Call for global action on spam

[Henk Elegeert]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3733864.stm
BBC NEWS | Technology | Call for global action on spam

"
  Call for global action on spam
Only more global co-operation will help stop the scourge of
spam, say experts.

At a conference called to debate anti-spam measures, US and
UK government bodies said they had to work more closely to
stop spammers.

Most spam originated overseas, so cross-border co-operation
was essential to combat spam, delegates were told.

Without teamwork spammers would flourish behind a "cloak of
anonymity" and perhaps do real damage to proper e-commerce,
the conference was warned.

Hidden harm

In 2001 only 10% of e-mail sent was spam but now almost 60%
of all mails are junk, according to figures presented at the
International Spam Enforcement Workshop held this week and
organised by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the
UK's Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

More than 20 nations sent representatives to the workshop,
one of the first of its kind.

Almost 80% of junk mail originates outside the country where
people receive it, making the tracing of who is sending the
messages the biggest problem facing anti-spam efforts.
speakers told delegates.

"Spammers hide behind the cloak of anonymity provided by the
latest technology and the path from a spammer to a
consumer's inbox typically crosses one border, if not
several," said Deborah Majoras, chairwoman of the FTC.

Ms Majoras said tracing the origins of spam was the biggest
problem and called for more sharing of information to help
track down spam gangs.

John Vickers, OFT chairman, said spam was more than just a
nuisance as statistics show that more than half of it is now
produced by scammers keen to con people out of cash or
useful personal information.

Many so-called phishing attempts that try to trick people
into handing over account information are sent as e-mail
messages.

More powers

"Spam is threatening the enormous potential for good that
e-commerce, and the web generally, has opened up," said Mr
Vickers.

Successful joint operations mounted by UK and US authorities
include the shutting down of an operation sending spam that
tried to cash in on the 9/11 attacks and sell people net
domains.

Richard Thomas, the UK's Information Commissioner, said new
powers were needed to help gather intelligence on spammers.

He said that currently net service firms were not obliged to
hand over information about spam sent via their systems.

Mr Thomas called for powers to compel net firms to hand over
data and to get injunctions fast-tracked, so spammers could
be taken to court and tackled quickly.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/3733864.stm

Published: 2004/10/11 14:49:10 GMT

© BBC MMIV

  [ ANTI-SPAM HINTS
Be aware that most spam is a scam
If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is
If an e-mail looks doubtful, delete it
Use a spam filter
Avoid clicking on adverts in spam messages, they could
download a virus
Protect your e-mail address. Do not share it with people you
do not know. ]
"

Als terrorist kun je rustig je boodschappen broadcasten via
spam. Ondertussen wordt wel je e-mail opgeslagen.

Henk Elegeert

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