I've noticed that LQ.org is being bombarded with (one) spammer. I mean, spammers are nothing new, they've been around since the Internet was born. They are everywhere:

- MMORPG's such as WoW selling "money",

- on message boards going off-topic and annoying the hell out of us believing we will click on every link they post;

- on e-mails, selling things to enlarge our... stuff...

- on IRC and IM telling us to watch them naked on webcams...

The question is: Can they actually make any profit out of this? Are peoples (still) so naive regarding computers that they actually check the site(s) a spammer links to? Or are spammers the actual morons, who believe that _they_ will get free stuff when linking to some lame sites full of spyware?

I hate spammers, most of you do it too, but the question is, are they actually earning money?.

I believe they are just lifeless morons, but I could be wrong... If you have any experience as being a spammer I'd love to hear it.

Note: I am not planning to work partial time as a spammer, but I wonder exactly what kind of person they are...

I don't know what it's like to be a spammer but I think given the shear volume of spam they put out there, there has to be some who fall for it, otherwise I don't think they'd have any incentive to do what they do.

My 2cents.

Dunno about the money
but they probably have lots of friends
or at least




lots of people who would like to meet them

people who would like to share something with them
like ....

a knuckle sandwhich


floppy

According to this BBC news article, "the sheer number of spam mail sent means that even tiny response rates, reportedly 0.0001%, means junk mailers turn a profit."

To be honest, I don't see it very often these days. Touch wood!

*touches wood*

Hey what do you know, your from Southampton. I've applied for uni there and been accepted. Will be there at start of term in October. How's the night life there? People tell me it's pretty bad compared to the likes of London, well obviously, but it can't be that bad right?

ps: Mega Man, no thread hijack intended.

Actually, I work at the university at the National Oceanography Centre. Night life's OK I suppose - I've never been that much of a party animal, but there's certainly some good clubs in the centre of town. It depends on what you're into! I'm more of a pub man, and there's some good ones near me

Sorry Mega Man X

edit: If you're doing Computer Science, and you're doubly lucky, perhaps Sir Tim Berners Lee will lecture you!

Actually I am doing computer science, it'd be real cool if that happens.

Stop the hijack you two

PS : Sorry Mega Man X for this hijack

Back to topic, I have read that most of the spammers are well off in terms of financial base, and it seems to stay that way for a long time. Personally I would like to bust some balls. :fiery:

Thanks all for the replies. No problems about going off-topic. I can't remember how many times I've done that myself

The link provided by pwc101 is very interesting . I must say, the amount of spam I get in my e-mail accounts is nearly none. That includes gmail and hotmail. Either the guys behind those e-mails are doing a great job preventing spam or the numbers of spammers has reduced considerably.

Well, spammers really annoy me. A lot. And as shrikant.odugoudar mentioned, this is not going to change anytime soon. I still believe that a substantial amount of spammers are morons. More or less like those "friends" some of us have who loves to send e-mail chains to help somebody dying somewhere in the World. As if that would help by any means whatsoever... Oh well

what can the spammers do so much so that your life is that miserable ...

i dont have problems with spammers of all sorts(not only computer related) and as i have mentioned , this can be trained rigourously , preferably at a younger age ... and you wont even stop by or turning your head back and "notice" them ...


//spammers(of all sorts) are poor souls ...

.

spam spam spam spam spam spammmmerty spam!!!
wonderfull SPAM!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ7YedEopp4

No, there's not that much money in it. Most just follow suit of big gov't at your doorstep. Just to be able to say they've done a little something.

There's a little flow in money if you can interrupt and direct someone's habits; ie, surfing and hijacking.

Most, though, seem thouroughly satisfied that they can talk about they "Own" someone's desktop.

Shouldn't that be "pwn"?

Don't know, unless that's terminus for pawn, as in zombie server.

I do know some prefer skating for their activities. Risky though, considering, some like myself chuck at bandwidth all the time.