CDT Releases New Report on Origins of Spam

Carnth writes "CDT has released a new report based on a six month project entitled "Why Am I Getting All This Spam?" The results offer Internet users insights about what online behavior results in the most unsolicited commercial email and also debunk some of the myths about spam." A very good report - read it. There's also a story about yet another sleazy spammer in Ohio.

Comments

Did they use IE?

[da' WINS pimp]

I never saw anything in their methodology about how the spam was analyzed. It would have been interesting to see what effect actually opening spam e-mail in a web enabled browser had on the recurrence rate.

I bet the web bugs would have kept the recurrences high even for addresses that were removed...

Burn in Hell, Son of Spam!

[ToadSprocket]

To Internet users who complain that their e-mail inboxes are crammed with ads for products and services they would never purchase, Childs' response is, "Quit your whining. I'm asking you, how stressful is it to push the delete button? We have become a nation of crybabies."

I am sorry, smack me down if you must, but... Aaaahhhhhhhh!!!! Die Spammer, Die! Friggin White Trash sonsabitchin spammers. I feel slightly better now. Ready for Karma extraction.

Re:Burn in Hell, Son of Spam!

[rutledjw]

LOL, I agree. Too bad his info isn't on spanhaus, I was planning on adding it here...

That aside, this guy is a total scumbag. Any cop who is fired for selling drugs and then becomes a spammer gives a perfect image of the integrity level of spammers. His assertion that spammers level the marketing playing field is total garbage. Any company who has to disguise their address and use deception is not one working in the ethical realm.

At some point, these slimy jerks are going to get what they deserve. I just hope I'm there to see it...

Unreported Cost of Spam

[corporatemutantninja]

In the debate over how much spam really costs, one factor that almost never gets discussed is the impact on behavior and openness. How many of us refrain from using our real email addresses in public forums or in correspondence with companies because of a fear of receiving more spam? There may not be a direct economic cost, but it makes the Internet less useful to all of us. Spammers have essentially driven all of us to have unlisted phone numbers on the Internet, which reduces the usefulness of the medium. Off with their heads, I say.

bah

[nomadic]

To Internet users who complain that their e-mail inboxes are crammed with ads for products and services they would never purchase, Childs' response is, "Quit your whining. I'm asking you, how stressful is it to push the delete button? We have become a nation of crybabies."

Oh god, here we go with the old "waah why isn't everyone as tough as I am" complaint.
I wonder, does he have children? If not, would he relish the idea of them constantly being hit with sex ads? How about elderly relatives?

Re:Surprised 'bots are that stupid

[stratjakt]

It's not worth doing.

The people who obfuscate their email address to avoid spams arent the ones you want to spam, since they're pretty much 100% guaranteed not to even read the email.

The spammers want the messages sent to the dopes who might actually buy the product/service.

Re:My Active Michigan Lawsuit

[Anonymous Coward]

An activist! Bless you.

For anyone out there who cannot convince FirstUSA bank to stop telemarketting to your house, call the assistant to the CEO at 888-622-7547 x6839.

Tell her that you will call her back each time you get one of their calls. If she tells you that it could take several months to get off their lists, then tell here that it will also take several months for her to get off *your* list.

I went thru this about 7 years ago and finally put a stop to it with this method after my "properly channeled" requests were ignored. They started up again recently; so I went straight to plan B. It works! Just call the CEO, or as close as you can get.