MailMarshal Glossary

Blacklist - A feature of anti-spam software (MailMarshal) that allows users to designate individual e-mail addresses from which no mail will be accepted.

False Positive - This occurs when a spam filter mistakes wanted e-mail for spam and blocks it from you.

Harvesting - Another way spammers gather e-mail addresses is by harvesting them--running a software program that trolls chat rooms, Internet postings, Usenet discussion groups, and other online sources for e-mail addresses. To avoid being a victim of harvesters, use a disposable e-mail address for public consumption. When you post, don't use your primary e-mail address--use one you don't care about. If one address starts getting too much spam, just delete the account and move to another one.
You can also trick harvesters by embedding a message into your e-mail address. For example, if your e-mail address is johndoe99@isp.com, you might want to post your e-mail address as johndoe99(at)isp.com, or johndoe99@nospam.isp.com.

Phishing -  Possibly the only thing worse than a spammers is an unscrupulous spammer. Sometimes called "phishers," because they are fishing for victims, they try to con people out of personal information like credit card numbers and bank security codes. They defraud most victims by setting up Web sites designed to look like those run by legitimate companies.
To avoid being phish bait, always be suspicious of e-mail asking for personal information. When in doubt, directly contact the company that is allegedly asking, try to confirm the correspondence, and find out whether the e-mail or Web site link is legit. Report phishing scammers to your ISP and the Federal Trade Commission's task force on identity theft.

Spam - Mass unsolicited e-mail messages, usually of a commercial nature. According to Internet lore, the term originates with a Monty Python skit where the comedy team sings a redundant, useless song: "Spam, spam, lovely spam, lovely spam."

Spoofing - Disguising the sender address of an e-mail message to make it appear as thought it is from another person, usually for malicious reasons.

Whitelist - A feature of anti-spam software (MailMarshal) that allows users to designate individual e-mail addresses from which mail will be accepted.