nanog mailing list archives

RE: Spam with no purpose?


From: "william(at)elan.net" <william () elan net>
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 22:48:59 -0800 (PST)


On Wed, 31 Mar 2004, Michel Py wrote:


Deepak Jain wrote:
Can someone explain to me (publicly or privately) why someone
would send spam with no product to sell, no position to pitch,
nothing except text designed to get by a spam filter -- without
even HTML to KNOW it got by a spam filter..
I'm surprised you only got it now. I had been receiving emails like that 
for probably at least a year.
 
Likely two different goals here:

1. Reduce the efficiency of Bayesian-like filters: Trouble with this
kind of email is that they are a) of sufficient length b) contain only
"real" words c) contain none of the words regularly used by spammers
such as the v. word.
Have to agree, this foremost the reason.

Its interesting however that spammers are doing it not for their own companies
specific interest but for interest of their spamming industry in general 
 
You can bet that it won't be long until we see such messages that not
only use only dictionary words, but furthermore are constructed with a
valid grammar (and still mean nothing). 
I already saw it. Right now its just random phrases being put together and 
not yet entire text. And somewhere (actually several years ago), I've read 
of AI program capable of creating complete stories when its given some key 
phrases to start with, would not be surprised if same or similar algorithms
began to be used.

Personally I do not believe that bayesian filtering (or text filtering in 
general) is the way to fight spam, there is too much chance of filtering
false positives along the way (and it is only increasing as spammers are
is evident by what is discussed in this thread). Its better to focus on 
authentication of the source source and of trust mechanisms for 
legitimate mail senders. Spammers have a problem taht they are often 
operating against the laws or policies of their providers and they have to 
try to hide their identity and the mechanisms they use for that can be 
identified and loopholes closed as much as possible.

-- 
William Leibzon
Elan Networks
william () elan net


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