Spam:
Unsolicited commercial email, also known as electronic junk mail, is usually
sent by marketing organizations who want to sell their products. Senders
of unsolicited commercial email usually disguise the source of the email and
include misleading information in the subject line to grab the recipient's
attention.
Others type of spam include email hoaxes containing fake photos, chain letters,
mythical stories, and scams.
Spam is sometimes easy to recognize - if you did not ask for it, did not sign
up on a mailing list related to it, and did not leave your email address on
a Web asking for it, it's Spam!!!
Why Spam is such a BIG PROBLEM:
It is currently estimated to account for half of all electronic mail traffic.
Recipients of Spam sometimes waste their time accessing, reviewing,
and discarding Spam. Also, there's the chance that wanted emails might
get lost or accidentally deleted amidst the list of junk mail. So, spam
violates online users privacy, slows down their productivity, and wastes their
time and money.
Ways to Prevent Spam:
- Never respond to spam. If you respond, the "spammers" might
sell your address to other spammers.
- Do not post your address on your website - spammers have software
that can locate email addresses from the net.
- Use a second email address in newsgroups. Have a public address
and a private address so you only have to deal with spam at your public address.
- Don't give your email address out without knowing how it will be
used. If a website is asking for your email address, read the terms
of use and privacy statements first.
- Use a spam filter. Anti-spam software can help to decrease
the amount of spam you receive.
- Never buy anything advertised in spam. Spammers try to convince
people to buy their products. So, if no one buys anything advertised
in spam, companies will quit paying spammers to advertise their products.
Government Regulation:
On November 25, 2003, the U.S. Senate passed the Can-Spam Act of 2003. This
bill was passed to regulate interstate commerce by imposing limitations and
penalties on the transmission of unsolicited email via the internet. This
act also requires spam to be labeled and prohibits the use of deceptive subject
lines in messages. Penalties for offenders include fines and imprisonment.
Maryland, as well as other states, have laws that regulate unsolicited email,
as well. In October of 2002, a law that forbids sending email with false
information was passed in Maryland.
*Although, laws have been passed in the United States,
as well as other countries, spammers continue to harass internet users. So,
internet users should do their best to prevent and/or fight spam.*