail addresses if they have server side spam protection, because that would kind of mean that your valid e-mail address is being held hostage by spammers, and I refuse to let those mail terrorists prevent me from being open with my e-mail address.

Posted by: Peter Binderup at August 5, 2005 1:35 AM

They'll probably catch on to seeohem eventually too. And writing it on three different lines or adding spaces. Try writing it in a picture or setting up a hotmail account especially.

Posted by: jodie at January 29, 2006 8:49 PM

I recently did a search on all major people search and record searches and was amazed that not only did my (supposed to be restricted) number and address show up on the people searches but my name, age, and location showed up on the record searches with an offer for whatever price to see all my (non-existant lol) criminal record, possible roomates, and financial records. How did all of this information become visible on the net? I have tried in vain to go to every website possible and remove my listings and although they tell they will they never do, and as well I cannot sit and sift through EVERY SINGLE website because there are hundreds! Is there an easier, more effective way to just remove myself from ALL of these websites?

Posted by: Brooke at February 16, 2006 5:55 PM

Not that I'm aware of.

Posted by: Leo at February 18, 2006 8:12 PM

There are places like www.addressmunger.com that help you encode your email address so that it's less visible to spam bots.

Posted by: mike at June 29, 2006 10:19 AM

hello leo i have truble with delete google bar from my computer. when i open google than typing word it show me the old word i had type from befor. now how i can delete it from my Msn Explorer not from internet Explorer. if you can help me please

thanks

Posted by: karim at September 27, 2006 7:51 PM

Good point on not using your real email address in your newsgroup posts. This can lead to a lot of spam.

-David
http://www.giganews.com

Posted by: David at November 1, 2006 12:47 PM

recently a couple of people added me on msn. i think because i typed my msn addy on yahooanswer to help a person. i asked one of the person hu added me and he said he typed 'girls msn address' on google. how do i get rid of it from the web?

Posted by: Chani at December 2, 2007 7:57 AM

I've heard about a method, where you can put + sign after @ in gmail.

like shishirmba+this-is-to-prevent-spam@gmail.com

does that really works???

thanks
Shishir
http://www.ausfuhrung.com

Posted by: Shishir at June 17, 2008 3:52 AM

Leo, for Newsgroups, I have had some success with http://www.newsdemon.com when it comes to removing posts I accidentally passed out my real contact info. They can obviously only remove it from their own servers, but at least it is something.

Posted by: John at June 18, 2008 7:20 PM
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