It all starts with the way you structure your mailboxes on the server. Begin by making a list of all the e-mail addresses you could possibly need. Think of an informal address for your most trusted friends and family, like "Bob@..." Then think of an address for your customers and clients, like "service@..." Then think of addresses for your web site, and for your domain record contacts. These will be exposed on the Internet, so make them something you don't mind replacing after a little while. Think of an address name for every on-line vendor who *might* send or expose you to SPAM. Usually just using the name of the company works, like "ebay@..." Lastly think of a name that identifies you formally, and address you probably wouldn't want to give out to anyone because it's too long or detailed. This name we will be the name of your mailbox.

You really only need one mailbox. Then why the long list of names? All the other names will be used as "aliases". An alias is an e-mail address that has no mailbox. It only forwards mail to the mailbox. That means you could have hundreds of alias e-mail addresses for a single mailbox, and you only have to check mail in one place to get it all. Cool, huh?

Once you have created all your aliases, you site tight and watch for SPAM. It will come, a little at a time. But wait until it get's to be a problem. Perhaps you're getting messages that are more offensive, Maybe there's pornography or a steady stream of viruses. Maybe it's just an on-line vendor you want to get rid of but don't know how to edit your account. When you start getting too much of the wrong kind of messages to an address, simply delete and replace the alias with a new one.

Because of this strategy, you can determine whom the SPAM is coming from by the addressee. You can contact the party an tell them they are the cause of your SPAM. Usually, this is due to negligently publishing your address on their web site. Rarely are they deliberately selling your address.