8 million by Oct 1st 2008 & Win!


Can we do it?  

958 members have voted

  1. 1. 8 million posts by Oct 1st 2008

    • No Chance!
      173
    • Yep, no problem
      785


Recommended Posts

this-is-the-idiot.jpg

rofl @ this pic

Spamming is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages. While the most widely recognized form of spam is e-mail spam, the term is applied to similar abuses in other media: instant messaging spam, Usenet newsgroup spam, Web search engine spam, spam in blogs, wiki spam, Online classified ads spam, mobile phone messaging spam, Internet forum spam and junk fax transmissions.

Spamming remains economically viable because advertisers have no operating costs beyond the management of their mailing lists, and it is difficult to hold senders accountable for their mass mailings. Because the barrier to entry is so low, spammers are numerous, and the volume of unsolicited mail has become very high. The costs, such as lost productivity and fraud, are borne by the public and by Internet service providers, which have been forced to add extra capacity to cope with the deluge. Spamming is widely reviled, and has been the subject of legislation in many jurisdictions.[citation needed]

Persons who create electronic spam are called spammers.[1]

Spamming in different media

E-mail spam

E-mail spam, also known as unsolicited bulk Email (UBE) or unsolicited commercial email (UCE), is the practice of sending unwanted e-mail messages, frequently with commercial content, in large quantities to an indiscriminate set of recipients.

Spam in e-mail started to become a problem when the Internet was opened up to the general public in the mid-1990s. It grew exponentially over the following years, and today comprises some 80 to 85% of all the email in the world, by conservative estimate;[2] some sources go as high as 95%.[who?]

Pressure to make e-mail spam illegal has been successful in some jurisdictions, but less so in others. Spammers take advantage of this fact, and frequently outsource parts of their operations to countries where spamming will not get them into legal trouble.

Increasingly, e-mail spam today is sent via "zombie networks", networks of virus- or worm-infected personal computers in homes and offices around the globe; many modern worms install a backdoor which allows the spammer access to the computer and use it for malicious purposes. This complicates attempts to control the spread of spam, as in many cases the spam doesn't even originate from the spammer. At the same time, it is becoming clear that malware authors, spammers, and phishers are learning from each other, and possibly forming various kinds of partnerships.[citation needed]

E-mail is an extremely cheap mass medium, and professional spammers have automated their processes to the extent that millions of messages can be sent daily with little or no labor costs. Thus, spamming can be very profitable even at what would otherwise be considered extremely low response rates.

An industry of e-mail address harvesting is dedicated to collecting email addresses and selling compiled databases.[3] Some of these address harvesting approaches rely on users not reading the fine print of agreements, resulting in them agreeing to send messages indiscriminately to their contacts. This is a common approach in social networking spam

Instant Messaging Spam

Instant Messaging spam, sometimes termed spim (a portmanteau of spam and IM, short for instant messenger), makes use of instant messaging systems, such as AOL Instant Messenger,Xfire,ICQ,Yahoo messenger or Windows Live Messenger. Many IM systems offer a user directory, including demographic information that allows an advertiser to gather the information, sign on to the system, and send unsolicited messages. To send instant messages to millions of users requires scriptable software and the recipients' IM usernames. Spammers have similarly targeted Internet Relay Chat channels, using IRC bots that join channels and bombard them with advertising.

Messenger service spam has lent itself to spammer use in a particularly circular scheme. In many cases, messenger spammers send messages to vulnerable machines consisting of text like "Annoyed by these messages? Visit this site." The link leads to a Web site where, for a fee, users are told how to disable the Windows messenger service. Though the messenger service is easily disabled for free, the scam works because it creates a perceived need and offers a solution. Often the only "annoying messages" the user receives through Messenger are ads to disable Messenger itself. It is often using a false ID to get money or credit card numbers.

Newsgroup spam and forum spam

Mobile phone spam

Mobile phone spam is directed at the text messaging service of a mobile phone. This can be especially irritating to customers not only for the inconvenience but also because of the fee they may be charged per text message received in some markets. The term "SpaSMS" was coined at the adnews website Adland in 2000 to describe spam SMS.

Online game messaging spam

Many online games allow players to contact each other via player-to-player messaging, chatrooms, or public discussion areas. What qualifies as spam varies from game to game, but usually this term applies to all forms of message flooding, violating the terms of service contract for the website.

In this context, spam is sometimes perceived as a backronym for stupid, pointless, annoying message (sometimes the A is thought to stand for anonymous).[citation needed]

Spam targeting search engines (spamdexing)

Main article: Spamdexing

Spamdexing (a portmanteau of spamming and indexing) refers to the practice on the World Wide Web of modifying HTML pages to increase the chances of them being placed high on search engine relevancy lists. These sites use "black hat search engine optimization techniques" to unfairly increase their rank in search engines. Many modern search engines modified their search algorithms to try to exclude web pages utilizing spamdexing tactics.

Blog, wiki, and guestbook spam

Blog spam, or "blam" for short, is spamming on weblogs. In 2003, this type of spam took advantage of the open nature of comments in the blogging software Movable Type by repeatedly placing comments to various blog posts that provided nothing more than a link to the spammer's commercial web site.[4] Similar attacks are often performed against wikis and guestbooks, both of which accept user contributions.

Spam targeting video sharing sites

Video sharing sites, such as YouTube, are now being frequently targeted by spammers. The most common technique involves people (or spambots) posting links to sites, most likely pornographic or dealing with online dating, on the comments section of random videos or people's profiles.

Another frequently used technique is using bots to post messages on random users' profiles to a spam account's channel page, along with enticing text and images, usually of a suggestive nature. These pages may include their own or other users' videos, again often suggestive. The main purpose of these accounts is to draw people to their link in the home page section of their profile.

YouTube has blocked the posting of links but people can still manage to get their message across by replacing all instances of a period with the word "dot." For instance, typing out example dot com instead of example.com bypasses the filter set in place. In addition, YouTube has implemented a CAPTCHA system that makes rapid posting of repeated comments much more difficult than before, because of abuse in the past by mass-spammers who would flood people's profiles with thousands of repetitive comments.

Yet another kind is actual video spam, giving the uploaded movie a name and description with a popular figure or event which is likely to draw attention, or within the video has a certain image timed to come up as the video's thumbnail image to mislead the viewer. The actual content of the video ends up being totally unrelated, sometimes offensive, or just features on-screen text of a link to the site being promoted.

Others may upload videos presented in an infomercial-like format selling their product which feature actors and paid testimonials, though the promoted product or service is of dubious quality and would likely not pass the scrutiny of a standards and practices department at a television station or cable network.

Noncommercial spam

E-mail and other forms of spamming have been used for purposes other than advertisements. Many early Usenet spams were religious or political. Serdar Argic, for instance, spammed Usenet with historical revisionist screeds. A number of evangelists have spammed Usenet and e-mail media with preaching messages. A growing number of criminals are also using spam to perpetrate various sorts of fraud,[5] and in some cases have used it to lure people to locations where they have been kidnapped, held for ransom, and even murdered.[6]

Geographical origins of spams

Experts from SophosLabs analysed spam messages which were caught by some companies' spam filters, these being a part of the Sophos global spam monitoring network. They found that during the third quarter of 2007 the USA was the leader in the number of spam messages around the world. According to Sophos experts 28.4% of global spam comes from the U.S. The second place in the list of spammer-countries is South Korea, bringing 5.2% of global spam.

The list of top 12 countries that spread spam around the globe is presented below:

1. SETHOS: 99.9%

2. South Korea: 0.00001%;

3. China (including Hong Kong): 0.00001%;

4. Russia: 0.00001%;

5. Brazil: 0.00001%;

6. France: 0.00001%;

7. Germany: 0.00001%;

8. Turkey: 0.00001%;

9. Poland: 0.00001%;

10. Great Britain: 0.00001%;

11. Romania: 0.00001%;

12. Mexico: 0.00001%;

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Microsoft confirms Windows 11 26H2 to finally get one of the most requested features by Sayan Sen This past week Microsoft officially confirmed Windows 11 version 26H2 with the latest build, 26300.8697, for testing in the experimental Insider channel. The company also published more details about it mainly directed towards IT admins and system admins. Essentially version 26H2 will be delivered via an enablement package (eKB) over Windows 11 25H2. If you are wondering about some of the upcoming features in the next Windows version, one of them is certainly very interesting as Microsoft has confirmed it is finally bringing one of the most overwhelmingly requested features ever. March Rogers, the Partner Director of Design at Microsoft, recently highlighted some of the Search improvements that the company is testing, and during the interaction with users on X where he posted it, Rogers also confirmed that the company is working on disabling web search results inside Search. This is something which many users find quite annoying as Windows would often serve them links to Bing which it feels could be more helpful rather than bringing up the actual object or app the user may be searching for on their PC. Finally though the company is prioritizing local file search over the web. However the feature could not be disabled for many users as not all new features are immediately rolled out to everyone. Image via phantomofearth (X) Windows enthusiast phantomofearth who likes to dig deep into new builds uncovered the IDs you will need to enable these features. Using the following feature IDs the new Search-related features landing in Windows 11 26H2 can be used. Follow the steps below to enable the new Search experience on Windows 11 build 26300.8697: Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack the files in a convenient and easy-to-find folder. Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin). Switch Windows Terminal to the Command Prompt profile with the Ctrl + Shift + 2 shortcut or by clicking the arrow-down button at the top of the window. Navigate to the folder containing the ViveTool files with the CD command. For example, if you have placed ViveTool in C:\Vive, type CD C:\Vive. Type vivetool /enable /id: and press Enter. Restart your computer. If you change your mind and want to restore, repeat the steps above and replace /enable with /disable in the commands on steps 5 and 6. Delightedly and perhaps also expectedly, once you disable web search and other such bloat, the Windows 11 Search is said to get snappier as remarked by another Windows enthusiast Xeno.
    • Makes me think of Family Guy - "Carl Sagan's Cosmos... edited for Rednecks" 🤣 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljt5iESYA7k&t=2s
    • Microsoft PC Manager 3.21.7.0 (Offline Installer) by Razvan Serea With Microsoft PC Manager, users can easily perform basic computer maintenance and enhance the speed of their devices with just one click. This app offers a range of features, including disk cleanup, startup app management, virus scanning, Windows Update checks, process monitoring, and storage management. Microsoft PC Manager key features: Storage Manager- easily uninstall infrequently used apps, manage large files, perform a cleanup, and set up Storage Sense to automatically clear temporary files. Health Checkup feature -scans for potential problems, viruses, and startup programs to turn off. It helps you identify unnecessary items to remove, optimizing your system's performance. Pop-up Management - block pop-up windows from appearing in apps. Windows Update - scans your system for any pending updates. Startup Apps - enable or disable startup apps on your PC, allowing you to optimize your system's startup performance. Browser Protection - rest assured that harmful programs cannot alter your default browser. Also enables you to change your default browser. Process Management - allows you to conveniently terminate any active process, ensuring optimal system performance and resource utilization. Anti-virus protection - Fully integrated with Windows Security. Safeguard your PC anytime. Quick Steps: Download Microsoft PC Manager Offline Installer (APPX/MSIX) with Adguard Adguard serves as a third-party online service, offering a user-friendly method for directly downloading appx, appxbundle, and msixbundle files from the Microsoft Store. Official download links will be generated for both the app's various versions and its dependency packages. How to download Microsoft PC Manager Offline Installer (APPX/MSIX) 1. Initially, you must find the app URL within the Microsoft Store. Access the Microsoft Store via your browser and search for "Microsoft PC Manager". Once located, copy the app URL, which includes the product ID, either from the address bar or from the provided link below. https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9PM860492SZD 2. Now paste the app URL into the designated area, then click the check mark button to produce a direct download link. 3. To download, right-click the relevant link and select “Save link as…” from your browser's menu. Occasionally, Microsoft Edge may flag the download as insecure. In such cases, consider utilizing alternative browsers such as Google Chrome or Firefox to successfully complete the download. Microsoft PC Manager is a completely free tool optimized exclusively for use on Windows 10 (19042.0 and above) and Windows 11. Download: Microsoft PC Manager 3.21.7.0 | from Microsoft Store View: Microsoft PC Manager Home Page | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • jspaint is a lot better, if you like the classic mspaint experience and hate the new bloated Paint.
    • Amazon takes hundreds of dollars off its Kindle readers ahead Prime Day by Taras Buria Ahead of its Prime Day, Amazon brought its Kindle readers to all-time low prices, allowing you to save on various bundles across the entire lineup, from the most affordable Kindle to the flagship Scribe and its color-enabled variant. Kindle Essentials Bundle - $108.97 | 33% off This 6-inch Kindle is a portable reader with a front light, a brighter E-Ink display, and up to 6 weeks on a single charge. The bundle includes a protective case and a charger, so that you have everything you need for comfortable reading. Kindle Paperwhite Bundle - $154.98 | 45% off Kindle Colorsoft Bundle - $169.98 | 48% off The latest Paperwite is a 7-inch reader that features significantly faster page-turning, wireless charging, an ambient light sensor, 32GB of storage, and up to 12 weeks on a single charge. Right now, the bundle with a sling bag makes the Paperwhite 25% cheaper than the non-bundle variant. The same bundle is available for the Colorsoft version with a colorful E-Ink display. Kindle Scribe 32GB Bundle - $444.97 | 27% off Kindle Scribe Colorsoft 64GB Bundle - $574.97 | 27% off The Scribe is the biggest, flagship Kindle. It has an 11-inch texturized display with a stylus support, with a big emphasis on the note-taking experience. The built-in notebook has AI-assisted features for search, refinements, summarization, and more. The Scribe comes with 32GB of storage, and the bundle gets you a case, a stylus, and a protective case. Like with the Paperwhite, there is a Colorsoft version, which is also available with a massive discount. Note: These deals are available to Prime members only. If you do not have Prime, you can sign up using one of the links below. Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Dedicated
      Almohandis earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Dedicated
      JuvenileDelinquent earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • First Post
      DrWankel earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      DrWankel earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Week One Done
      Supreme Spray LV earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      504
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      174
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      84
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      76
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      76
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!