Ask Laz: Is a ‘global opt-out’ for spam wishful thinking?

Michael says he’s been getting more and more spam in his inbox over the last couple of months.

“It seems the more I opt out, the more I get,” he says.

So Michael wants to know: “Is there a ‘global opt out’ that you might be aware of?”

As it happens, I know of several surefire ways to deal with spam. I’ll get to those in a moment.

ASK LAZ: Smart answers to consumer questions

First, let’s bask in the astonishing statistic that of the billions of emails traversing the ether daily, two-thirds are spam, according to the Internet security firm Symantec.

The spam filters of Internet service providers are getting stronger, but they still seem like no match for the bottom feeders who are determined to fight their way into your inbox.

Michael’s experience highlights the futility of opting out. Often, clicking the unsubscribe link on a spam email is merely a signal to the spammer that an active inbox has been found. This will result in even more spam coming your way.

Generally speaking, it’s not worth your time to opt out from spam.

So what can you do? It helps to report spam to your Internet service provider; the more people who flag a particular spam message, the more likely it is that the sender will be filtered.

You can also download spam filters for your computer. Some cost money, some are free.

Or you can do what I do -- click the delete button again and again throughout the day.

If none of those methods work for you, here are some ideas that are guaranteed to be effective:

-- Stop using email.

-- Unplug your computer.

-- Ask your doctor about a good antidepressant.

If you have a consumer question, email me at asklaz@latimes.com or contact me via Twitter @Davidlaz.