The first thing I do every morning when I wake up is head for my computer. It holds the secrets to my day. I read my e-mails from several accounts, check my schedule on my Outlook calendar and even find out how much money I can spend that day from my bank's Web site. I'd be lost without my computer.
However, I have one huge frustration - privacy invasion. In the last three months alone I have had the privacy of my personal computer invaded in so many ways I am starting to feel like it is public property instead of my own property.
My home page has been changed without my consent. My search engine was set for Internet Explorer and was changed to some search engine I never knew existed. Hidden programs have infiltrated my computer and set it to randomly open windows to casino ads and porn sites.
My e-mail is constantly bombarded with ads from companies that claim I have "opted" into their e-mail list. As if I would waste my time asking someone to send me e-mails that are deleted as fast as they are received. Can I have a little orange juice with that spam at 6:30 in the morning?
Since I have my own server, one of my e-mail addresses is not related to any of the big name e-mail sites like Yahoo, Hotmail or America Online. But those nasty little computer geeks have even invaded that part of my privacy by using my server to send out e-mail ads. They get tons of money from the dupes who actually buy into their money-making schemes, and I get to have my account flooded by all of the undeliverable e-mail. Isn't that just peachy?
My biggest frustration comes from the pop-up messages I receive when connected to the Internet. A friend of mine explained the technical aspects of this phenomenon to me, but I don't care about how it happens. All I care about is that it does happen. I get pop-ups about all kinds of stuff. I have received several pop-ups inviting me to learn how to enlarge my penis. Last time I checked, I didn't even have a penis.
I even get pop-ups telling me how to not get pop-ups. Now that is frustration to the nth degree. If I could, I'd reach through the lines that connect me to those privacy thieves and pour my orange juice all over their geeky little heads. But alas, I have no such super powers.
Is it really necessary to feel victimized in your own home at your own computer? Luckily I know someone who helped restore my computer to its original state, but that doesn't stop the spamming or the pop-ups and it doesn't protect me from future invasion.
Each state has its own anti-spam laws to protect people from this type of privacy invasion. Illinois passed its first law in 1999. In California, outgoing Gov. Gray Davis recently signed a bill that made a tough stand on spamming with fines from $1,000 per e-mail and up to $1 million per mass-mailing incident. However, the truth of the matter is it is very hard to catch and prosecute these privacy thieves.
How about a do-not-call list for computers? As a matter of fact, the U.S. Senate passed legislation last week that would increase penalties for spammers on a national level and would start a do-not-spam list. Anyone have a pen handy?
Although spamming is only one of the many invasions of privacy on my computer and although this new legislation has been too long in coming, I have to admit I'm quite relieved to see help is on the way. Until then, I will try to go about my daily routine without allowing those privacy thieves to get me too frustrated.
However, I do not intend to share my OJ or my toast with them - unless they like OJ as shampoo.
About the Author: Stella Ramsaroop is a western world traveler, a life-long student, a wanna-be stargazer, and an Aquarius in all its forms (if you know what that means). Her articles emphasize the importance of the continued development and protection of gender equality in all aspects of a woman's life.
Visit Stella's Website at http://www.newsparade.com to read her current articles and to contribute your thoughts.
Although there still seem to be some differences among the... Read More
Microsoft scores one for the good guysScott Richter, the self-proclaimed... Read More
Google is engaged in a war. It is a war... Read More
The Vandals are coming! And this time they're after your... Read More
1. Ignore Spam EmailDo not open an unsolicited email. Spammers... Read More
A blacklist, as the name implies, is a list of... Read More
While we all agree that there`s way too much spamming/junk-mailing... Read More
It's no secret that the US economy has slowed down,... Read More
While we all admit that unsolicited commercial email is a... Read More
When you receive an email telling you about a virus,... Read More
I. BACKGROUNDThe CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (Controlling the Assault of... Read More
I must be the luckiest person alive! My inbox is... Read More
We receive so much information on the Internet, especially via... Read More
Spam, as defined in the context of computers, the Internet... Read More
A friend of mine received a chilling email message from... Read More
Will other spammers take heed? Don't count on it.Jeremy Jaynes... Read More
A friend asked me: I don't get it. Why do... Read More
6 August, 2004: Polesoft Inc., home of Professional anti spam... Read More
Even being as careful as possible with my email address,... Read More
Spam is out of control! I guess that would be... Read More
There are hundreds of thousands of people who are trying... Read More
In today's spam-filled email world, it's sometimes VERY difficult to... Read More
Why do so many people think I need to take... Read More
You are familiar with the software applications that you run... Read More
You all tear your hair out in frustration every time... Read More
What comes to your mind when you think about your... Read More
While the Federal Trade Commission is busy fighting over definitions... Read More
We all hate spam and get way too much of... Read More
You must be one of them experiencing a lot of... Read More
Block Spam and Other Email Threats From Entering Your Gateway... Read More
Over the past few years you've all become familiar with... Read More
Marketers usually think of anti-spam tactics as 'how to prevent'... Read More
It seems like the volume of email spam has doubled... Read More
As the flood of spam increases end users are looking... Read More
You are familiar with the software applications that you run... Read More
About a month ago I had the privilege of giving... Read More
Do you like spam? No, I'm not kidding. Everybody knows... Read More
There are hundreds of thousands of people who are trying... Read More
Spam filters are responsible for deleting a high percentage of... Read More
Very often SPAMMERS take advantage of catch-all email setup on... Read More
Effectively stopping spam over the long-term requires much more than... Read More
I must be the luckiest person alive! My inbox is... Read More
Email is the quintessential business communication tool, so when it... Read More
Am I Just Being Paranoid Or Are The Robots Out... Read More
Below is a letter I wrote to the following organizations:S.H.U.... Read More
We receive so much information on the Internet, especially via... Read More
Q: I am so sick of all the spam that... Read More
6 August, 2004: Polesoft Inc., home of Professional anti spam... Read More
Spam is annoying. Period. Why people would want to send... Read More
Spam is out of control! I guess that would be... Read More
Each day we all face the same challenge. Spam. It... Read More
One of our Australian clients sent out a campaign using... Read More
The lifeblood of the spammer is email. They need to... Read More
E-mails now have a connection back to their servers. I... Read More
Are you getting too much spam? We all are, but... Read More
It's a nightmare isn't it? You fire up your email... Read More
It seems like the volume of email spam has doubled... Read More
With SPAM being such a problem it might seem the... Read More
If you are buried in SPAM then you're not alone.... Read More
My friends in the web hosting business have recently informed... Read More
No. I'm not talking here about the outdoor activity enjoyed... Read More
I'm sure you find spam just as frustrating and annoying... Read More
A Privacy Policy can be defined as the policy under... Read More
1. Ignore Spam EmailDo not open an unsolicited email. Spammers... Read More
A hearty welcome to all the spam fighting filters and... Read More
Although there still seem to be some differences among the... Read More
Spam Blocking |