Spam invented 10 years ago today - GoFuckYourself.com

DrGuile · 03-05-2004, 02:55 PM

Ten years ago today, spam as we know it was born. On 5 March 1994, a message was posted to some Usenet newsgroups by a law firm called Canter and Siegel, advertising their services for the U.S. Green Card lottery. It sounds mild enough today, but at the time that move and its follow-ups provoked increasing outrage across the Net. Many were appalled that "netiquette" - the unspoken rules that hitherto had maintained order in cyberspace - had been breached, sensing perhaps that things would never be the same again.

They were right, of course. By daring to try what no one had done before, those first spam messages opened the floodgates to the deluge we battle daily. When it became clear from Canter and Siegel's continued postings that their spams were being neither effectively blocked nor ignored, others soon followed in their footsteps.

More at
www.netcraft.com

Rictor · 03-05-2004, 02:55 PM

Let's eat some cake.

Rictor · 03-05-2004, 02:57 PM

I find it really hard to believe it only dates back to 1994 though. Aol, Compuserve, and other services date back further than that.

DrGuile · 03-05-2004, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rictor
I find it really hard to believe it only dates back to 1994 though. Aol, Compuserve, and other services date back further than that.

possibly, but what would you spam then?

but yuo might be right, its hard to argue with netcraft though

Nismo · 03-05-2004, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DrGuile

possibly, but what would you spam then?

back then you could spam to get traffic to your tgp, porn site, or spam out scams.

Ic3m4nZ · 03-05-2004, 03:16 PM

i knew it

Black Dog · 03-05-2004, 03:18 PM

I'm going to celebrate by sending 1,000,000,000 emails to my "double opt-in" list. ;)

B

Basic_man · 03-05-2004, 03:18 PM

Thanks for the bit of history !

03-05-2004, 02:55 PM	#1
DrGuile Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,025	Spam invented 10 years ago today Ten years ago today, spam as we know it was born. On 5 March 1994, a message was posted to some Usenet newsgroups by a law firm called Canter and Siegel, advertising their services for the U.S. Green Card lottery. It sounds mild enough today, but at the time that move and its follow-ups provoked increasing outrage across the Net. Many were appalled that "netiquette" - the unspoken rules that hitherto had maintained order in cyberspace - had been breached, sensing perhaps that things would never be the same again. They were right, of course. By daring to try what no one had done before, those first spam messages opened the floodgates to the deluge we battle daily. When it became clear from Canter and Siegel's continued postings that their spams were being neither effectively blocked nor ignored, others soon followed in their footsteps. More at www.netcraft.com __________________ LiveBucks / Privatefeeds - Giving you money since 1999 Up to 50% Commission! 25% Webmaster Referal Powered by Gamma

03-05-2004, 03:18 PM	#7
Black Dog Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Toronto, Earth Posts: 1,108	I'm going to celebrate by sending 1,000,000,000 emails to my "double opt-in" list. ;) B __________________ Looking for a great program that converts ANY traffic? Me too! :-P

03-05-2004, 03:18 PM	#8
Basic_man Programming King Pin Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Montreal Posts: 27,360	Thanks for the bit of history ! __________________ UUGallery Builder - automated photo/video gallery plugin for Wordpress! Stop looking! Checkout Naked Hosting, online since 1999 !

03-05-2004, 02:55 PM	#2
Rictor Old Timer Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 12,208	Let's eat some cake.

03-05-2004, 02:57 PM	#3
Rictor Old Timer Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 12,208	I find it really hard to believe it only dates back to 1994 though. Aol, Compuserve, and other services date back further than that.

03-05-2004, 03:16 PM	#6
Ic3m4nZ Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Montreal! Posts: 6,285	i knew it