The Spam Network
You’ve tried linguistic devices (email AT server DOT com) and cognitive tricks (email@REMOVETHISYOUIDIOTserver.com), but somehow those little f*&*ers keep getting you on their lists. No matter how hard you try to conceal yourself, they always seem to have the upper hand. How do they do it? Spammers are not islands of email addresses, but actually an
international network of marketing deviants:
Bob West, an anti-spam activist has collected information about these questionable exchanges in his project Spamdemic. His beautifully detailed map of interconnections shows how Xerox can have access to your email from Match.com in only a few transactions. He also maintains a blacklist of spam offenders, but somehow I get the sinking feeling that one man cannot take on this massive industry.
