Year in review: Spam can't be canned

Spam: The scourge can't be contained Unwanted e-mail filled in-boxes by the billions in 2003, as legal and technical efforts to stop the deluge were ineffective. For the first time, the amount of unsolicited commercial e-mail that was sent surpassed the number of legitimate messages. Unwitting PC users played a part in mass mailings, too, as the majority of all spam was sent through hijacked computers via open relays, according to antispam company MessageLabs. Virus and spam techniques merged this year to pose a malicious and potent threat to corporations and network administrators. disguised as legitimate e-mail infected many computers with programs designed to overtake the PC and propagate throughout a network by way of mass mailings. was the worst mass-mailing virus ever recorded and the biggest example of such a spam virus. "Swen.A," "Klez.H" and "Sysbug" reaped havoc in a similar way. Spammers are now also attacking antispam activists with viruses such as the latest two . Antispam features also became must-haves for most firewall and e-mail gateway products. Many and security companies or in their efforts to battle the scourge, and more consolidation is expected in 2004. Microsoft founder Bill Gates even in security and spam-fighting mechanisms. Internet service providers, federal regulators and cracked down on spammers like never before. The Federal Trade Commission asked Congress for sweeping new powers to cooperate closely with governments abroad and prosecute domestic and overseas spammers more readily. Federal and state law enforcement agencies to take an aggressive new approach to fighting spam by identifying and closing open-relay mail servers around the world. Microsoft, and filed numerous lawsuits against suspected spammers. Researchers also e-mail verification systems to thwart spam, while industry groups formed new relationships to find solutions. Marketers, meanwhile, fought for their right to send legitimate e-mail to consumers. For example, Yahoo changed its privacy policy to allow itself new marketing liberties with consumers. passed the first federal antispam bill, capping more than six years of failed congressional attempts to enact a federal law. Set to go into effect early in 2004, the law would preempt more stringent state legislation like California's, which had been criticized. The popularity of the National Do Not Call Registry also fueled demand for a similar registry for unsolicited commercial e-mail, which became a tenet of the new law. But telemarketers are concerned that it will limit free speech and hamper e-commerce. --Stefanie Olsen Proposals to control the digital deluge include a national "do not e-mail" list and criminal penalties for repeat offenders. May 1, 2003 Open relay mail servers are the target in a crackdown against junk mail launched by the Federal Trade Commission and a band of U.S. and foreign law enforcement allies. May 15, 2003 The agency asks Congress for new powers that would let it cooperate closely with governments abroad and prosecute domestic and overseas spammers more readily. June 11, 2003 Now spreading worldwide, a new variant of the Sobig worm could allow spammers to use infected PCs to send bulk e-mail that can't be traced back to its source. June 25, 2003 An e-mail security company says that junk e-mailers are making use of viruses to turn home computers into spam generators. June 27, 2003 Once bipartisan, the debate over how to reduce the flow of bulk e-mail is now pitting Democrats against Republicans, which may complicate enactment of federal legislation. July 9, 2003 Even as the do-not-spam plan gains traction among e-mail users and on Capitol Hill, a lawsuit against the proposed do-not-call list could nip the idea in the bud July 29, 2003 Twenty servers that the computer virus had scheduled to download attack software were shut down, avoiding a potential wave of new e-mail. Aug. 22, 2003 A broadly worded ban on unsolicited commercial e-mail could prove vulnerable to challenges on interstate commerce and First Amendment grounds, legal experts say. Sept. 25, 2003 A new group will try to settle the differences among competing methods of thwarting spam with a kind of caller ID for e-mail. Oct. 24, 2003 During his 20th Comdex keynote speech, the Microsoft chairman says software breakthroughs will override the pitfalls of unsolicited e-mail and security threats. Nov. 16, 2003 An e-mail with the subject line: "Re[2]: Mary" from James2003, may actually contain a program that takes over a person's PC. Nov. 25, 2003 Backers say Can-Spam--the first federal law against digital junk mail--will serve notice to spammers. But critics say that by overriding stronger state laws, it would actually tell spammers they can spam. Dec. 16, 2003 In spam battle, a meating of the minds Report: A third of spam spread by RAT-infested PCs Microsoft attacks spam at source AOL wary of Comcast, Road Runner mail Public access to FTC hurt by spam lists EarthLink files suit against spammers Is spam here to stay? Sendmail, Cloudmark team against spam

Year in review: Spam can't be canned

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