Summary of Spam Email Tactics

• Definition of Spam:

  • Spam refers to unsolicited and often annoying emails, primarily aimed at accessing the recipient's money or personal information.

• Types of Spam:

  • Marketing Emails:
    • Unsolicited messages that may result from user actions such as online purchases or newsletter sign-ups.
    • Companies may acquire user information through purchased lists, leading to mailings without consent.
  • Less Legitimate Offers:
    • Emails promoting unapproved medications and other questionable products.
  • Phishing Attempts:
    • Emails designed to deceive recipients into providing sensitive information (e.g., passwords, credit card details).
  • Malware Emails:
    • Messages encouraging the download of harmful attachments allowing unauthorized access to the recipient's computer.
    • These aim to extract sensitive financial or personal data, potentially facilitating ransomware attacks.

• Evolution of Spam Tactics:

  • Historically centered on viruses, spam tactics have evolved due to improved computer security (e.g., auto-updating).
  • Current strategies focus on social engineering, wherein spammers impersonate legitimate entities, exploiting human vulnerabilities rather than technological weaknesses.