Getting e-mail from friends and family is one of the many ways to enjoy your high-speed Internet service. However, if you are still getting more than your fair share of irritating messages in your inbox, Verizon recently offered some tips to help you cut down on spam and enjoy a safer Internet experience.

• Use Additional Filters - Programs like Outlook Express and Netscape® Messenger give users the ability to filter incoming e-mail so that it can be placed in special folders, throw away unwanted junk mail, or even send an automatic response to certain senders.
• Guard E-Mail Address - Be careful about disclosing e-mail addresses. Spammers use programs that search chat rooms, Internet sites, newsgroups and other online sites where e-mail addresses can be found and use that information to compile their mailing lists.
• Disguise Your Address - When including your e-mail address in online profiles or on a personal Web site, disguise your e-mail address by writing it in plain English, such as "PamB at ConnectMyHighSpeed dot net." That way, your address is still intelligible to people but not e-mail gathering software.
• Shopping Sites - Beware of pre-checked boxes when registering for online services or shopping. These typically indicate you will accept e-mail from that organization. Uncheck those boxes if you prefer not to receive such messages.
• Report Spam - If you are using a spam filter but continue to receive unwanted e-mails, report the messages to your Internet service provider (ISP). Verizon customers can do this by sending the messages as attachments to spamdetector.notcaught@verizon.net. All Internet users can forward unwanted e-mails to spam@uce.gov.

For more information on stopping spam, check out the Consumer section of the FTC's Anti-Spam site.