Spamming

What is Spamming?

Spamming is the use of electronic messaging systems like email and other digital delivery systems to send unwanted bulk messages indiscriminately. Spamming methods are also applied to other media, such as Internet forums, direct messaging, mobile text messaging, social networking, and advertising or sharing networks.

What does spamming mean? Generally, the definition of spamming refers to unsolicited – or unwanted – messages sent via the Internet, in bulk, for purposes including:

• Commercial advertising
• Offering unsolicited goods
• Any prohibited purpose, including phishing
• Repeatedly sending the same message to the same user or platform

Receiving spam on computers and other devices connected to the Internet, especially in email, is very common because of the economics. Spam advertisers have little to no operating costs and need only a very small response rate to make a profit. Most spam is commercial advertising, but spam messages may contain viruses, adware, or scams.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. What is Spamming?
2. Key Takeaways
3. History of Spamming
4. How Spamming Works
5. Types of Spamming
6. Spamming vs. Phishing
7. How to Recognize Spam
8. 11 Tips to Protect Yourself From Spamming
9. The Bottom Line
10. FAQs
11. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. What is Spamming?
2. Key Takeaways
3. History of Spamming
Show Full Guide
4. How Spamming Works
5. Types of Spamming
6. Spamming vs. Phishing
7. How to Recognize Spam
8. 11 Tips to Protect Yourself From Spamming
9. The Bottom Line
10. FAQs
11. References

History of Spamming

The first known electronic mail spam is widely cited as an advertisement for Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), sent on May 3, 1978, to several hundred users on ARPANET. However, the term “spam” wasn’t used until April 1993, describing an incident on Usenet when a user, Richard Depew, accidentally posted 200 messages.

The 1990s marked the early days of the Internet and email, where growing accessibility fueled the rise of spamming. In the early 2000s, several countries enacted anti-spam laws, including:

• 2002: EU’s Opt-In / ePrivacy Directive
• 2003: Australia’s Spam Act
• 2003: CAN-SPAM Act (United States)
• 2009: Act on Regulation of Transmission of Specified Electronic Mail (Japan)
• 2014: Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)

One of the first notable legal actions against spammers was in May, 2003. Howard Carmack, known as the “Buffalo Spammer,” was arrested for sending 825 million spam emails using stolen identities. He was charged under New York’s identity theft statute.

Also worth noting is the case against Nicholas Tombros in September 2004. Tombros became the first individual convicted under the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003.

How Spamming Works

Today, spamming relies on automation, primarily through the use of spam bots. These bots are programmed to harvest email addresses by scraping websites, forums, and social media sites.

Information can also be collected through data breaches, where compromised accounts reveal email addresses or purchased from the dark web. Once collected, bots use this information to send mass emails, direct messages, or post unsolicited comments online. In some cases spamware –  software specifically designed to automate spam-related tasks – is used to manage these email lists or send messages in bulk.

Often, spam contains malicious links or deceptive content. The goal of spamming is to promote products, harvest additional email addresses, increase clicks via deceptive ads, spread misinformation, spread malware, or conduct phishing scams.

Types of Spamming

The most common form of spamming is the mass sending of unsolicited emails to large groups of recipients. However, spamming covers a broad range of activities, each aimed at different platforms and audiences. Specific types of spamming vary based on the spammer’s goals, such as promoting products, spreading malware, or manipulating search engine rankings.

Common types of spamming include:

Spamming vs. Phishing

How to Recognize Spam

Identifying spam from legitimate communications can be difficult, especially with the rise in the use of generative AI (GEN AI), which can be used by spammers to craft convincing emails and scripts.

Ways to recognize spam include:

• Appealing offer or urgent subject lines
• Contains a deadline to take action
• Email contains unfamiliar hyperlinks
• Email is not personalized to you (e.g., sir, madam)
• Suspicious or unknown sender

11 Tips to Protect Yourself From Spamming

Here are 11 simple steps on how to prevent spamming and keep your email secure:

The Bottom Line

The simple definition of spamming is using electronic messaging systems to send unwanted bulk messages indiscriminately.  According to EmailToolTester, 160 billion spam emails are sent every day, accounting for 46% of all emails sent.

Email and social media services typically use spam filtering methods to protect against spamming, but users still need to be diligent. Watch for repetitive phrases, messages offering lucrative or time-sensitive deals, and exercise caution when clicking links from unknown senders or posters.

To help protect yourself from spamming, limit sharing your email address online in public spaces. When communicating via email, social media, or private messaging, avoid clicking links, opening attachments, or responding to unknown senders.

Also, consider using the “report spam” button in your email app to flag suspicious messages and help improve spam detection for others.

FAQs