As the saying goes, when life hands you spam, hatch plans with your fellow spamees to create a new social network and otherwise engage in friendly penpal relationships. That might not be a saying yet, but it’s what happened when a spam email spiraled into the land of “reply all,” uniting annoyed people around the globe. [More]
spam
Some Retailers Realizing That Spamming Current Customers Might Turn Them Into Former Customers
By 3.12.12
In 2011, the nation’s 100 largest online retailers sent out an average to 177 e-mails per recipient, with some companies blasting more than 500 e-mails per recipient. But a handful of businesses are coming to the realization that it may not be the best idea to flood their customers’ inboxes. [More]
McAfee Promises Peace Of Mind After Turning Users' Computers Into Spammer Paradise
By 1.19.12
Heeeey, McAfee customer! Would you like some peace of mind? Why, you ask? No reason… well except that spammers were able to exploit a flaw in McAfee’s SaaS Total Protection anti-malware service, making that protection not so total after all. [More]
How Facebook's Message Spam Filter Lost Me Some Fabulous Prizes
By 1.4.12
Think that Facebook’s de facto spam filter couldn’t possibly be keeping anything of consequence out of your inbox? Think again. When James happened to click that unobtrusive “Other” tab on his Facebook inbox, he learned that he had won a new TV, Blu-Ray player, and a copy of the movie the contest was promoting. But Facebook had filed this message away on his behalf….in August 2010. [More]
Facebook Works To Stop Porn Flood
By 11.16.11
Some Facebook users reportedly suffered a deluge of pornographic and violent images earlier this week due to a hacker-spawned exploit, but the social network says it has the problem under control. The images that flooded accounts’ news feeds allegedly consisted of hardcore porn with celebrity faces pasted in, as well as disturbing images, one of which featured an abused dog. The problem continued for as long as 48 hours before Facebook got a handle on it. [More]
The "Do You Have This In Stock" Email Scam
By 11.14.11
Reader SkokieGuy’s manufacturing company keeps getting these emails asking to buy parts and equipment they don’t even make. The diction is weird and they seem to be using a template. “I know this is a scam,” writes SkokieGuy.”But I can’t figure out why.” [More]
Why Does ProFlowers Think I'm Cheating On My Wife?
By 9.15.11
You can’t blame Chris’s wife for being confused. She happened to receive a promotional e-mail from Proflowers, addressed to Chris, thanking him for buying a gift for Margaret. Her name is not Margaret. Chris writes that he hasn’t sent flowers to anyone named Margaret. Either Chris wrote to Consumerist as part of an incredibly roundabout cover-up of an extramarital affair, or something strange is going on here. [More]
The Limited Uses Hurricane Irene To Promote Sale
By 9.6.11
Seems The Limited is taking a page from the Spirit Airlines marketing playbook. On Friday the clothing store sent around an email with the subject line, “Take that, Irene! We’re offering 40% off again.” [More]
Caught In A Never-Ending Torrent Of Political Spam
By 8.18.11
Somehow, a political group Jeff happens to disagree with got hold of his e-mail address, and started sending him junk mail. Then another got his address. And another. He’s not sure how he got on the lists, but he wants right-wing groups to stop sending him stuff and sharing his e-mail address with each other. How? [More]
Spam Drops Sharply From 2010 Levels
By 7.5.11
If your inbox seems a bit less crowded than usual, it’s probably because there’s reportedly been a massive decline in junk email from this point a year ago. According to Symantec, there are now 39.2 billion spam messages sent each day, down from 230 billion daily messages a year ago. [More]
BK Attacks Japan With Mini Spam Burgers For Women
By 6.13.11
Swinging the pendulum away from their “Meat Monsters” offering, Burger King is dropping slider-style BK Bites on Japan in a variety of meat patties. Besides the usual beef, you can get a chicken patty or a Spam patty. That’s right, delicious Spam. And it’s for the ladies. “What Women Want, Women Get,” is the tagline for the Spam and BLT mini combo, which the chain describes as “lighter” and “suitable for women.” I can only hope something is getting lost in translation, but methinks it’s not really. [More]
Stuff Bought Through Spam Actually Gets Delivered
By 6.8.11
While most of us don’t trust spam, if you order something advertised through it, be it pills, knockoff Rolex watches, or software, it will probably end up at your door. That’s one of the many surprising conclusions uncovered by researchers tracking exactly how spam works (PDF) from alpha to omega in the transaction process. [More]
It Takes 12.5 Million Spams To Sell $100 Of Viagra
By 5.26.11
Considering how insistent and persistent the emails are, you would think there was big bucks in pushing pills that increase the flow of blood to one’s penis for an extended period of time. That may be true, but only because the costs of spam advertising are so low, as revealed by this nugget in a New York Times article that reveals it takes 12.5 million spam emails just to sell $100 worth of Viagra. [More]
Botnets Rebuild Forces After Rustock Raid
By 5.2.11
After the Feds and Microsoft in March chopped off the head of the hydra that was the 1-million strong “Rustock” botnet responsible for sending billions of spam, several heads have sprung in its place. PC World notes a Symantec report of a 24% jump in emails containing malicious links and attachments, possibly representing an attempt to regrow the forces of zombie controlled computers and fill the void left by Rustock. [More]
Microsoft And Feds Take Down World's Largest Spam Botnet
By 3.21.11
Your inbox might feel a little empty for a while because Microsoft and the Feds have taken down the world’s largest botnet, “Rustock,” estimated to have infected over 1 million computers worldwide. [More]
Former Spam King Released From Prison, Vows To Spam No More
By 3.4.11
A man who launched 10 trillion spam messages before he was sent away to federal prison is out after serving four years, and he’s allowed back online. He promises he’s a changed man and will no longer shower your inbox with unwanted solicitations. [More]
Caption This Picture Of SPAM Theatre
By 3.3.11
And another thing, Godfried, I’m leaving you! He’s not just a can of SPAM, he’s my lover. You can have the coupons, all of them. Keep your BOGOS! We’re off to see the world and there’s nothing you can do to stop us. [More]
After Holiday Break, Spammers Back In Action
By 1.12.11
Just about everyone phones it in during the holidays, even spammers. Whether due to tightened security or office parties, the amount of worldwide spam activity nosedived in late December. The bad news is that the spambots have reportedly woken up and are getting back to work. [More]
