Microsoft Steps Up Anti-Spam Efforts

An anonymous reader writes "Bill Gates announces new focus at Microsoft to abolish spam. Read the announcement titled Toward a Spam-Free Future."

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[Otter]

His editorial on the same subject in the Wall Street Journal yesterday.

Re:The ominous cloud of evil remains

[Jucius Maximus]

"Microsoft doesn't give a shit about the well being of it's customers, nor are they looking to benefit the internet community in any way. Any comments by their spokes people alluding to such intentions are purely facade."

I believe you are correct:

(article) "We favor the idea of setting up independent email trust authorities to establish and maintain commercial email guidelines, certify senders who follow the guidelines, and resolve customer disputes."

So in their 'favoured' model it would be easy to identify and filter out 'legitimate commercial' messages because they would be signed by a trust authority. It's not so bad, unless the want individuals to sign with the same trust authorities to allow messages into Exchange servers or something.

"Similar authorities already help in protecting people's privacy online, with organizations such as TRUSTe and BBBOnline providing certification for Web sites and companies that follow guidelines on the use of customers' data."

If a site has a TRUSTe logo, all that means is that they depict in very clear language how you will be hosed. Not to mention that TRUSTe has loopholes the size of trucks. I don't know about BBBOnline though.

I agree with the OP - MSFT wants to make it legal for them and their partners to spam you. Remember, MSFT believes that everyone will be behind and exchange server one day so if MSFT gets what it wants, all of its 'commercial messages' will be guaranteed to get to all recipients and will will not be blockable because it's legal.

Re:Knock, Knock

[Software]

"HotMail sells your email address to anybody and everybody" is a commonly held belief, but it's simply untrue.

Several months ago, a /. post suggested setting up a HotMail account with the username == the serial number of a dollar bill in your wallet. When you sign up, uncheck all the "send me stuff" offers. Do not give out this email to anyone in any form.

I took the dare. To date, I have only received email from "Hotmail Staff". Most of that has been service information ("Don't give people your password:, etc). One sent June 19 was spam (titled, " Listen to 50 Cent, Avril & Coldplay â" try it ... ", I certainly didn't ask for this).

My verdict: HotMail isn't selling your address. The spam in your HotMail InBox is probably coming from dictionary attacks or other forms. I'm not saying that HotMail couldn't do more to prevent spam. I'm simply saying HotMail isn't selling your address.