What is spam?
Spam is any form of unrequested communication sent in bulk (Unsolicited Bulk Email, or UBE). Its most frequent form is a commercial email sent to a large number of addresses (Unsolicited Commercial Email, or UCE), but “spamming” is also possible via instant messages, texts (SMS), social media or even voicemail. Sending spam is illegal in most jurisdictions.
One of the most common ways to spread unsolicited content is to use botnets, large armies of infected “zombie” devices. Sometimes, chain letters and hoaxes are also considered to be spam, though they differ in that in general they're passed on by people with good intentions.
Origin of the term
How can you recognize spam?
If the email, message, or any other form of bulk communication is unsolicited and deceptive, then it probably is spam.
PS: If you see it written on a can in an all uppercase form, it is the well-known American food product consisting of cooked ham and pork.
How to protect yourself from spam?
Never post your email to public websites and services and if asked for it, share it wisely. You can also create a disposable email address, which can be used for newsletters or subscriptions.
Last but not least, use a reliable anti‑spam solution.
Brief history
The first spam email campaign was observed in 1978, landing messages in the inboxes of nearly 400 (or 15% of all) users connected to the internet’s predecessor, Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET). It advertised a company’s product presentation, but after receiving a great deal of negative feedback, this form of marketing was abandoned – at least for a time.
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