| In the last few weeks, I have noticed an | | | | badly 'bashed' spam victim, but doesn't this |
| increase in tools or methods devised | | | | type of 'payback' solution smack of 'Internet |
| exclusively to fight the Spam fight. I | | | | vigilantism' or 'taking the law into one's |
| applaud the originators ideals and their | | | | own hands' (something that is wrong and |
| ingenuity, but I must voice my concern about | | | | dangerous, no matter how justified and |
| the way in which such concepts can often | | | | tempting it may seem to be)? |
| backfire, sometimes in the nastiest of ways. | | | | |
| | | | Apart from the obvious 'dragging down to |
| I abhor spam. I hate it with a vengeance and | | | | their level' in which this method results, |
| would do ALMOST anything to rid the Internet | | | | isn't it illegal? Are the people who have put |
| of it entirely. The worldwide financial | | | | together this web page and promoted it's use |
| consequences alone run into billions of | | | | in danger of the authorities deciding that |
| dollars annually.It is comparable to the | | | | they too, are contributing to the daily |
| disruption that the propagation of viruses | | | | plague of spam? I do hope not, as I know |
| causes and is responsible for creating a | | | | their intentions are based in a sense of |
| completely independent niche market for the | | | | fighting a huge, common evil. |
| sale of tools and software programs designed | | | | |
| simply to combat it. Although, I would | | | | I heard that the first 'high profile' case |
| imagine that even those engaged in this area | | | | against a spammer in the U.S., resulting in a |
| of marketing would also welcome it's demise, | | | | hefty jail term, concluded only last week. I |
| however unlikely it might seem at the moment. | | | | know that the wheels of 'justice' do turn |
| | | | slowly, in almost everything but I believe |
| The latest is a web page that we are all | | | | the reason for that is so that mistakes and |
| being asked to link to which, as I understand | | | | more injustices do not result. |
| it, will result in the email addresses listed | | | | |
| on that page, which are 'known' spam | | | | That is my concern with Internet citizens |
| originating addresses, being inundated with | | | | deciding to, as I said, take the law into |
| so much spam, generated by their own | | | | their own hands and perhaps overlooking where |
| 'spiders' (entities which crawl the Net | | | | their actions may backfire, or worse, give |
| looking for email addresses) that their data | | | | the spammer an even more powerful tool with |
| will be effectively useless due to the spider | | | | which to assault their victims. I shudder to |
| being effectively sent on an endless 'loop'. | | | | think what spammers, especially those who |
| A simple but brilliant little idea - But is | | | | fall victim to this new idea, might do if |
| it safe? | | | | they find the identity or email addresses of |
| | | | the devisor/s of this idea. |
| What if an innocent email address should find | | | | |
| it's way onto that web page? What if one is | | | | We have relatively new laws to deal with spam |
| maliciously placed there? Does that email | | | | and it's perpetrators. As I said, there has |
| address get caught up in the vicious circle | | | | been, to my knowledge only one 'notable' and |
| of unsolicited email? Maybe not, but even if | | | | 'highly publicized' instance of the law at |
| the method precludes this particular | | | | work, where the Internet community has been |
| 'backfire', more to the point, is it right to | | | | able to feel a sense of 'justice' and, |
| spam the 'spammer'? If you rob a thief, | | | | yes......payback, revenge, whatever. Give the |
| doesn't that make YOU a thief too, | | | | Law a chance. |
| regardless? | | | | |
| | | | Again, I do understand the need for action |
| The fact remains also, there hasn't been a | | | | and I know exactly how people feel about |
| means of stopping spammers that has worked | | | | those who would spoil one of the |
| yet. Will they be somehow able to turn this | | | | communication, information and media marvels |
| idea around and use it against the Internet | | | | of this, and the last century. However, I |
| population? | | | | think we need to, at least, give the law a |
| | | | chance to make a difference before we even |
| I can understand the anger, frustration and | | | | think about resorting to such means to |
| the sometimes, sheer desperation that some | | | | dissuade spammers from plying their trade. |
| may feel after having been an especially | | | | |