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Spam

What is Spam?

Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems (mainly email) to send unsolicited bulk messages to multiple people simultaneously.  While the most widely recognized form of spam is e-mail spam, the term is applied to similar abuses in other media such as:

E-mail spam today is usually sent via "zombie networks", which are networks of virus- or worm-infected personal computers in homes and offices around the planet.  Many modern worm viruses install a "backdoor" that allows spammers to access computers and use them for malicious purposes, such as to send spam messages. This complicates attempts to control the spread of spam, as in many cases the spam doesn't even originate from the spammer.

What is a Spammer?

A spammer is a person who sends spam. Usually, these are people who think that they are going to get rich on the Internet by flooding inboxes with spam email messages and hoping for a response. They often do get a response. However, the response is from outraged people who receive the spam and complain to the ISP of the spammer, which usually gets the spammers dial-in accounts, email addresses, and/or web pages removed. Instead of deleting your spam, become one of those who fight spam. Just try fighting one spam email message per week.

Resources for Reporting and Combating Spam

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Anti-Spam website	This website has information about the Federal Trade Commission's recent law enforcement actions against deceptive commercial email and spammers' responsibilities under the CAN-SPAM law. In the "For Consumers" section, you'll find tips on how to reduce the amount of spam email in your in-box.
Forward Spam to the FTC	Forward unsolicited commercial e-mail (spam) to the Commission at UCE@FTC.GOV
CAUCE	Coalition Against Unwanted Commercial E-mail - CAUCE North America was formed in March 2007 from a merger between the very first CAUCE, CAUCE US, and CAUCE Canada, combining the strengths of the two sibling CAUCE organizations. CAUCE NA, as an all-volunteer consumer advocacy organization, has moved beyond its original mission of encouraging the creation and adoption of anti-spam laws to a broader stance of defending the interests of the average Internet user. CAUCE NA is led by a combined Board with a cumulative century of experience in the field of Internet advocacy
Federal Communications Commission	Many consumers find unsolicited e-mail – also known as spam – annoying and time-consuming. In addition, unwanted messages sent to wireless phones and other wireless devices can be intrusive and costly. In 2003, Congress enacted the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act to curb spam. As required by the Act, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules that prohibit sending unwanted commercial e-mail messages to wireless devices without prior permission. This ban took effect in March 2005. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) adopted detailed rules that restrict sending unwanted commercial e-mail messages to computers. To find out more about the FTC’s rules, visit www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/spam/rules.htm.
Internet Education Foundation Spam Tips	Do you feel like you are getting more and more e-mail from unwanted sources everyday? Unwanted commercial e-mail (UCE), otherwise known as spam, can be an annoying, costly and time-consuming problem for many consumers. Follow the below Tips, use the Tools and, when necessary, Take Action to help alleviate unwanted e-mails in your inbox.
Spam.org	Info about reducing spam, or junk e-mail on the internet.
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SpamAgent Software	SpamAgent is the latest in email monitoring technology. SpamAgent is a powerful email monitoring and filtering software tool that allows you to filter spam and get the email you want - and nothing more.
SpamCop	SpamCop is the premier service for reporting spam. SpamCop determines the origin of unwanted email and reports it to the relevant Internet service providers. By reporting spam, you have a positive impact on the problem. Reporting unsolicited email also helps feed spam filtering systems, including, but not limited to, SpamCop's own service.
Spambot Beware	Welcome to the "Spambot Beware" site. Here you will find information on how to avoid, detect, and harass spambots. Spambots are programs that extract email addresses from web pages, which are then used as targets for spam.
Spamhaus.org	The Spamhaus Project is an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to track the Internet's spam operations, to provide dependable realtime anti-spam protection for Internet networks, to work with Law Enforcement Agencies to identify and pursue spammers worldwide, and to lobby governments for effective anti-spam legislation.