what is meant by 'spam'?

Answer 1

Spam is an e-mail message that is send to many people and floods Internet with copies. People don't with to receive it, but it is sent without permission. Usually spam methods are used for advertising and commercial purposes. It is cheap way to advertise services and products because it costs very little or doesn't cost anything. Everything is paid by recipient or the carriers. Often it's illegal.

Types of spam:

1. Cancellable Usenet spam;
2. Email spam;
3. Messaging spam;
4. Mobile phone spam;
5. Internet telephony spam;
6. Search engine spam;
7. Comment spam;

These spams differently affects Internet user. Target of Cancellable Usenet spam is Usenet newsgroup users. The spam message is sent to to all group of 20 or more people. Opposite to this, Email spam targets individual users. Usenet postings are scanned and spam message is sent directly to the owner of the address.
Messaging spam is often called spim in it affect users of instant messaging services, like ICQ, AIM, MSN, etc.
Mobile phone spam uses SMS to advertise their products or services. It's very annoying and sometimes costs to the recipient.
Unlike other spammers, Internet telephony spammers use voice based communication. They record spam message and flood Internet with it.

Does it cost?
Spam e-mail cost to those people that use phone connection for their Internet. As long as you are reading unnecessary e-mail, or waiting until it is arriving, the time runs and fee for service is growing. Further more, it costs money for ISPs and online services to transmit spam, and these costs are transmitted directly to subscribers.

Stop spam:
If you have already some spam in your e-mail box, you should know some things things that you shouldn't do. First of all never reply to spam and don't use the suggested "remove" method. It is also important that you don't go to suggested links. It's because when you take these action you confirm you e-mail address and moreover you show spammers that you read their spam! Sometimes it doesn't need this because if you get an e-mail with a little bit of coded graphics and your mailer fetches it, the spammer knows that you have opened the e-mail and verified this address.

The second thing that is advised not to do is that you should not buy anything that was advertised you by e-mail. As spam is illegal the offers might be fraudulent.
If you want to prevent yourself from spam, you should first read online forms before you fill them. If they don't ask you e-mail, don't write it. But if it's needed, use multiple e-mail addresses.

There are many websites that offer free e-mail services with anti-spam filter. It's also recommended to install some anti-spam softwares (like SpamBully, Control Spam, etc.) or to use advanced Internet filtering software that provides e-mail filtering function (for example CYBERsitter, NetNanny, etc.)

Answer 2

Spamming is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited, undesired bulk messages. While the most widely recognized form of spam is email spam, the term is applied to similar abuses in other media: instant messaging spam, Usenet newsgroup spam, Web search engine spam, spam in blogs, and mobile phone messaging spam.

Spamming is economically viable because advertisers have no operating costs beyond the management of their mailing lists, and it is difficult to hold senders accountable for their mass mailings. Because the barrier to entry is so low, spammers are numerous, and the volume of unsolicited mail has become very high. The costs, such as lost productivity and fraud, are borne by the public and by Internet service providers, which add extra capacity to cope with the deluge. Spamming is widely reviled, and has been the subject of legislation in many jurisdictions.

Answer 3

Spam is a term meaning bulk e-mail solicitations. You know those dozens of e-mails you get in your inbox advertising anything from ****, penis enlargement, breast augmentation, mortgages, loans, etc.? That's spam.

The term hearkens back to the old Monty Python show, specifically the skit where some people were eating at a diner occupied by Vikings. Every time they tried to order food, the Vikings would all start this chorus of "Spam spam spam spam spam spam SPAAAMLY SPAM, wonderful SPAAAM!" Their chants of "Spam spam spam" would completely drown out the legitimate conversation. Bulk e-mails have the same effect, coming in such volume and frequency that they drown out the legitimate e-mails.

Hope that answers your question. :)

Answer 4

"Spamming is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited, bulk messages. While the most widely recognized form of spam is e-mail spam, the term is also applied to similar abuses in other media: instant messaging spam, Usenet newsgroup spam, Web search engine spam, spam in blogs, and mobile phone messaging spam."

The term spam is derived from the Monty Python SPAM sketch, set in a cafe where every item on the menu includes SPAM luncheon meat. As the server recites the SPAM-filled menu, a chorus of Viking patrons drowns out all conversations with a song repeating "SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM... lovely SPAM, wonderful SPAM," hence "SPAMming" the dialogue. The excessive amount of SPAM mentioned in the sketch is a reference to British rationing during World War II. SPAM was one of the few foods that was not restricted and was therefore widely available."

Answer 5

Spam email or junk email is unwanted email received by the recipient. Almost every internet user will have received emails promising millions of dollars from corrupt politicians. Many hours are wasted due to spam email. However, by taking simple precautions while giving out your email and installing updated free software, you can prevent spam. More info available at
http://fixit.in/stopspam.html

Answer 6

Spam means Unwanted e-mail (usually of a commercial nature sent out in bulk)

Answer 7

The original Spam stood for "spiced ham".
After a famous Monty Python script where Spam was served as nauseum, it came to mean getting stuff you do not want in your email.

Answer 8

Mainly junk mail sent to your email account. People send SPAM because they want you to buy something.

Answer 9

Sending Personally Annoying Messages. AKA all that crap, like ads, that you get in your email.

The word was originally a verb, to spam someone, but lately it has been used as a noun to refer to the messages themselves.

Answer 10

Any unwanted mail is SPAM