What really is a Spam???

 

What really is a Spam???


What is spam?

Spam is digital junk mail and unsolicited communications sent in bulk through an electronic messaging system. Unrequested, disruptive, and usually promotional, spam messages are designed to flood as many inboxes as possible. Traditionally, spam has been sent via email, but also includes SMS and social media messaging.

If the definition of spam is unsolicited messages usually sent in bulk, spamming is the act of sending these messages. And the person who actually sends the messages is a spammer. Often, spamming is commercial in nature, and though the spam is bothersome, it isn’t necessarily malicious or fraudulent (though it can be).

                                                                        Why is it called spam?

The use of the term “spam” to describe this type of invasive blanket-messaging is a reference to a Monty Python skit. In it, a group of diners (clad in Viking costumes, no less) loudly and repeatedly proclaim that everyone must eat Spam, regardless of whether they want it or not. It’s similar to how an email spammer will flood your inbox with their unwanted messages.

When spelled with a capital S, “Spam” refers to the canned pork product that the above-mentioned Vikings love. Use a lowercase S to discuss the endless flood of emails and other messages that you never asked for.


What kinds of spam are there?

You can fry it, bake it, scramble it with eggs, eat it on a sandwich, or even serve it with rice and seaweed. But when it comes to the electronic variety, there’s an equally diverse menu available. Here’s a short list of what you might expect in the wide world of spam:

  • Email spam: Your garden-variety spam. It clogs up your inbox and distracts you from the emails you actually want to read. Rest assured, it’s all extremely ignorable.

  • SEO spam: Also known as spamdexing, this is the abuse of search engine optimization (SEO) methods to improve search rankings for the spammer’s website. We can divide SEO spam into two broad categories:

  • Content spam: Spammers cram their pages full of popular keywords, usually unrelated to their website, to try and rank their site higher in searches for those keywords. Others will rewrite existing content to make their own pages seem more substantial and unique.

  • Link spam: If you’ve come across a blog comment or forum post that’s filled with irrelevant links, you’ve encountered link spam. The spammer is trying to exploit an SEO mechanic known as “backlinking” to drive traffic to their page.

  • Social networking spam: As the internet grows ever more social, spammers are quick to take advantage, spreading their spam via fake “throwaway” accounts on popular social networking platforms.

  • Mobile spam: It’s spam in SMS form. In addition to spammy text messages, some spammers also utilize push notifications to draw your attention to their offers.

  • Messaging spam: Like email spam, but quicker. Spammers blast their messages out on instant messaging platforms including WhatsApp, Skype, and Snapchat.

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