| Disabling Windows Messenger Service | | | | scammed on the Internet. |
| Pop up spammers are exploiting a feature of the | | | | Is sending spam illegal in Singapore? |
| Microsoft Windows operating systems known as | | | | Many of the activities associated with the more |
| Messenger Service. Despite the name, Windows | | | | serious forms of spamming are already illegal in |
| Messenger Service doesnt have anything to do | | | | Singapore. For example, it is a criminal offence to |
| with instant messaging. It is designed to provide | | | | engage in e-mail fraud or to obstruct the use of a |
| users on a local- or wide-area computer network | | | | computer through spamming. Sending spam that |
| with messages from the network administrator. | | | | contains false or misleading advertising or product |
| For example, a companys network administrator | | | | claims or that contains pornography is also |
| might send a message to all its users that the | | | | unlawful. On the other hand, spamming per se is |
| companys network will be shutting down in five | | | | currently legal. To close this gap, the Singapore |
| minutes. If your home computer is connected | | | | government is proposing to enact an anti-spam |
| only to the Internet, you may not have any | | | | law. The proposed law will balance the interests of |
| practical uses for Windows Messenger Service. If | | | | businesses seeking to advertise via e-mails |
| your computer is on a business or home network, | | | | legitimately and the interest of e-mail users not to |
| however, shutting off Messenger Service might | | | | be deluged by unwanted e-mail solicitations. It will |
| not be the best approach. Your network should | | | | also give ISPs, who are the main victims of spam, |
| be protected by a firewall. Disabling the | | | | a right of legal recourse against spammers. |
| messenger service will prevent the possibility of | | | | You Can Stop Spams |
| pop up spam. | | | | And with some of the larger service providers, |
| Prevent Spams Today! | | | | selling accounts to spammer after spammer |
| NEVER buy anything from a company that | | | | seemed to be good business to their |
| spams. Don't visit their sites or ask for more | | | | management. A far better advertising deal for |
| information. (If you respond to their spams, | | | | them and their users, than all those bundled post |
| you're encouraging them to continue spamming -- | | | | card decks put together. If it were not, a trivial |
| they only need a tiny fraction of responses to be | | | | mail filter placed in these service providers' mail |
| profitable.) | | | | gateways would have stopped all that outgoing |
| There's another reason not to buy anything from | | | | spam mail long ago. Clearly with them, it is only |
| a company that spams: over 95% of spam | | | | the volume of our complaints that make a |
| offers are scams! In fact, not responding to spam | | | | difference. |
| is the single most effective way to not get | | | | |