Spam isn’t limited to the harmless email chain we’ve all been guilty of sending to friends and family members. Many of us feel that receiving email spam is a lost cause and we’re sentenced to cleaning our inboxes out each morning. Though completely ridding spam from your life may be an unattainable task, there are steps you can take to reduce the number you receive:

• Create a separate email address (free ones like Gmail and Hotmail work great) when registering for an online group or Web-newsletter.

• When posting content on the Web, don’t include your primary email address. Spammers can easily add you to their lists.

• Trick the spam spiders-If you post an email address online, disguise it’s setup, spelling out ‘dot com’ in place of ‘.com

• If you sign up for a list, be sure it’s for that sole site and your information won’t get passed around.

• Read text-only emails or request your mail provider notify you before downloading images or HTML.

• If you receive forwarded chain emails from friends or family, ask them to stop. Even if you trust who is sending you the email, your name will still be visible to whoever continues sending the chain.

• Purchase a spam filter. It’s a small price to pay when you think of all the junk mail you’ll avoid.

6StarReviews.com notes several spam filters that can do the trick and reduce unwanted spam mail. Anti-spam software programs like Spam Shield have unique features such as LashBack, a setting that removes spam and prevents that user from ever forwarding you junk mail again. Spam Monitor also paves the way in spam protection by letting users make black and whitelists to ensure important email reaches their inbox. Preventing spam doesn’t have to cost you your sanity!