Spam and Malware

Gmail and Spam protection

Google is the industry leader in spam detection and prevention. Millions of spam emails are sent out everyday, and the vast majority are detected and blocked by Google.

Occasionally you may receive a suspicious message in your inbox. If you determine that a message is spam, report it to Google.

To Report Spam:

• 1. Select the message you would like to report.

  2. Click the spam button in the toolbar above your messages .

  3. (If you have the message open, you can also report it as spam by using the same button)

Reporting spam will train the Google filters so they know what mail should be delivered to your inbox. The message will also be analyzed by Google to see if the senders should be blocked globally as well.

Spam and Malware Best Practices

• • Report spam if you receive it.

  • Do not download or open attachments from unknown senders.

  • Do not open links from suspicious senders.

  • Be careful about sharing your email address on-line.

  • Be wary of suspicious messages even if they come from a known source(their account may have been hacked).

  • Be wary of “remove me from this list” or “unsubscribe” links. They are often used by spammers to capture your information.

  • Contact your IT admin or helpdesk if you are unsure about possible spam or malicious messages.

  • Regularly clear your cache and cookies

  • Sign in securely. Make sure you are signing in over HTTPS: as opposed to HTTP:

About Malware

The term "malware" covers all sorts of malicious software designed to harm a computer or network. Malware can be installed on your machine without your knowledge, often through deceptive links, attachments, emails, or websites posing as something desirable. Malware can be:

• • Viruses

  • Spyware

  • AdWare

  • Trojan horses

How can malware affect me?

Once a computer has been compromised by malware, cyber criminals can attempt to access your personal information by:

• • Logging your keystrokes

  • Monitoring your computer’s activity.

  • Controlling your computer to access websites or other actions

The effects of malware range from brief annoyance to computer crashes and identity theft.

How Do I know if I have Malware?

IF your computer starts behaving ‘strangely’ you may have malware. Some of the symptoms are:

• • Pop-up ads

  • Unwanted toolbars

  • Being redirected from a site you’re trying to visit

  • Getting results from the wrong search engine

How do I remove malware?

You should have anti-virus installed on your computer to help detect and prevent malware. You can also download some free software to remove malware.

• • LavaSoft’s Ad-aware

  • AVG

  • Spybot Search and Destroy

  • Windows Defender

With a corporate device, consult your helpdesk to remove unwanted viruses or malware