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"Spim" is Latest Online Annoyance

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the pissing-in-the-modem-pool dept.

Pcol writes "The Washington Post reports that 'Spim,' as people are beginning to call unsolicited instant messages, is the latest sign that online marketers will seek to take advantage of other communication tools, not limiting themselves to spam or pop-up ads. The good news is that it's not easy for spimmers to send unsolicited instant messages. Instant message providers like AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo have a lot of control over their instant message networks, and since they look at their IM offerings as gateway services that help draw customers in to their paid Internet offerings, these firms are already committing resources to making sure the spim problem never reaches the same scale as spam." Even without the providers assistance, many people who use IM systems are smart enough to limit incoming messages to those from their buddy lists. Still, there must be enough of a success rate to move spimmers to continue messaging users.

4 of 292 comments (clear)

  1. Bayesian filters on conversation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Is what we need. Research is only in its infancy though, as it is more complicated to do due to the relatively limited amount of source material in an IM. More information can be found on Google:

    http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient& q=bayesian+filter+chat+messaging

  2. whqt you say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    In A.D. 2101
    spim was beginning.
    Captain: What happen ?
    Mechanic: Somebody set up us the crap.
    Operator: We get signal.
    Captain: What !
    Operator: Main client turn on.
    Captain: It's ICQ !!
    Cats: How are you gentlemen 8-) !!
    Cats: All your AIM are belong to us.
    Cats: You are on the way to crapflood.
    Captain: What you write!!
    Cats: You have no chance to reply make your time.
    Cats: HA HA HA HA ....
    Captain: Take off every 'gaim' !!
    Captain: You know what you doing.
    Captain: Move 'trillian'.
    Captain: For great adverts.

    Cats: cowboy neil is fat fuck. his farts poison control bridge.

  3. Same with spam... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    If you still receive spim it's YOUR fault not using the buddylist.

    If you still receive spam it's YOUR fault not using mozilla and the Junkmail feature.

    But still you have enough knowledge to run to slashdot and beg for a(-nother) tax. The email tax.

    Maybe you just deserve spim and spam.

  4. I SUCK KNOBS WELL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    email me at chris@jobstorestaffing.com!

    everyone agrees that I really suck!