my tips for surviving the urban jungle June 25, 2006 (not to be confused with things I've learned)
Inundated with junk from all corners of the universe? Sick of it? Try my handy hints for taking charge!
junk mail
place a wastepaper basket close to the mailbox
consider getting a "no junk mail" sign
postal mail marketers
return all advertising received in the post "return to sender - not at this address" -
even if it's addressed to you - this costs the marketer money. Do this frequently -
the sooner you do it, the quicker you get removed from their list, and the less chance
your details will be resold to another marketer.
telephone marketers
set the ringer on the landline to OFF (landline calls must be arranged via some other channel)
create a new address which you never use for anything but personal and business correspondence - filter all mails for this address into a separate folder automatically - berate anyone who gives this address to some lame website
return all mail for unknown addresses to sender (block the catch-all mailbox)
email-based malware (viruses, worms, trojans etc)
don't use Microsoft Outlook, or its variants - try Thunderbird, Eudora or Pegasus
Treat all websites and ATMs as hostile. Get TWO bank accounts, with debit cards on each.
Never use the card for the first account online, ALSO, never use it in an ATM. Instead,
transfer money from the first account to the second account, then use the card from the
second account online and in ATMs. The card on the first account is only ever used in
ATMs inside banks (where they are reasonably safe from tampering). Keep ur cash in the
first account, the second account hovers at zero except when you need to buy something,
or withdraw cash. Because the card is a debit card, and the balance will probably be
near zero, someone stealing the number will not be able to use it to buy anything.
phishers
Never follow a link from anywhere (eg. an email) to your bank - type it in, or use a bookmark ("favorites")
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