| The most common complaint that internet users | | | | Most internet service providers have |
| have is regarding the large amount of | | | | bandwidth control limits in place that |
| unsolicited junk mail they receive. This | | | | prohibit the sending of massive amounts of |
| unwanted email is called spam, and despite | | | | email. To get around this, spammers often |
| attempts by governments and ISP's to control | | | | use large groups of "slave" or "robot" |
| it, the problem continues to get worse. | | | | computers called "botnets" to send out their |
| Today it is estimated that over 75% of email | | | | spam emails. These computers have been |
| received is spam. | | | | hijacked through spyware, and are totally in |
| | | | the spammer's control. The spamming task is |
| According to Spamhous, an organization | | | | split up between all the PC's in the botnet, |
| dedicated to the monitoring and prevention of | | | | allowing millions of spam emails to be sent |
| spam, most spammers send out between 1 | | | | by computers like yours and mine, without the |
| million to 100 million spams every day, | | | | owner's knowledge. It is very difficult to |
| peddling everything from prescription drugs | | | | catch and stop spammers because they are |
| to pornographic websites. Spam is a big | | | | sending spam from hijacked computers all over |
| nuisance to email users and an expensive | | | | the world. |
| problem for ISP's, as it takes up an enormous | | | | |
| amount of disk space as well as bandwidth. | | | | Spam can be dangerous |
| | | | |
| Spam is not just offensive, resource-hogging, | | | | A dangerous type of spam that is becoming |
| harmless junk mail. It is usually associated | | | | very popular is called phishing. This is a |
| with a criminal element, and should be | | | | method of tricking consumers into giving up |
| treated with extreme caution. In order to | | | | personal information such as bank account |
| understand exactly what the junk in your | | | | numbers, passwords, user id's, and credit |
| inbox is all about, here is some information | | | | card details. These fraudulent spam emails |
| on spam: | | | | usually appear to come from financial |
| | | | institutions, typically informing the user of |
| Why do spammers spam? | | | | a problem with his/her account. The victim |
| | | | is presented with a link to the banks |
| Although most of us never open spam email, a | | | | website, and instructed to log in and verify |
| small percentage of people actually purchase | | | | information. The website is actually a copy |
| products from spammers, making this a | | | | of the real site, designed to illegally |
| lucrative business for them. If a spammer | | | | gather information regarding account |
| sends out 10 million emails advertising a | | | | credentials so the spammer can clean out the |
| product that pays a $10 commission and only | | | | victims account. |
| 500 people purchase the item, he will make | | | | |
| $5000 for a few minutes work. | | | | Spam is also used to lure you to websites |
| | | | that will install spyware on your computer in |
| Are spammers selling legitimate products? | | | | the blink of an eye. This spyware can steal |
| | | | your personal information or turn your |
| Ethical and responsible companies selling | | | | computer into a member of a spamming botnet. |
| legitimate goods never send out unsolicited | | | | Interesting spam messages are also used to |
| bulk email. When you see spam advertisements | | | | transmit and install computer viruses upon |
| for pharmaceutical drugs such as Valium, | | | | opening. |
| Viagra, Cialis, etc... you can bet these | | | | |
| medications are counterfeit and probably | | | | How to handle spam |
| dangerous. Spam that is selling "get rich | | | | |
| quick" and other informational products is | | | | Since spam it is annoying, offensive, time |
| selling a scam. Spam that is peddling | | | | consuming, and potentially dangerous, it is |
| pornographic websites is most likely selling | | | | wise to use anti-spam software. Spam |
| access to illegal sites. | | | | filtering software screens your incoming |
| | | | email and immediately sends spam messages |
| How do spammers get your email address? | | | | into a special junk mail folder where you can |
| | | | delete it all without ever looking at it. |
| Spammers copy email addresses that are posted | | | | Most of the newer computer security suites |
| on websites, forums, newsgroups, and "read | | | | include anti-spam software, and there are |
| and pass on" email messages that circle the | | | | some good stand-alone anti-spam products as |
| globe. They also steal email addresses by | | | | well. |
| hacking into insecure mail servers and by | | | | |
| using computer viruses and spyware to scrape | | | | If you want a good "all inclusive" internet |
| the information from personal address books. | | | | security suite that includes a spam blocker, |
| Many spammers also purchase massive lists of | | | | consider BitDefender Professional Plus, |
| email addresses that other spammers and | | | | Kaspersky Internet Security, F-Secure |
| cyber-criminals have harvested. | | | | Internet Security or eTrust Internet |
| | | | Security. For a good stand-alone anti spam |
| How do spammers send out millions of emails | | | | product, consider McAfee Spam Killer, Bit |
| at once? | | | | Defender Spam Deny, Mail Washer Pro or |
| | | | ZapASpam. |