Subscription confirmations May thwart hackers.

Direct Newsline reported that study findings released by Tuscon, AZ-based Arial Software LLC indicate a computer hacker could easily destroy the e-mail database of most companies. That's because few companies "double-confirm" requests to be placed on e-mail lists.

The double-confirm practice involves sending an e-mail with a link attached, which must be clicked to confirm e-mail subscription requests. Such confirmations can prevent hackers vandalizing databases or from posting other e-mail names and addresses to a company's database--to send out e-mail spam, according to Arial.

The software firm conducted an audit of 1,057 companies nationwide that offer e-mail services to subscribers. It found that only 7% double-confirm requests to add names to their to e-mail subscription lists.