After I wrote a column about how to reduce the amount of spam (junk e-mail) in Google's Gmail, Don Wenig of Tucson, Ariz., voiced the frustration of many e-mail users.
"I just wish I knew how these creatures got my address," Wenig said.
I took that to heart, and here is a list of the ways that spam producers get your e-mail address and what you can do to prevent it.
Don't respond to an e-mail from someone you don't know, not even to "unsubscribe" from an e-mail list that sends you unwanted information. It only confirms that your e-mail address is a good target.
Don't download any e-mail images that weren't initially displayed by your e-mail program. That also confirms that your e-mail address is available to spam.
Don't sign up for any online service that says it will remove your name from spam lists. Chances are, the site is run or monitored by spammers.
Don't respond to attention-grabbing e-mails, such as a "delivery failure message" for an e-mail you didn't send, or a message that says you requested something that you didn't. They're just bait.
Don't let an automatic e-mail response go to everybody. When on vacation, set your e-mail to respond with an "I'm-not-here" message only to e-mails from people already in your contacts list. Otherwise the automatic response may confirm your e-mail address to spammers.