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Global Cooperation Equals Better Email
Jeremy L. Muncy
Staff Writer
2004-10-12
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At a conference called to debate anti-spam measures, US & UK governments discussed working more closely finally stop spammers. The largest percentage of spam originates overseas, so cross-border co-operation is essential to combat spam delegates were told.
In 2001 only 10% of e-mail sent was considered spam but now well over 55% of all emails are spam, according to figures presented at the International Spam Enforcement Workshop held this week and organized by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the UK's Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
"Spammers hide behind the cloak of anonymity provided by the latest technology and the path from a spammer to a consumer's inbox typically crosses one border, if not several," said Deborah Majoras, chairwoman of the FTC.
Spam was more than just a nuisance as statistics show that more than half of it is now produced by scammers keen to con people out of cash or useful personal information, said John Vickers, OFT chairman.
Only more global co-operation will help stop the scourge of spam, say experts.
Taking Down The Alleged Spy Master. Sanford Wallace will take center stage this week as exhibit A in a federal crackdown on invasive online advertising software.
Today, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is expected to announce an intense new battle against the distributors of spyware.
Wallace, a former spammer, had a civil lawsuit filed against him last week. The lawsuit is the first of its kind, charging him with installing spyware, advertising and other software, on people's personal computers through his network of Web sites.
"Very much like with spam and the spam legislation last year, spyware can be fought through a combination of efforts: enforcement, legislation, technology and consumer education," said Dave Baker, an attorney for Internet service provider EarthLink, which has been an active participant in anti-spyware efforts. "No one thing cures the problem by itself."
The issue has been a strong focus for several legislators, including House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas.
"Spyware is to computers what an open window is to burglars," Barton said last week, following the passage of a bill authored by Rep. Mary Bono, R-Calif. "This will provide some real, sorely needed online protection for consumers."
Schmidt Takes Larger Role In Cybersecurity. The former "cybersecurity czar", Howard Schmidt, has agreed to play a larger part in the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-Cert) as an adviser.
Schmidt, who is currently the chief security officer of online auctioneer eBay, cooperates with Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute and that groups CERT Coordination Center. He was asked by the Department of Homeland Security to play a greater part in the cybersecurty field.
"I will take a more active role," Schmidt said. His role will probably help manage the communication between the privately held companies and the government.
"The pieces that are in place are going to require more activity and a more in-depth role that you can't do by meeting only once a quarter," he said.
Schmidt stressed that with his latest move, he's not "going back to government," but rather just help out government and private industry owners.
About the Author:
Jeremy Muncy is the editor of http://www.SecurityProNews.com.
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