The Month of SPAM

It must have been some time around 1998 when I first started fighting spam.

Back then, nobody cared much about spam. The meaning of the term wasn't even known outside the circles of computer geeks. I even had the ISP of one particular spammer call me names and tell me to find something better to do with my time. After all, the guy sending the spam wasn't hurting anyone, and I could just delete the email.

Times have changed. The spam problem has merged with the virus problem, and the "adware" problem has appeared to add a new dimension to things. Service providers have ceased to tolerate spam, and the result has been the emergence of botnets to continue the flow.

I've been there through it all, from the early days of spam, trying to fight it and help others fight it. I was a chief designer of the short-lived Trollbooth project, and I gave a report on how to fight the problem in 2004.

All in all, I've never wholly stopped fighting spam. Perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, it's my destiny to fight this battle. More likely, it's just something that really ticks me off.

This year, in the spirit of projects such as the Month of PHP Bugs, I am decreeing April The Month of Spam.

Each day in April, I will make at least one blog post related to spam. The posts will range from humorous to highly technical. I will attempt to interview figures on both sides of the battle. I will not pretend to be unbiased in this war, but I am curious what the other side thinks.

If you've been directed to this post, or feel you are important enough to warrant me interviewing you, send an email to monthofspam@potentialtech.com.

Otherwise, stop by on April first to see the first post.