net abuse : Java Glossary

1. Viruses and worms sent via email in attachments.
2. Email spam — ads, pornography or other unwanted junk mail.
3. Wildly off-topic posts to newsgroups, usually ads or pornography, but sometimes political.

For email viruses and worms, you need a virus checker such as Norton Antivirus or Panda Antivirus. You can get by without one if you simply delete all incoming attachments without ever opening them and never use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express which will often automatically open attachments.

For email spam, see my essay on spam.

For newsgroup abuse, view the message header. In Agent you do this by hitting H. You will see many fields among them ones like this:

Each of these lines gives you a clue, especially X-Complaints-To, as to someone you can complain to. For this particular message you could try these email addresses you see hidden that gibberish:

• see@mindprod.com
• abuse@shaw.ca

• shaw.ca
• mindprod.com
• 4ax.com

• 24.68.232.84
• 24.64.223.206

When you complain, enclose a complete copy of the offending newsgroup post along with the complete header. It contains clues to help track down the culprit. use the subject "newsgroup abuse complaint" so your message will less likely be dismissed as spam. Don’t feel shy about sending your complaint to as many parties as you can find. Most of the mail will bounce. Most will be ignored. You need shotgun approach to get any action.

You can also post a newsgroup comment to the offending message listing the email addresses of where you sent your complaints and suggest others do likewise to build the pressure and possibly mildly intimidate the abuser.