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Q185216: XGEN: Explanation of Common Network Mail Abuse Phrases

Article: Q185216
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): 4.0,5.0,5.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 04-JUN-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5 
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SUMMARY
=======

This article outlines and defines the most common phrases used to describe
electronic mail abuse. Microsoft Exchange administrators that support Internet
mail or Network News may be interested in knowing these phrases.

The information in this article applies to the Internet Mail Connector, Internet
Mail Service, and the Internet News Service for the Exchange Server.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Electronic mail (from the Internet) abuse can cause system slow-downs, high
usage of network bandwidth, undesirable usage of hard disk storage, and general
annoyance for users by clogging their client inboxes.

The following terms and abbreviations are often used to describe different kinds
of network abuse:

- spam (slang): A generic term describing various forms of electronic mail
  abuse. A good general definition is as follows: "Spam is flooding the
  Internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the
  message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it."

  Source: http://spam.abuse.net/whatisspam.html

- EMP (Excessive Multi-Posting): The same article (or essentially the same
  article) posted an unacceptably high number of times to one or more
  newsgroups. This is seen by NNTP clients and received by the Internet News
  Service.

- CROSS-POSTING: A single message instance that is posted to multiple news
  groups. This is seen by NNTP clients and is received by the Internet News
  Service. CROSS-POSTING takes up only one message in News Server, but appears
  in more than one place. Cross-posting to relevant newsgroups is usually
  considered appropriate. Cross-posting a message that is not relevant to
  several newsgroups can be considered inappropriate.

- UBE (Unsolicited Bulk E-mail): E-mail with substantially identical content
  sent to many recipients who did not ask to receive it. This type of mail can
  be seen in Exchange or POP3 clients, and is delivered through the Internet
  Mail Service.

- UCE (Unsolicited Commercial E-mail): E-mail containing commercial information
  that has been sent to a recipient who did not ask to receive it. Most UBE is
  UCE.

- MMF (Make Money Fast): Usually chain letters or other mail that claims to be
  able to make the recipient a lot of money. May be fraudulent or scam.

- MLM (Multi-Level Marketing): A type of MMF scheme that includes sending money
  in the form of an "initial investment" and encourages recruitment of others.
  May be fraudulent or scam.

- MAILBOMB: Delivering large amounts of e-mail with the sole purpose of
  shutting down the recipients server or client, or to deny others legitimate
  access to the server.

More information can be found at the following sites on the World Wide Web:

  The Net Abuse FAQ at http://www.cybernothing.org/faqs/net-abuse-faq.html
  The Email Abuse FAQ at http://members.aol.com/emailfaq/emailfaq.html

And on USENET:

  news.admin.net-abuse.usenet
  news.admin.net-abuse.misc
  news.admin.net-abuse.bulletins
  news.admin.misc
  news.groups.questions
  news.answers

Note: The information in this article, including the World Wide Web pages listed
and USENET pointers are not provided or supported by Microsoft.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange550 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : :4.0,5.0,5.5
Issue type        : kbinfo

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