Is your email address publicly readable on the internet somewhere? That is; do you have a website that your email address is on or have you posted it on forums? If you are not sure, then enter your email address in Google's search engine or MSN and see what pops up. If your email doesn't turn up, it doesn't mean you are totally off the hook, but you are better off than someone who's email address is plastered all over the net. Spammers set lose software programs that go out and harvest email addresses automatically. So if you ever do need to put your email address on the net be sure to do it in a way that foils the spammers such as ‘email at domain dot com', instead of email@domain.com.This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

If you sign up for mailing lists where your email address is publicly available, then use a throw away email address so if spam gets out of control you can always delete it and move on. Mailing lists and newsgroups are favorite places for spammers to harvest for email addresses.

Another way for spammers to get your email address is if you use it to register for freebie offers online. A common tactic it to offer a chance at a freebie in exchange for your email address. Your email address is then sold to spammers as a fresh target.

By signing up for free offers and such it is likely you also sign up for more email than you bargained for and even though you don't want it, it technically isn't spam. There may be small print at the bottom of the form you are filling out which states you will also receive offers from partners.

In the end, if you use your email address at all then there is a chance someone will get a hold of it that will spam you. The way to minimize your risk is to reserve a special email account for those people important to you and use another email address to sign up for freebies and mailing lists.