How spammers identify their targets

[ronjor]

-{ Quote: "Personally, I spent some time the last few weeks looking at spam and learning about how it is created and how it spreads. What I found was a very interesting and clever process that would-be spammers use to identify targets." }-Article (http://security.itworld.com/4774/nls_security_spam060817/page_1.html)

[Smokey]

-{ Quote: "Article (http://security.itworld.com/4774/nls_security_spam060817/page_1.html)" }-
Ronjor,

quoting from the article:

-{ Quote: "Given the caution and coordination spammers are now using to perform their deeds, it is highly unlikely that the problem is going to be solved any time soon." }-

This prediction is very optimistic: the problem will never be solved.

[TNT]

-{ Quote: "This prediction is very optimistic: the problem will never be solved." }-We have every chance to solve this problem with tools we possess; the real problem is that most computer users are too lazy to even get to know about such tools, let alone use them.

[Smokey]

-{ Quote: "We have every chance to solve this problem with tools we possess; the real problem is that most computer users are too lazy to even get to know about such tools, let alone use them." }-
More then 2 years ago Bill Gates proclaimed: "Spam To Be Canned By 2006"

I have to assume he was joking, and meant 3006;)


CBS (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/24/tech/main595595.shtml)

[TNT]

-{ Quote: "More then 2 years ago Bill Gates proclaimed: "Spam To Be Canned By 2006"

I have to assume he was joking, and meant 3006;)

CBS (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/24/tech/main595595.shtml)" }-

But see, it has become a much smaller problem, thanks to Microsoft's "solution"... yeah, right... :dry: :thumbd:

[ghodgson]

My spam is double what it was in 2004. Its a pain in the .....rse.

[ErikAlbert]

The tragedy is that USERS keeps spammers alive.

[Smokey]

-{ Quote: "The tragedy is that USERS keeps spammers alive." }-
Yeah.

Suggestion: destroy the user, with as logical result the spammers target is vanished:isay:

[Paranoid2000]

-{ Quote: "We have every chance to solve this problem with tools we possess; the real problem is that most computer users are too lazy to even get to know about such tools, let alone use them." }-Agreed - the solution to spam is to make it unprofitable and that means users having to take action to impose costs on the spammer - leeching bandwidth from their websites using tools like SpamVampire or using some of the scripts available on the Kill Spammers (http://thecarpcstore.com/phpbb2/viewforum.php?f=1) forum to place fake orders.

When enough people do this to overcome the profits made from the witless who do buy from spammers, then spam will die.