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SPAM: General
Spam is a lunchmeat. Almost no-one wants it or asks for it. These days the word is more likely being used to refer to junk mail or junk newsgroup postings. Some people define spam even more generally as any unsolicited email. However, if a long-lost relative finds your email address and sends you a message, this could hardly be called spam. Real spam is generally email advertising for some product sent to a mailing list or newsgroup. It is a cross-platform problem, since it affects users of all computer operating systems. Computers all over the world are being used to deliver millions of spams every minute.
It has become the main reason why an email is no longer instantaneous. Email servers now have to deliver more spam than actual emails, including all legitamate subscriptions. So now Internet Service Providers are adding spam controls for their customers, which in turn slows down every email, because now each email has to be checked before it can be delivered.
There have been laws written to try to eliminate spam, which so far have been ineffective. For Example CAN-SPAM in the US, and since then the rate of spam has continued to grow. Enforcement will have to track down the offenders with the diligance that they currently use against hackers and virus writers, since the methods employed to deliver spam are similar. When someone gets charged with this crime, are the sentences going to be a slap on the wrist? No-one can say that they were physically harmed by spam. Financially spam does cost everyone, and your Internet provider fees reflect these costs. Most will likely not be emotionally affected at all, and the rest may be grossed out or confused by it.
Will a Spam Tax be introduced to create an army of Spam cops? Do I see a new cartoon superhero in the future? How about a big screen production "Spam", the movie... coming to a theatre near you.
Common Characteristics of Spam
- Something you don't want.
- Something you can never have.
- Something you never asked for.
- Sounds too good to be true.
- Often of no interest to your gender.
- When replied to, it will inevitably come back with an undeliverable email address error message.
- The web links will contain spyware, popups, viruses or encourage you in some way to reveal personal information about yourself.
- An attachment will likely be a virus.
- If you click on the remove link, or reply to the address to have your name removed from the list, you will be put on even more lists and get even more spam.
- Fight
Spam on the Internet!
You have probably seen an increase in the
amount of "junk mail" which shows up in your email box, or on your favourite newsgroup.
The activities of a small number of people are becoming a bigger problem for the Internet.
This organization has been actively engaged in fighting spam for years. Since thry presented
started this site, in 1996, they have been pleased to be referenced as one of the best
anti-spam sites on the net. Help fight spam to keep the Internet useful for everyone. Take
advantage of the information they've gathered to make your own experience on the Internet better.
http://spam.abuse.net/
- CAUCE
The Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE) is an all volunteer organization created by to advocate the implementation of legislative solutions to the problem of Unsolicited Bulk Email (a.k.a "spam") as it exists on the Internet.
http://www.cauce.org/
- CAUCE Canada
This site is designed to provide information about the problems of spam, some proposed solutions, and to provide resources for the Canadian Internet community so they can make informed choices about the issues surrounding junk email.
http://cauce.ca/
- JunkBusters
Bust The Junk Messages Out of Your
Life.
http://www.junkbusters.com/
- Postini Resource Center Stats For EMail
Real time statistics for the total number and percentages of:
- The number of Directory Harvest Attacks; attempts to steal confidential email directory information
- The number of Spam EMail Messages. At this time well over half of all messages are spam.
- The number of EMails Containing Viruses.
http://www.postini.com/stats/
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Spam Prevention
The only way people can try to avoid spam is to try to protect your email address and private information in general. You should avoid clicking on ads that promise things too good to be true. If an email address is requred to view some content that you absolutely have to see, then don't supply them with your actual or main e-mail address. Most Internet accounts come with multiple email addresses, so see your Internet Providers home page for information about setting up another account, or get one of the many free email accounts. Avoid posting your email on your web page, at least not your home page, and don't give out your email address in chat rooms.
- Delta Cable Customers
Spam controls are not currently provided to customers of Delta Cable.
http://www.deltacable.com/
- Shaw Cable Customers
Spam controls are provided to all customers of Shaw High Speed Cable. Customers utilize their spam control options by signing onto your email account, using their webmail feature at webmail.shaw.ca. Enter you email username and password and hit "Login". Click on "Options", Then choose "Email Filter Options".
- Disable Junk Email Filtering Email messages will be delivered to your address unfiltered.
- Tag Suspected Junk Email The subject line of suspected Junk Email messages will begin with "[Shaw Suspected Junk Email]". You can then create a Mail Rule to move them to a seperate folder and mark them as already read. This option may be chosen if you are unsure that you will be able to get your newsletters that Shaw may consider as spam. All emails will still arrive in your email client, so if you get a lot of spam, this will take up hard drive space on your computer, and slow down you email software somewhat (if your computer is slow to begin with).
- Hold Suspected Junk Email Suspected Junk Email messages will be held in a Junk Email Webmail folder for 14 days. This may be a good option for someone who uses webmail, and not sure that they will be able to get all their newsletters. You can check the special folder for your potentially missing newsletters, and after 14 days they are removed from the shaw mail server.
- Delete Suspected Junk Email Suspected Junk Email messages will be deleted. You will not be able to review deleted messages. They will not be downloaded to your email client, and they will not be available on webmail.
http://webmail.shaw.ca/
- Telus Customers
Spam controls are provided to all customers of Telus Dial-Up and High Speed ADSL. Customers can utilize their spam control options by going to their website, at www.telus.net. Click on "my account", then "my internet" account. Enter your Telus username and password (the one you received when your signed up for the account). Once signed in Choose "Email Options", and then "Spam Controls".
http://www.telus.net/
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Spam Software
At the momement there are hundreds of programs that claim to reduce spam, but most are based on a filter system, and a learning curve with constant administration requred. The spammers are becoming even more and more clever to try things that will pass through these filters, so this can be a never ending process. You may actually spend more time than you would have manually deleting the messages.
- MailWasher Pro
MailWasher Pro allows you to preview multiple accounts and all aspects of your e-mail before you download it to your computer. The program also learns what kind of e-mail you want to receive and adapts to your preferences. You can then delete spam before it gets to you and even report it to the central FirstAlert database, where it is verified to ensure no other MailWasher Pro user gets it. Other features help identify and protect you against viruses and worms. Also included are comprehensive, customizable filters; use of public blacklists to identify spammers; and multiple accounts. MailWasher Pro is compatible with POP3, Hotmail, MSN, AOL, and IMAP. A 30 day trial is available.
http://www.mailwasher.net/
- Norton AntiSpam
Symantec’s Norton AntiSpam filters out unwanted email to make your online communications safer and more enjoyable. Automatic identification of spam makes it easy to block messages you don’t want, without interfering with your legitimate email. Norton AntiSpam can also flag messages that have offensive content and block intrusive online ads
http://www.symantec.com/smallbiz/nas/
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