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Spam
Anyone that has been on the Internet, whether using e-mail or in newsgroups, will become familiar with Spam sooner or later.
- What is Spam?
- What's wrong with Spam?
- What can I do to avoid getting Spam?
- What is being done about Spam?
- What can I do about Spam?
- Conclusion
What is Spam?
Spam is the same thing many times. It originally appeared as a term to describe EMP (Excessive Multi Posting) and ECP (Excessive Cross Posting) on USENET. It is also used to describe UBE (Unsolicited Bulk E-mail) and UCE (Unsolicited Commercial E-mail).
The term spam is said to come from a Monty Python skit from the second series of Monty Python's Flying Circus. In this skit, Vikings sing a chorus about spam while a woman tries to get something to eat that doesn't contain spam. Much like our attempts to limit the amount of UBE that comes into our mailboxes, she was unsuccessful in getting a meal that doesn't contain spam.
Now if you want to receive this junk e-mail, or USENET posts, then read no further, because this is how to prevent, limit, and fight against spam. For those of you that do not care to receive this junk, read on.
What's wrong with Spam?
First, let's think about the philosophical reasons why spam is bad. The Internet was set up so people could exchange information. Commercial use of the 'net' was frowned upon. In the last few years, the use was expanded by the World Wide Web to include commercial uses. The Web does not force you to receive Web advertisements; you choose what Web sites you care to visit.
Spammers feel it is their right to send advertisements you don't want. They impose upon your rights to receive what you want. The constant barrage of unwanted, and sometimes offensive, advertisements is objectionable to many families that use the net.
On the practical side, spam, a form of net abuse, costs you, the user. The problem with spam is that you pay for it. Whenever a spammer sends his e-mail to you, your ISP has to store the junk on the server until you download it. The ISP stores the USENET junk on the NNTP server. Spam requires your ISP provide excess capacity to store the spam. You pay for it. It is built into your fees.
In a recent USENET incident, it was stated that the amount of spam and cancel messages on USENET was greater than the legitimate postings. This means that an ISP had to have more than twice as much capacity than needed to handle legitimate messages. To the user this means increased costs and/or reduced retention times on the USENET servers. In either case YOU pay for this. The spammer dumps his junk out there for free.
Remember, the Internet is International. All countries of the world do not have unlimited access to the Internet either with their phone systems, or their service provider. Many countries' phone systems charge by the minute. In the US, there are some areas that charge this way also. When a spammer sends his message to those without unmetered service they pay to download it.
What can I do to avoid getting Spam?
Spammers use all kinds of tricks to get e-mail addresses, and you can't avoid all of them.
There are some steps that you can take to limit your risk, however. You'll find information on how to help eliminate spam in the following pages:
- How do I put my e-mail address on my page and still keep the spammers from harvesting it?
- Fight Spam on the Internet
One of the latest tricks that the spammers use is to take an e-mail address such as emailid@aol.com, and put the emailid part with another domain, such as emailid@att.net. This is a scattergun type of approach, but seems to be effective. This is the reason that you might start getting spam immediately after you get a new e-mail address.
What is being done about Spam?
There are differing views on what should be done about spam. Some think that legislation is needed, but others think that laws defining spam will legitimize its existence. The feeling is that it is up to a sender's ISP to control what goes out. You'll find additional information about spam legislation at the following locations:
What can I do about Spam?
The response to spam ranges from deleting it to getting actively involved in fighting against it. Many people choose to just say no, and hit the delete key. This is certainly one way to deal with it, but it won't help stop it.
Filters may be used to get rid of some spam automatically. Some e-mail clients, like Eudora Pro, Netscape Communicator and Outlook Express, have filtering ability. You set up rules to delete spam and the application takes it from there. This is just another form of deleting spam ; only automated.
Our favorite method for dealing with spam is tracking it down and reporting it. Every now and then you read the satisfying reply from an ISP that says, "The user's account was terminated."
Don't be mislead by the reply to: or return address; these are usually forged. The only way to effectively track them down, and complain to the right place, is to learn to decode the headers.
Decoding headers is intimidating at first. It's really not that hard to figure out though. There are lots of resources on the Web to help you learn how. For an introductory view of how to fight spam, try the following sites:
- WURD on Fighting Junk E-Mail (aka Spam)
Instructions on filtering your junk e-mail into folders and configuration instructions for spam fighting tools. - Spam Lessons
Various lessons on how to identify the source of spam - Penn's Page of Spam
A great collection of spam related sites and information - The great CNET spam-off
They reveal the riskiest e-mail behaviors on the Net. - How to cut spam without shooting your PC
Steps to reduce the amount of spam you get. - JMHO on Spam
A member's site dedicated to helping AT&T Worldnet members fight spam.
There is also software to help. Sam Spade and SpamKiller are great tools for determining the origination of spam. There are also several other spam fighting tools available.
If you don't want to download and install software, try the Spam Cop page. All you have to do is copy and paste the spam in a box, and it will do the rest. Be aware that some ISPs don't bother with spam reported using this method. It's always best to verify the results before you send off your complaint.
There are lots more sites out there on the Web to help you fight spam. Try one of the search engines off of the AT&T Worldnet Service home page. Use spam as the keyword. You'll find lots of information about it, and information about the edible product as well.
Conclusion
Whatever you choose to do about the junk mail you receive, we hope there is something here that will help you. If we've piqued your interest, subscribe to the worldnet.users.spam-killer newsgroup. This newsgroup is a members helping members group; they can provide you with assistance in determining the source of any spam you receive and how to fight it.