The ^Bitter  Network Administrator

SPAM and the Workplace!
by Tracy Acord

Like everyone else in the world, I hate SPAM.  I would rather have my testes nailed to a tree trunk and be pushed over backwards.

Everyday at my office, I don protective clothing (Shield, Sword and PC) and prepare to fight the hordes of SPAM that attempt to get to their perspective host.  I read the log files, look at the headers, then track the company to find out if the SPAM company has one IP address, many or an entire subnet. then its BLOCK, BLOCK AND BLOCK.  Its amazing how many companies I have
blocked.  I've called the companies, emailed and yet, they find another way to send SPAM.

Yes, I use ORDB and all the other pay sites to help filter SPAM, and it still gets through.  I've tried to educate our staff about SPAM and not to use their company email address for personal items on the internet. (Yes, I'm getting somewhere with this story).

Et tu coworker?  Yes, they are the number one cause of SPAM.  Yes, the dagger runs deeps when you find out the truth.  Look at your Web logs (for those who log all activity in and out of your company).  I filter web pages, but we have a few users who like free items (but fail to read the fine
print!).  Nothing is really free on the internet (Except the cool pocket protectors from Doug! And those cost the price of sending in and article).

After two months and around 57 hours, I have blocked or rejected 99% of all the SPAM. But again, beware of the backstabbing coworkers.  After all the work, one of the major contributors of SPAM in our company, went back out on the internet, downloaded a free weather program and the first thing it says is "Who would you like as your sponsor and what is your email address?"  The
next day, we were slammed with thousands of emails.  All because of an idiot worker who likes free things i.e.:  "Loose weight fast", "Weight Watchers", "Free quote of the day".  When I confronted the worker, their only comment was "I don't care what you do!"  It's amazing how one person defeated all of my efforts in less than five minutes.

Never fear, there is a cure.  Change the users email, re-education, then document.  If it continues (and the user is non production) FIRE!  If they are productive, just remove their email (or set their email to work with the companies domain only and remove their internet access)

I've come to realize that most users are not beyond the use of an Etch-A-Sketch (Even then, they need instructions and tech support). Alas, my friends, never give up the fight!  Just remember, when your tired of the battle, just sing the famous song by Monty Python:

Spam! Spam! Spam! Spam!
Lovely Spaaam! Wonderful Spaaam!
Lovely Spaaam! Wonderful Spam.
Spa-a-a-a-a-a-a-am.
Spa-a-a-a-a-a-a-am.
Spa-a-a-a-a-a-a-am.
Spa-a-a-a-a-a-a-am.
Lovely Spaaam! (Lovely Spam!)
Lovely Spaaam! (Lovely Spam!)
Lovely Spaaam!
Spaaam, Spaaam, Spaaam, Spaaaaaam!

Tracy Acord
Director of IT
(Undisclosed Company)

TracyAcord@Thenetworkadministrator.com