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[Chevalier-Ange]

/sigh...In Real Life eh?  How typically Canadian 

Copied from The Toronto Sun September 30, 2007.

See no e-vil

Why are the feds so slow to battle the spam scourge?
By THANE BURNETT, SUN MEDIA

Spam Nation!

Canada has meekly become an international haven for some of the worst spammers on Earth. And the Canadian government, say national and international watchdogs, seems unprepared to finally kick trash e-mailers to the curb or the courts.

"(Canada's) federal government is not doing much but talking a hell of a lot," says Richard Cox, chief information officer for the European-based Spamhaus Project, a not-for-profit organization of IT professionals that monitors the sewer-like outpouring of global spam.

While a spokesman for Industry Canada says the country was ranked 17th on a "Dirty Dozen Spam-Relaying Countries List" last year, Spamhaus currently has us ranked eighth in the world as a haven for spammers. It says Canada is a comfortable home to spam gangs, including a notorious outfit based on the West coast and others in the Toronto area.

Cox's organization estimates 80% of the world's spam is sent out by 200 known spam operations -- six of which work inside Canada. Our country may have made it even higher on the list of top 10 havens, he notes, if it weren't for the vigilant work of companies such as Bell Canada.

Canada needs to follow the example of countries such as Australia, which have enacted tough, clearly written anti-spam laws, says Cox.

In fact, in May 2005, the Canadian government welcomed tough recommendations outlined by a federal task force on spam -- calling for "new, targeted legislation, as well as more rigorous enforcement, which would strengthen the legal and regulatory weapons that Canada could use in the global battle against spam."

Two years later -- lifetimes for spammers -- Canada is now the only G8 country without anti-spam legislation. While the federal government maintains current laws are potent enough to target spammers, the Internet bottom-feeders continue to go about their work with, largely, complete immunity. And more than a nuisance, their unwanted e-mail -- far different than the postings which arrive after you've signed up on legitimate websites -- cost the global economy $50 billion each year in wasted time and lost productivity. They also, say experts, jeopardize the public's faith in e-commerce and tarnish the names of established corporations whose identities are being pirated.

While the feds maintain 75% of e-mail is spam, one security company found that on one day in August 96.9% of all e-mail was trash, and a credit reference agency has charted a 4,000% increase in the past few years in "phishing" -- scammers hoping to score valuable personal information. Many international trackers say more than 90% of current e-mail is junk.

"Yes, spam is a problem -- it congests the Internet and other communications networks, thereby increasing cost to business and consumers," notes Caroline Grondin, spokesman for Industry Canada. "One thing that all stake-holders agree on are the intangible costs, such as the resulting erosion of trust and confidence."

Among the solid steps the federal government has taken to deal with their own spam is to add more bandwidth, just to accommodate it.

She wouldn't say the government is preparing to follow the lead of other G8 countries, adding only: "At the present time, based on other countries' experience, the government is considering what remains to be done in terms of legislation and enhancing law enforcement."

Waiting has not proven to be a wise course in dealing with the Internet's black plague. In January 2004, Bill Gates declared "two years from now, spam will be solved."

Today, Mike Eisen, chief legal officer at Microsoft Canada Co., says while technology has made important advances, "I don't think we are nearly as far as we should be. It's much more than a nuisance." He said any attempt to kill spam has to come from many fronts -- technology to users to providers to countries sharing information.

"I'm disappointed that the federal government hasn't introduced legislation," Eisen says.

He believes the government has shown a lack of resources and will to wade into the muck, warning: "The world is leaving us behind."

Experts say existing laws could crack down on spammers, but officials rarely step in.

"It's worse than ever," says Philippa Lawson, director of the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic at the University of Ottawa.

At a time when banks and businesses are trying to convince the public the Internet is a safe place to send and receive information, junk e-mail drills holes in people's confidence.

The Australians and Europeans are taking out the trash, she says, asking, "Why not Canada?"

As part of two working groups involved in the federal spam task force, Lawson also wants the government to back consumers and service providers in the right to sue.

"Empower the victims," she says. "The federal government has done nothing. The significance is (their) silence." Though when they do speak, there is sometimes irony in the means. Industry Canada answered Sun Media's request for an interview, by doing it through e-mail.

---

SPAM ORIGINS

The 10 worst spam origin countries, according to the international anti-spam watchdog Spamhaus:

10: Italy

9: France

8: Canada

7: Japan

6: Germany

5: South Korea

4: United Kingdom

3: Russia

2: China

1: United States

Ugh...so embarrassed...Congrats to our Aussie friends...their name isn't even on the list.

[Mike Caron]

The ironic thing is that I got 4 or 5 spam emails just while reading this >_>

Gmail filters out 99% of my spam, and it doesn't really bother me a whole lot. But, then again, that's the attitude that's causing the government to take this stance.

What we all need to do is send large amounts of protest emails to the Prime Minister. I think I could create a program that fires off a few each second...

[Chevalier-Ange]

Agreed.  I have a few filters running as well, but they still get through at an annoyingly alarming rate. 

Hmm...but then again, does the Prime Minister ever listen to anything the people say? ...

"Oh Spamada..."

[Gnaborretni]

You're assuming that you know Harper's email address.

Do you?

As well, I doubt that Harper is even the first person to check his email, even if his email is hidden. Some aide probably sifts through his email first, and as such, you would be pissing off a governmental aide, not the PM himself.

[OnewingedDragon]

It got so bad with my old yahoo address that I jumped at the invite to gmail.

[BlackCat]

I haven't got spam in like a million years

[Gnaborretni]

Actually, spam has declined for me recently.

My spam box had over 1400 spam emails, and now it's under 1100.

I miss my 1337 spam.

[Chevalier-Ange]

I haven't got spam in like a million years

*points to story in first post*

Yeah...must me nice 

[BlackCat]

it is actually. but all my freinds insist on clicking the reply all button... >.>

[OnewingedDragon]

it is actually. but all my freinds insist on clicking the reply all button... >.>

Beat them. With a spoon.

I never get more than one or two spam in my junk mail inbox every few days anymore.

[RedAxie]

I used to get no spam, ever...
And then I signed up for ONE thing.
Poof.
I get like 5 emails every 2 days...

[Chevalier-Ange]

I get about 20 a day, and thats at least 90% filtered  :'(

[Ryudan Sanzou]

I checked my mail yesterday and im at 800 now >_> 95% of which is spam. =<

[WhiteRoxie]

I get spam from one place and it goes straight into Junk Mail. Wait, what am I talking about? Every email I get from Leo is spam. XD

By the way, I find that article hilarious. Nearly as hilarious as the Aus Govt.'s anti-children-on-the-internet campaign.

[BlackCat]

I get spam from one place and it goes straight into Junk Mail. Wait, what am I talking about? Every email I get from Leo is spam. XD

By the way, I find that article hilarious. Nearly as hilarious as the Aus Govt.'s anti-children-on-the-internet campaign.

>.> it is not spam. just emails i write out of boredom >.>

"talking online can lead to STALKING online"

bwahahaha