| The term Spam is thought to be derived from a | | | | profitable. There are a number of companies |
| Monte Python skit. But the fact that Spam | | | | set up to send "bulk e-mail". They are able |
| makes up over 80 percent of emails sent isn't | | | | to send billions of messages a day. In the |
| that funny! | | | | US there have been a number of lawsuits |
| | | | concerning Spam and laws created trying to |
| A Monte Python sketch performed in 1970 | | | | reduce the production. Therefore, it is |
| references the British rationing during World | | | | becoming more prevalent that these companies |
| War II. SPAM was one of the only meat | | | | operate out of foreign countries. They have |
| products that was readily available and not | | | | also changed their soliciting methods to read |
| being rationed. Python's sketch is set in a | | | | "spam-free" which refers to a person who has |
| café and every item on the menu contains | | | | chosen to "opt-in" by clicking a box near the |
| Spam lunch meat. A song repeating the word | | | | end of some enrollment form thereby agreeing |
| SPAM is being sung and is drowning out the | | | | to have updates or newsletters sent. |
| waiter who is dictating the SPAM filled menu | | | | Sometimes this box is pre checked and you |
| in detail. | | | | must unclick in order to "opt-out". These |
| | | | names are then sold to the bulk e-mailing |
| An instance of unsolicited commercial email | | | | companies. |
| was originally noted in 1978. Although it | | | | |
| seems that the idea was born years earlier | | | | Spam filtering software is the best |
| when an unsolicited electronic messaging | | | | technology available at the present time to |
| using the media occurred by telegram in 1864! | | | | reduce Spam. Spam filtering is included in |
| In the 1980's the term Spam started to be | | | | most versions of anti virus software. It is |
| used to describe annoying users of early chat | | | | pretty simple for spammers to sidestep these |
| rooms who would repeatedly type the word Spam | | | | filters simply by misspelling keywords. |
| in an abusive manner to drive others out of | | | | Also, these filters often block e-mail that |
| the room. Especially others from rival | | | | you do want to receive because of key words |
| groups surrounding said topic. They would | | | | being misinterpreted. SPAM hits other venues |
| also flood the screen with quotes from the | | | | besides email such as instant messaging, chat |
| Monte Python sketch in the same manner. Soon | | | | rooms, newsgroups, forums, mobile phones, |
| rather than being called flooding or trashing | | | | online games, search engines, and blogs. For |
| it became common place to refer to these | | | | the time being it looks like the only way to |
| methods as spamming. Later it evolved to | | | | avoid a majority of Spam is to avoid |
| mean excessive multiple posting of the same | | | | traditional email all together. Requiring a |
| message. In the 1990's we began to see the | | | | person to fill out a form that is in turn |
| excessive amount of "get rich quick" schemes | | | | sent to the recipient successfully blocks |
| being advertised in this manner. Commercial | | | | spammers. This is currently how many |
| spamming began in 1994 courtesy of two | | | | business and organizations including the |
| lawyers advertising their immigration law | | | | White House are handling their e-mail. |
| services. Shortly there after the focus of | | | | |
| spamming and anti spam efforts moved to email | | | | The term Spam is thought to be derived from a |
| and that is where the focus of this | | | | Monte Python skit but is not received by many |
| phenomenon remains today. | | | | as being humorous. Spamming is a phenomenon |
| | | | that has been beneficial for some and a |
| Most of us receive some type of Spam | | | | nuisance to the masses who make up the |
| everyday. Spam is incredibly easy and | | | | recipients of the billions of messages sent |
| inexpensive to create and can be very | | | | per day. |