Spam Update

I was wrong.

In 1998 I predicted spam (unsolicited commercial e-mail) would become less of a problem.  During ‘98 we witnessed the prosecution of high profile spammers like Stanford Wallace and aggressive efforts by ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to fight spam.  The tide has turned.  Sadly, spam is again on the rise.

Why?

Although the World Wide Web (WWW) has increased in popularity, e-mail continues as the top activity on the Net.  The low cost of generating spam and the absence of meaningful penalties against spammers drives the equation.  In fact, spammers no longer receive any type of negative backlash when caught.  As a result, some high profile companies (and politicians) have been spamming.  Netsters just shrug this off.  Spam, like foul smelling fog, creeps in everywhere no matter what we do to prevent the spread.  Sadly, I sense an attitude that fighting is considered futile.  All parties seem to have given up the good fight.

Moths to the Naked Light Bulb

As Internet users become more familiar (and less fearful) of exploring the web, they encounter an increasing frequency of websites requiring e-mail address identification or registration.  While visitors are offered assurances of privacy, frankly, many revenue-challenged sites ignore these promises when faced with hemorrhaging cash flows.  On the other side, spammers continue to hone their skills.  They harvest addresses from e-mail contained within e-lists, high volume sites like eBay, usenet usegroups, and numerous other cybersources.  Essentially, the best we can do is slow down the onslaught.  Spammers cannot be stopped.

Becoming Less of a Target

Without exception, everyone agrees responding to the gratuitous ‘remove me’ requests in the closing lines of spamage results in increased (not less) unwanted e-mail.  A growing number of I-neters take the extra step of setting up an e-mail account at HotMail, Yahoo, Altavista or one of many other cost free locations.  This serves the purpose of providing a ‘dummy address’ shielding the user’s primary e-mail address.  As an added benefit, fears of privacy loss are alleviated.

Help from the Government?

The role of the federal government when dealing with the Internet has been essentially ineffective.  We have to look no further than the damage caused by the recent ILOVEYOU worm to recognize that few people using the Net have confidence in federal legislation, no matter how well intentioned.  Nevertheless, HR 3113 (“Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail Act of 2000”) seems to be working its way through the House of Representatives.  This anti-spam legislation would extend the “junk fax law” to cover e-mail spam.  Will it work?  Unlikely.

California and a few other states passed laws encouraging ISPs to sue spammers.  As an incentive, the California law offers plaintiffs rewards of $50 per message up to $25,000 per day from each spammer.  Have you heard of any successful settlements won by ISPs?  I have not.  (The ubiquitous nature of this problem and its high public profile would make television headlines even on a slow news day).  Essentially the cost of litigation is high and catching spammers (domestic or international) is like nailing Jello to the wall.

Is there a Solution?

From everything I have seen, spam will be around forever.  If anything, it will get worse.  Spam is costly to Internet citizens.  Not only does it slow down important data/voice/video packets by adding unnecessary congestion, but many good ISPs spend time and money, passed on to subscribers, to keep the problem from getting totally out of control.

Everyone on the Net is impacted by spam.  For now, when spam arrives advice from the best minds on the Interest is delete and move on to the next message.  Never, ever purchase any goods or services from a spammer.  I wish I could be more optimistic.

URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) of interest:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:h.r.03113

 (This is the 206th of a series of elementary articles designed for surfing the Internet.  Next, 2600 is the subject on tap.  Stay Tuned.  Until next week, happy travels through cyberspace.  Previous issues of Internet Info for Real People can be found: http://www.thebee.com.  Please e-mail comments and suggestions: rbrand@JUNO.com or editor@thebee.com.)