Such stories have become common, as junk e-mail, known as spam, has invaded cyberspace. Perhaps most frustrating for those who find their e-mail boxes clogged with pitches for pyramid schemes, merchandise and Web sites is the difficulty of fighting back. Spammers are as adept at concealing their e-mail addresses as they are at finding yours. While lawmakers develop legislation aimed at curbing spam around the country, Internet experts at Iowa State and elsewhere are looking for technical solutions. Campus computer experts also have taken steps to keep faculty, staff and student addresses off spam mail lists.
Spammers typically use special software that mines Web sites for e-mail addresses.
A more drastic anti-spam measure that has been employed at Iowa State and elsewhere is to simply turn away all mail coming into the university from an Internet domain. When you block a site, you block all the legitimate mail too. Bowman added that the ISU Code of Computer Ethics prohibits use of university computing facilities for spamming. Those who violate this policy could be charged through the university judicial system. Protect your e-mail address .