#151...

Butterfly Please Fly Away

As the war against spam heats up and the big online players begin taking measures to protect their users from unsolicited email, we're finding that at least some of the tactics seem rather ludicrous -- perhaps even deceptive.

I'm sure you've seen the TV ad where MSN's blue butterfly guy stands at the door of the user's house, pulling a handle to dispatch spam charlatans, one by one, through a trap door. It's part of a series of ad pitches where the "butterfly" protects new subscribers and their families from the evils of the web. The ads are engaging and convincing.

It's interesting to note however that in the past few months, MSN's domain is turning up more and more in the list of frequent spammers. In January they overtook AOL. So it would seem they protect their own members, but cannot curb the spam originating on their service.

Yesterday I get this letter from a reader:

Fri, 7 Mar 2003

Dear Fred, 

Interesting: I played an MSN game online after 
installing windows XP and now this is the fourth 
email I've gotten since signing up for the game 
feature!!!  They look like viruses in 
the attachments.

-----------------------------------------------

Return-Path: 
Received: from smtp.email.msn.com 
From: walker
Subject: Fw: Interesting Love to enjoy !
Date: Fri,07 Mar 2003 09:49:06 PM
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400

Attached one Gift for u..

walker

----- Original Message -----
From: "friends" 
To: < new_user@email.msn.com >
Sent: Fri,07 Mar 2003 09:49:06 PM
Subject: Interesting Love to enjoy !

Enjoy this friendship Screen Saver and Check 
ur friends circle...

Send this screensaver from www.friendsearch.org to 
everyone you consider a FRIEND, even if it means sending 
it back to the person who sent it to you. If it comes 
back to you, then you'll know you have a circle 
of friends.

* To remove yourself from this mailing list, point 
  your browser to:
  http://friendsearch.org/remove?freescreensaver
* Enter your email address (new_user@email.msn.com) 
  in the field provided and click "Unsubscribe".

OR...

* Reply to this message with the word "REMOVE" 
in the subject line.

This message was sent to address new_user@email.msn.com
X-PMG-Recipient: new_user@email.msn.com
<<<>>> <<<>>> <<<>>> <<<>>> <<<>>> <<<>>> <<<>>> 
Content-Type: application/octet-stream; name=shakeit.scr

So now, when I see that ad on TV, I suspect I now know where that blue butterfly is sending each incoming spam -- on to another new MSN user.

I wonder if the blue butterfly treats all new users like this.

Go forth, be creative, 'til next time -- Good day!

or: The Design & Publishing Center
The Association of Apple Computer Users & Groups

Fred Showker is a designer, consultant, writer and speaker. He has published 60-Second Window and DT&G Magazine online since 1990, and is director of The Graphic Design Network which includes The Design & Publishing Center at www.Graphic-Design.com. (1994) He was a co-founder of both The User Group Forum on America Online (1987), The User Group Network at www.User-Groups.net, (1994) and the Designers' Bookshelf (1996) He originally founded Showker Graphic Arts & Design in 1972, has been an avid computer activist and supporter since 1984.

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