How can I avoid sending spam?

The following information has been compiled thanks to the help of The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

To comply with Australia's spam laws, any commercial electronic message you send must meet the following conditions. Any message sent by an Australian business that doesn't meet all three of these conditions is defined as spam:

  • Consent – it must be sent with the recipient's consent. They may give express consent, or consent may be inferred from their conduct and 'existing business or other relationships'
  • Identity – it must contain accurate information about the person or organisation that authorised the sending of the message
  • Unsubscribe – it must contain a functional 'unsubscribe' facility to allow the recipient to opt out from receiving messages from that source in the future

    • A spam message is not necessarily sent out in 'bulk' to numerous addresses – under Australian law, a single electronic message can also be considered spam.

    The Act also prohibits the supply or use of address-harvesting software for the purpose of sending spam, and provides for orders for forfeiture of profits derived from spam, and payment of compensation to spam victims.

    Don't become an 'accidental spammer'

    If your business doesn't have effective security measures in place, spammers can infect your computer with a virus and use it to send spam to other people without your knowledge. To avoid becoming an accidental spammer, learn about and adopt these good security practices:

  • Use anti-virus software, and ensure it is updated regularly
  • Use personal firewall software
  • Download and install the latest security patches for your computer system
  • Attachments to email messages can be dangerous. Only open them if you know what they contain and who has sent them to you. Otherwise, it's safest to delete them immediately. If you do need to open an attachment, run it through up-to-date anti-virus software first; and
  • Use long and random passwords

    • You can learn more about security by browsing in a computer bookshop or by typing 'good security practices' into your favourite search engine. Anti-virus and personal firewall software is available from your ISP or computer shops, and more information about acquiring and using this software can be found on the Internet Industry Association web site: http://www.iia.net.au/.

    Other articles that may help:

    What Is Spam?
    Why Is Spam A Problem?
    Australia's Anti-Spam Law
    How can I avoid sending spam?
    Spam Exemptions
    Government/Industry spam actions
    Security tips for your server