Identifying SPAM

Opt-in and Opt-out Bulk Mailing lists
Bulk email can be split into two categories: Opt-in and Opt-out. Opt-in is email that you requested (or at least agreed to receive), and this is what legitimate bulk emailers use Opt-out is a system whereby the sender finds your address other than your direct request (harvesting addresses from web-sites or public discussion forums), then asks you to request removal if you do not want to receive email. Spydernet classifies opt-out email as SPAM.

Did you request the SPAM ?
In general, email from reputable companies are opt-in, and if you receive email purporting to be from a company you would normally consider to be legitimate, you should consider carefully the possibility that you did agree to receive it sometime in the past. If you are sure you did not, then it may be someone attempting to appear to be a representative of the company in question, but who actually does not have the consent of the company. Once in a while, a large, otherwise reputable organization will "accidentally" send out some unsolicited email. The main domain-name registry, Network Solutions, is a notable example of this. It has in the past sent outright SPAM and has been widely criticized for this action among anti-SPAM enthusiasts. If you are sure that you did not request the email, then you are well within your rights to report it as SPAM.

Hoaxes and form letters
Often, people receive email warning them of a dire threat due to new viruses or offering amazing rewards for continuing a chain letter. Even innocent seeming emails like petitions can circulate for years. Any email asking you to make and distribute copies of it should be viewed very skeptically. However, this type of email is not normally considered SPAM. Usually the sender is an acquaintance - not someone you want to report as a SPAMMER. It is much better to simply reply to the sender and explain the situation to them - "this email is a hoax, please don't send me this type of thing" - or whatever applies. Be sure to reply only to the sender of the email, not to the other recipients as well.

Reporting SPAM

SPAM should be reported to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Spydernet will investigate reports that contain the following:

• Subject of message with complete headers. If you do not know how to obtain complete headers please go to: http://SPAMcop.net/fom-serve/cache/19.html
• Complete body of offending email.
• Any other details described briefly that pertain to the incident.

Spydernet is serious about dealing with SPAMMERS. If after investigation and due process the user is deemed a chronic SPAMMER, they will be removed from the Spydernet network. Many Spydernet customers act as ISP to their customers. In such cases Spydernet will advise these customers how to deal with users. If it is determined the Spydernet customer is a "haven" for SPAMMERS or is associated with its SPAMMING customers, the user will be removed from the Spydernet network. If domains on a customers server have past the 1st and 2nd warning stage and the complaints continue, we will consider that the customer is either associated with, or is a haven to SPAMMERS, and remove them from the Spydernet network.