SPAM

SPAM email is defined as unsolicited bulk email.

Unsolicited refers to the fact that the recipient hasn’t granted permission for their email address to be used.
Bulk defines that the email is only one of a large collection, all with almost identical content.

What's the origin of the term "SPAM"

For lovers of British classical comedy, the term SPAM, used in matters of email delivery, was derived from a Monty Python sketch where customers, trying to order breakfast, found every meal included Spam—a specific brand of cooked pork.

Is sending SPAM illegal?

Every ISP across the world bans the sending of SPAM. The general consensus is that the activity is against the law. Still, given the variations in legislation across the globe, it’s difficult to determine the jurisdiction of each law and what exactly defines SPAM in each case.

Most email clients have inbuilt filters to protect their recipients from SPAM.
ESPs also monitor various blacklists and utilize personalized filters to block suspicious messages, domains, and addresses, before they even arrive at their clients’ devices. For additional protection, you could incorporate third-party anti-SPAM filters to create an extra level of security.

How much of the world’s sent email is SPAM?

According to a Cisco Talos report, 85% of all daily emails are SPAM. And according to Forbes, 98% of those messages are trying to sell us products or services.

What are phishing emails?

Most SPAM is marketing based—trying to sell recipients something, whether their purchase is legitimate or a scam. However, a smaller number of those messages are utilized for phishing and email fraud.

Phishing emails are designed to part users from their sensitive data, many of which happily hand over credit card and bank details, believing the requests or prompts to be genuine. Phishing emails will often redirect the recipient to a cloned or fake, yet highly convincing website, where they are requested to enter login details and payment information.