What is Spam?
Spam is defined as "The abuse of electronic messaging systems (including most broadcast media, digital delivery systems) to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately." by Wikipedia
In basic terms it's messages in either email, forums, or even chat sessions that are not otherwise requested or are posted for the sole sake of promotion.
Please don't get this confused with newsletters, or other such opt in mailing programs. Often times when you sign up at a website you'll have the option to either opt in, or opt out of certain programs that they run. This is not spam. You can unsubscribe from these, remove yourself from the list.
Forum Spam Example
In a forum or message board you may see some guy post some spam like this... "Hey my name is Bob check out my new website! Here is the link!". That is a great example of forum spam.
If you can remove yourself it may not be spam!
Yeah, if you can remove yourself from the list, if it has a little "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email or message it may not be spam. You may have opted in* without knowing when signing up at at some web site. Often times there is a message with a checkbox and a statement like "receive emails from us and our affiliates". If you don't un check that box your going to get email.
Typical Spam Messages
Here are some general concept spam titles and messages.
- Buy Some Stock
- Forex Training
- Buy Cheap Viagra and Meds
- Hey want to find a girlfriend?
- Singles Near You
Yeah those are some basic examples of spam.
Scams are Not Spams
When you get an email with a title like...Contact me immediately for payment that's a scam... read more about those here.
