Email and spammers

I've been reading that email addresses on websites can be farmed by
spammers. Can anyone tell me is this something I should be worrying about?
Should I be trying to hide them with java scripts?

NH (nh@NOSPAMm183.freeserve.co.uk) wrote:
: I've been reading that email addresses on websites can be farmed by
: spammers.

Can and are.

: Can anyone tell me is this something I should be worrying about?

Sort of, i.e. that email _may_ end up getting lots of spam.

I would guess 10% probability the account will become unusable, but that
is a wild guess, and will depend on many factors such as how popular the
web page is.


: Should I be trying to hide them with java scripts?

You can though it may or may not work that well, and javascript is
inconvenient for people who turn it off to avoid pop-ups etc.

Another technique is to use throw-away mail accounts. If the contact
account starts getting too much spam then change it. To minimize problems
for legit contacts, always respond to them using a permanent account.

I.e. they send a legit question to "details@domain.com", so you reply from
"fred@domain.com". If "details" starts to get spam then change it,
perhaps to "information" or etc. Replies from th legit customer still go
to fred so they still work. And if they lookup the mail on the web site
then it doesn't matter that it changed.

Many company directores will ask you to provide the full name of the
employee. Only then will they provide the personal email. That way the
emails are available but not visible.

Or spell out the email, like many usenet posters do. A person can see
what the text means but it is much harder for a spambot to harvest

my email is "harry dot smith at domain dot com".


--

This programmer available for rent.

"NH" <nh@NOSPAMm183.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:djh23t$jo1$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
> I've been reading that email addresses on websites can be farmed by
> spammers. Can anyone tell me is this something I should be worrying
> about?

Simple answer - Yes ...

In fact I now don't put my personal email addresses online ... spam is a big
problem and one of my true pet hates ... It will only go when the one in a
thousand idiot stops buying from them ...

G

NH wrote:

> I've been reading that email addresses on websites can be farmed by
> spammers. Can anyone tell me is this something I should be worrying
> about?

Yes, it is.

> Should I be trying to hide them with java scripts?

Yes. Here's a script for you:

<script language="JavaScript">

function liame_fred(name,host) {
var k = "\100";
var email = "o:" + name + k + host;
window.location.replace('mailt'+email);
}

</script>

Use it like this:

<a href="javascript:liame_fred('me','you.com');">me AT you.com</a>

--
Bob Broughton
http://broughton.ca/
Vancouver, BC, Canada
"I am talking about impeachment... If (George W. Bush) commits oral sex in
the Oval Office, and I don't care with whom, that will be the straw that
broke the camel's back. Out he goes." - Kurt Vonnegut, Oct. 7, 2005

Malcolm Dew-Jones wrote:

> Or spell out the email, like many usenet posters do. A person can see
> what the text means but it is much harder for a spambot to harvest
>
> my email is "harry dot smith at domain dot com".

A variation on this:
http://examples.tobyinkster.co.uk/email-hide

(view source)

--
Toby A Inkster BSc (Hons) ARCS
Contact Me ~ http://tobyinkster.co.uk/contact

"> I've been reading that email addresses on websites can be farmed by
> spammers. Can anyone tell me is this something I should be worrying
> about? Should I be trying to hide them with java scripts?
>
Many thanks for the answers. Enough to work with there.

On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 23:16:31 +0100, "NH"
<nh@NOSPAMm183.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:

>I've been reading that email addresses on websites can be farmed by
>spammers. Can anyone tell me is this something I should be worrying about?
>Should I be trying to hide them with java scripts?
>

Yes, although encoded JS is even better. An easy online app is this:
http://automaticlabs.com/products/enkoderform

Jurgen Nijhuis
Argos Media Solutions
www.argosmedia.nl
www.handboekwebwinkel.nl