Don't reply
Never, ever, ever send a reply to a spam. Even if it's for a product you want. Doing so confirms you read it, and your address goes on the spam¬mers' lists for eternity.

Block beacons
Set your e-mail software-even if it's Web-based-to not show images. It prevents Web bugs (aka beacons), pic¬tures as small as I-by-l pixel, that tell a spammer you've viewed his message, confirming your address once again. Avoid spiders
If you post your e-mail address online, write out "name at domain dot com" so spiders can't find it. Anyone who can't translate that to name@domain. com doesn't deserve to send you mes¬sages.

Filter it out
Use e-mail with a spam filter. Thun¬derbird has a built-in spam blocker, and Outlook 2003 and 2007 use Microsoft SmartScreen to look at mes¬sage content and decide if it's spam. Gmail's is close to flawless. Security suites usually include spam filters.

Dummy it up
It may annoy friends, but the more complicated your e-mail address, the harder it is for spammers to guess and crack your code.

Avoid spim
Spam in instant messages is called spim. Avoid it by using an obscure username (like ba3jacks56), and, more important, don't list your handle in the 1M provider's public directory. (This goes for Skype, too.)

Avoid spim, part 2
Some products will fight spim, but only if it's with the original software clients. Web-based 1M services such as Yahoo!'s and Google's aren't yet protected.