Spam is defined as the mass distribution of many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it. Most spam is commercial advertising, often for dubious products and get-rich-quick sch emes.

There are two kinds of spam: newsgroup spam and e-mail spam.

Newsgroup spam is a single message sent to 20 or more Usenet newsgroups. The content of this spam usually consists of false commercial messages (for example, advertising a company, product or service that does not exist or is mi srepresented), or posting get-rich-quick schemes.

E-mail spam targets individual users with direct mail messages and includes "mail bombing" (mass mailing intended to overload the addressee's mailbox), and harassing e-mail (if it would be considered threatening, abusing or h arassing in person, then it would also be considered as such electronically). At its mildest, spam is junk mail; at its worst, it is harrassment.

The prevailing theory about the origin of the term spam is that it comes from a Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch.

The following sites have a great deal of information about spam, if you are interested in finding out more.

• The Net Abuse FAQ
• The Blacklist of Internet Advertisers

Related questions:

What harm does spam do?
What can I do about spam?
What does the Business Internet service do to combat spam?

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