However, although Chrysler is bearing the brunt of blame and negative publicity, the lascivious missive didn't actually come from within Chrysler. Any advanced E-mail user could have used his or her home PC in order to send spam compliments of Chrysler. Hundreds of books tell how to exploit E-mail capabilities of other companies. Chrysler's computer gurus know little about this porno poet, except that he or she likely has an electronic mail account with CompuServe, one of the largest paid E-mail providers in the United States. Chrysler, which uses a computer system that provides maximum security against hackers, isn't the only company that has found its name on spam.
All companies are vulnerable to hack attacks.
This is a daily occurrence for big and small businesses. The Chrissie case illustrates a problem already occupying lawmakers. America Online's associate general counsel, Randall Boe, told U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday that junk E-mail is costly for U.S. businesses and consumers. Sen. Conrad Burns, a Montana Republican who chairs the subcommittee, has said he may introduce legislation to crack down on it. In the case of Chrysler and Chrissie, the perpetrator could have been paid to distribute the E-mail as widely as possible.