Survey: Why do people respond to spam?
Most people may think they're smart enough not to answer an obvious spam message. But is that really the case?
Almost one third of consumers questioned admitted answering e-mails they suspected were spam, says a survey released Wednesday by the Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group (MAAWG).
Among those who responded to spam, 17 percent said they clicked on it by mistake, 13 percent said they sent a note to the spammer to complain, while 12 percent said they were interested in the product or service.
The MAAWG's survey study, "A Look at Consumers' Awareness of Email Security and Practices," also discovered that about two-thirds of the people considered themselves "very" or "somewhat" knowledgeable about Internet security. Most of them use antivirus software, but 21 percent said they take no action to prevent spam or dangerous e-mail from hitting their in-box.
(Credit:
Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group )
Further, the survey found that 80 percent of users questioned doubted their computers were ever at risk of being infected with a "bot" that can send spam and create other problems without the user knowing it.
"Spamming has morphed from an isolated hacker playing with some code into a well-developed underground economy that feeds off reputable users' machines to avoid detection," says MAAWG Chair Michael O'Reirdan. "Consumers shouldn't be afraid to use e-mail, but they need to be computer smart and learn how to avoid these problems."
The study was based on phone and online interviews conducted in December and January with 800 computer users in the U.S. and Canada who said they were not "security experts" and who used e-mail addresses not managed by an IT department.
The Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group is a global organization comprising ISPs, network operators, and other tech companies. The group's goal is to reduce the abuse and threats affecting electronic mail by focusing on technology, industry collaboration, and public policy initiatives.
Lance Whitney wears a few different technology hats--journalist, Web developer, and software trainer. He's a contributing editor for Microsoft TechNet Magazine and writes for other computer publications and Web sites. You can follow Lance on Twitter at @lancewhit. Lance is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and he is not an employee of CNET. 
If you think you might like the product, Google it to see if there are other vendors offering better products at lower prices. Read CNET reviews and product comparisons. Then, YOU initiate the contact.
From a retired marketing executive.
Also, people receive hundreds of spam messages a day (though most are filtered out). But this survey doesn't ask if you routinely click on spam, but if you ever have. I can see 1/3rd saying yes, because they may have done so before they realized what stupid people they were, then wised up.
Now pardon me, as I have to write a check to this fella in Nigeria...
I do have a Dell that is internet capable but I restrict its use to sending invoices to customers and nothing else. I could never see myself exposing a Wintel machine to the horror stories that I have heard and read about. I know that one day Macs will become more susceptible to spam invasion, but I'm happy on my side of the sandbox.
And I also agree that I would never interact with an emailer that I have never heard from before, any more than I would interact with a phone spammer or a snail mail spammer. If I don't know you, but I'm looking for your services, I'll call you, thank you very much.
THEY DID NOT KNOW ANY BETTER.
Trusting your Antivrus, Spyware/Malware programs and the like ?.
DON'T, NOT ONE is FULL Proof.
Why would you click on a link or reply to something YOU "KNOW" is spam ?.
Lack of Logic, common sense AND knowledge. With WAY to much Stupidity.
Accidents ? Hm, doub't it. but computers do wierd things so maybe a few of those who said accidentally, was true.
ALL the others Are in the above category. You like the product ? is that any reason to INFECT your computer and maybe everyone esle you know ?. is it any reason to possible give out ANY vital information, ? Name, bank account or anything else ?. NO, NO , NO NO, DEFINITIVE NO!!!
Send a reply telling them to stop ?..Lol.
MOST of These are computers bots called programs that do this randomly, once you respond they know you are alive, they know that email or number exists.
They don't know until you open it. Sort of Like a knock on the door, (execpet when you look at a home you can usually tell if it is someone living there or not. with email or numbers they dont know. they don't know you are home, but you can hear them, if you open the door, do I need to say more ?.
YEP, because of reasons above! IF IF you open the door THEN and ONLY then do they know you are home. and then can get to you face to face.
Linux: it's Free, it's Secure, and it's NOT the swiss-cheese that Windows is. Unfortunately, there is too much money being made from Windows users, so the cash cow will remain while the smart users will move on to a better OS.
- by A41202813 July 18, 2009 9:03 AM PDT
- Whenever I Have The Time, There Are Three Actions I Take, When I See Some Types Of Spam.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(22 Comments)If Some Email Impersonates GOOGLE, I Report That Mail To Them, Using The Options That Exist In GMAIL.
Any Evident Phishing Email ?
I Report The Link Using Options That Exist In FF And,
I Report It Also Using The Options That Exist In IE.