RE: Article Announcement: Can Microsoft End Spam?

From: Mike Alexander <mike.alexander(at)mail.moray.gov.uk>
Date: Tue Jul 08 2003 - 04:19:13 EDT

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brad [mailto:gryphonn@austarnet.com.au]

I'd agree that better user education is a useful measure, both in the fight against spam and the broader field of Internet threats (as you mention, malware and other hazards).

However, I don't think that education alone will be sufficient to tackle the ever growing problem of spam. Many spammers forge the reply-to or from addresses, so are they really interested in getting a direct response? No, of course not; they're primarily interested in getting their rubbish into your inbox. DO they care if you delete it, or if a number of the addresses on their mailing list are invalid/defunct/whatever? No. If it arrives then they've done their bit. If you actually read it - or heaven forbid act upon it (visit touted web site or phone number to purchase touted goods) then that's a bonus. But the real issue with spam is its existence in the first place. It's not simply going to go away just because we ignore it - good grief, many of us have been doing that for years, yet the problem just seems to grow and grow.

So simply educating users about spam doesn't remove the problem. It'll still keep piling into your inbox, however well educated you are about spam. And with spamming techniques becoming ever more devious, even some well-educated individuals are finding it difficult to instantly "spot the spam".

What is needed is a clear recognition across the globe at a political level that spam is bad, and for that to be enshrined in law of some sort. Not the sort of law that simply says "spam is bad, down with spam" but laws that can be effectively enforced. Technology still has its part to play, but perhaps what we need is to look at the technology of sending/receiving emails rather than simply chase our tails with ever more complex search lists. And we do need education, both for end-users and for those lazy sysadmins who cannot be bothered to properly configure/secure their mail servers, thus giving spammers their foot in the door.

So, what is required is a blended response on many different fronts, rather than simply beating the same drum.

Regards,

Mike

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Mike Alexander      Email: mike.alexander@moray.gov.uk
ICT Project Leader    Tel: 01343 563445   Fax: 01343 563221
The Moray Council     Web: 
http://www.moray.gov.uk
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Received on Tue Jul 8 09:09:06 2003