Tracing the Spammers
Kevin Curran, Computer Lecturer - Magee College

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Problem

Unfortunately, spam is now an unavoidable par tof the Internet. There are precautions that one can take to minimise it, like using a 'pseudo' hotmail account when entering competitions or posting to newsgroups (thus protecting your main email account). However what dows one do when spam mail from particular senders keep arriving in your inbox.

Solution

One solution is to set up your email client to filter dodgy looking stuff into a dedicated mailbox, see email.about.com.

If you decide to fight back, you can try the handy online tracking tools at spamcop, which work out where spam messages come from and automatically fire of letters of complaint to the offending ISPs and domain name owners.

If you've really really had enough, you can use dedicated tools such as the ones at combat.uxn, Geek Tools and SamSpade to track dow whos responsible for the spam.

Task

Trace junk mail sent to your accounts. If you have to set up new accounts and join various discussion forums on the net. Try to get yourself deliberately noticed by the spammers. Trace each spammer using the above tools. Record your successes. Record your failures. Attempt to discover why you failed. Which cases fail repeatedly? Why? Is it because of your tools? OR are the spammers just better in the cases at covering their trail? Investigate thouroughly the entire spam scene. What type of tools do they use? Where do they get them? Are they free? Do they pay for them etc? What does UK law about junk mail?

Further Information

abuse.net
cybernothing/a>
junkbusters
C.I.A.C.
elsop

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