I guess I'll just never understand...(spam)

Harrie · #1 May 9th, 2006, 12:52 AM

I know I must have a hole in the noggin' somewhere, since everyone else seems to get this. And I feel sure I've asked this before, if not here, then somewhere, but I still don't get it.

I mean, what exactly is the purpose of spam? I really and actually cannot get it. I can understand when a person spams a forum, has never been there before and comes and posts a link to their site or something. (Don't like it, but I get that). And I understand spam mails where it's some product, be it Viagra or whatever. But what about when it's just nonsense postings? Like a bunch of letters and/or numbers. I've seen this on forums and in mails. Okay, if they have a virus they're wanting to spread, get that too. Disgusting, but I do compute that some sicko wants to get kicks that way.

Otherwise, what do people get out of it??? Wow!

Nick Grana · #2 May 9th, 2006, 01:50 AM

On CTH some posts called spam are merely innocent and trying to help one get some info. Some, on the other hand, is devious in the techniques used.
Pure definition of SPAM.
What does one get out of it?
Here's a pretty good letter on The Benefits of Spam.

Pi rules · #3 May 9th, 2006, 02:08 AM

Sometimes money, otherwise attention, I don't really know or understand it either.

renegade600 · #4 May 9th, 2006, 02:12 AM

the purpose of spam is money. There is always people out there that will order whatever product that is being advertised. All it takes is a few orders to make a profit.

oracle128 · #5 May 9th, 2006, 04:37 AM

Spam that seems non-sensical has two reasons:
If it's sent in HTML format, it will usually embed an image (sometimes a 1x1 blank pixel) that resides on the spammer's server. They can then look through logs to get valid IPs. They may also get a little more creative and embed each automated email with a unique ID for linking the picture (server side scripts can log a unique ID and return image data; web servers can use URL rewrite features to get a unique ID in their logs, but redirect to the image). Once this is somehow logged, it can be matched up with the email address used to send that ID, and viola you've found yourself a bunch of valid email address.

The second method is similar in theory; send non-sensical emails to random addresses. The analysis is simple; those addresses that return a user not found or email server not found error don't exist (or have good spam detection/protection mechanisms in place, and falsify an error).

Both scenarios result in the spammer obtaining a list of valid addresses. These can either be used by the spammer, or sold to commercial-spamming folks.

Harrie · #6 May 9th, 2006, 03:26 PM

Thanks to each of you. The links were helpful too, Nick. Dan, it's really hard to believe people would fall for ordering products in spam mail, but I know it is true. Eeek!

Oracle, I think you've hit on just what I couldn't understand. Thanks a lot. Now, it does make sense, perverted as it is.