Spam Technology

1
SpamTechnology

• By Blake Martin

2
What is Spam?

• Unsolicited commercial e-mail
• 2/3 of all e-mail is spam
• Company of 10,000 spends 500,000 for additional
  servers because of spam

3
How e-mail addresses obtained by spammers

• Subscribe to mailing lists
• Search out company directories
• Run address removal webpage

4
Spammers hide identity

• Forge headers
• Use innocent third-party in reply-to address

5
Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited
Pornography and Marketing Act

• Passed in January 2003
• Prohibits
• 1.False transmission information
• 2.Deceptive subject headings
• 3.Automated ways of registering multiple e-mail
  accounts
• Requires
• 1.Physical address for commercial e-mail
• 2.Opt-out ability

6
Anti-Spam Software

• Scan for typical traits found in spam
• Scan for viruses
• Probability based algorithms
• Learn what spam is
• Becomes more efficient over time

7
Things one can do to limit spam

• Use e-mail that is auto-filtered
• Report spam to e-mail ISP
• Use separate addresses for personal and other web
  services
• Use anti-spam software
• Keep definitions up to date
• Use temporary address
• Spamgourmet.com
• Spamhole.com

8
Spam Technology

• Anti-spam software works in different ways to
  limit spam.
• There are many simple things one can do to help
  limit spam.