1. Never reply to spam - not even to ask to be removed from their list. While they may remove you from that list they will certainly sell your now validated Email address to another list. Just delete the spam. If you are certain that the company that sent you the spam is legitimate then it is probably OK to request that you be removed from their list but typically unless you asked to be on the list in the first place this is not a good idea.

2. Don't forward the spam to any abuse addresses. This just adds to the problem. Since so much spam is the result of zombie computers infected with a virus or worm and that spammers don't want to be traced a great deal of spam appears to be from a different address than it really was.

At OWT we monitor an enormous amount of spam but we just can't react to every individual message that makes it through the filter. Our objective is to keep the volume that is not filtered small but not zero.

3. Use good Email etiquette and encourage others to as well. Spammers are usually a bit sloppy and rarely have your real name. Try to program addresses with names into your address book so that they are included in your Emails. Make sure your return address also includes your name for the same reason. Avoid using HTML formatted Email if you can as this is a common way for spammers to hide commercial content and so spam filters can be a bit touchy about HTML. Never send just an image or a URL (web address) in an Email - always put some text message as spammers can avoid filters altogether by embedding their message in a graphic so filters will dislike this as well. For an elaborate discussion of Email etiquette check out http://www.emailreplies.com/

4. This is also an etiquette issue but it merits its own section - do not write your subject or message in CAPITAL letters! Not only is this considering the electronic form of shouting but it also triggers spam filters.

5. Always enter a subject for your Email that it not overly simplistic. Blank subjects or one word subjects trigger spam filters. Avoid using words like URGENT or IMPORTANT in your subject for the same reason.

6. Avoid profanity in your Email. Spam filters are generally intolerant of all profanity for obvious reason.

7. If you use the Windows operating system (any variant) make sure you have an updated virus scanner on your system. OWT will prevent most viruses from infecting you via Email but that is not the only way of contracting this sort of thing. Everyone needs to be a part of the solution by actively preventing their systems from infections by worms and viruses. Your system can become an Email zombie and hammer everyone in your address book with unwanted spam.

8. No law currently prohibits unsolicited Email. Only misleading or deceptive messages are illegal even in Washington. Some regulation exists for allowing a recipient to be removed from a list but that is a lost cause. It is best to just delete the message and get on with your life.

9. Frequently a message will appear to be from one address but is really from another. Often the message may even appear to be from another OWT user but probably is not. If you look under the hood at the Email headers you can trace an Emails origin to some extent but try not to overreact to the apparent from address as it may be forged.

10. Never open an attachment from someone you don't know or are not expecting. Password protected archives are a common way of circumventing virus filters and should never be opened unless you know the sender and are expecting the attachment.

Not exactly Letterman but this top 10 list will improve your Email experience substantially.