Malicious Life Spam Empire
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Jul 6, 2017 Dive into the dark origins of spam, tracing its roots back to a complaint in 1864. Discover how massive spam empires flourished in the 90s and 2000s, paving the way for organized cybercrime. Explore the controversial tactics of Blue Security, which fought back with innovative yet risky methods. Learn about the evolution of spam into a sophisticated digital war involving botnets and major DDoS attacks. This journey illustrates the shifting landscape of cybercrime from simple nuisances to an intricate, multi-million dollar industry.
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Early Spam
- In 1864, a British Parliament member complained about a dentist's telegram advertisement.
- This early form of spam highlighted its instant appearance alongside electronic media.
The Green Card Spam
- In 1994, lawyers Cantor and Siegel spammed Usenet groups with a deceptive green card lottery ad.
- Despite facing backlash, they earned over $100,000, demonstrating spam's profitability.
Spam's Low Cost
- Unlike telemarketing, email spam is extremely cheap and easily automated, requiring minimal effort for massive reach.
- This makes a "do not email" registry less effective than "do not call," as spammers have little incentive to comply.