Blocking spam and junk mail

Learn how to protect your personal information by logging on to www.junkbusters.com, or www.epic.org.

These sites offer software that protects your e-mail address and sensitive computer files. You can also set up "fire walls" to protect your computer even if you have a 24-hour-a-day broadband Internet connection. The sites also sell Web browsers that conceal your identity and block ads.

To stop regular junk mail, contact the companies that sell information lists:

Direct Marketing Association

Mail Preference Service

PO Box 9008

Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

Database America

800-223-7777 Ext. 4963

The Polk Company

800-873-7655

Acxiom Corp.

(501) 342-1000

Abacus Direct, 800-518-4453

Info USA (402) 930-3500

And call the opt-out phone number of the three major credit bureaus: 888-567-8688

If you follow these steps, and companies still send you marketing pitches, call the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Response Center at 877-FTC-HELP.

(c) Copyright 2000. The Christian Science Publishing Society