Comments on: Users To Blame For Spam http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/ The usability blog of John S. Rhodes Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:38:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: bsfdsferte http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-122335 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:55:41 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-122335 <strong>bsfdsferte...</strong> bsfdsferte... bsfdsferte…

bsfdsferte…

]]> by: Anonymous http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10652 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10652 I recently almost clicked the unsubscribe link in an email and I <b>never</b> click that link. If a person who's been using the WWW for a while can almost do it, people who have no clue about the techniques spammers use, they'll definitely click the link. They'll probably be thinking, Hmm, they're so nice. They're letting me unsubscribe. Next thing you know, some expert will be telling us that the reason for all spam is because you have an email address. -- <a href="http://allaboutusers.blogspot.com">Percy</a> I recently almost clicked the unsubscribe link in an email and I never click that link. If a person who’s been using the WWW for a while can almost do it, people who have no clue about the techniques spammers use, they’ll definitely click the link. They’ll probably be thinking, Hmm, they’re so nice. They’re letting me unsubscribe.

Next thing you know, some expert will be telling us that the reason for all spam is because you have an email address.

– Percy

]]> by: Anonymous http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10653 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10653 Blaming the user is the cheapest short-term payoff technique in the tech business. You don't have to hire an interaction designer when the user is at fault. You don't have to rethink the topography of the internet when they user is at fault. Blaming the user is the cheapest short-term payoff technique in the tech business. You don’t have to hire an interaction designer when the user is at fault. You don’t have to rethink the topography of the internet when they user is at fault.

]]> by: Anonymous http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10654 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10654 <p>The problem is that after years of this crap, we should <i>know</i> that most unsubscribe links in spam are bogus. They don't work, or the spammer doesn't honor them, or the spammer honors them and then turns around and sells your address to someone else. This has been tested. I'm not the only one who's created a new pristine address, used it only to fill in unsubscribe forms, and watched the spam roll in.</p> <p>Add in malware that hijacks your system via browser attacks, and clicking on links in unsolicited email becomes dangerous. Most email-based viruses need people to open unexpected attacments -- something we've been telling people not to do for, what, 7 years now? -- and they still do it.</p> <p>I can accept accidents, victims of fiendishly clever phishing attacks, and mistakes by newbies, but when people who have had plenty of opportunities to learn continue to do things they know are dangerous, <b>a better comparison might be drunk driving</b> -- something else that people do despite knowing it puts everyone at risk.</p> <p>--<a href="http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/">Kelson</a></p> The problem is that after years of this crap, we should know that most unsubscribe links in spam are bogus. They don’t work, or the spammer doesn’t honor them, or the spammer honors them and then turns around and sells your address to someone else. This has been tested. I’m not the only one who’s created a new pristine address, used it only to fill in unsubscribe forms, and watched the spam roll in.

Add in malware that hijacks your system via browser attacks, and clicking on links in unsolicited email becomes dangerous. Most email-based viruses need people to open unexpected attacments — something we’ve been telling people not to do for, what, 7 years now? — and they still do it.

I can accept accidents, victims of fiendishly clever phishing attacks, and mistakes by newbies, but when people who have had plenty of opportunities to learn continue to do things they know are dangerous, a better comparison might be drunk driving — something else that people do despite knowing it puts everyone at risk.

–Kelson

]]> by: John http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10655 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10655 This isn't about learning, it is about "bait and switch" and user expectations. Power users are going to be safe but novice users are being exploited. Further, users are being blamed for the malicious actions of others. This isn’t about learning, it is about “bait and switch” and user expectations. Power users are going to be safe but novice users are being exploited. Further, users are being blamed for the malicious actions of others.

]]> by: Anonymous http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10656 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10656 As I said, I can understand newbies making mistakes like this. And in the case of unsubscribe links, the messages have been mixed (some places *have* recommended opting out of everything you see).<br /> <br /> But I don't think this is all beginners, and there are some things you really should pick up, like the fact that buying products advertised in spam will just keep the spammers in business. That's not technical knowledge, it's a story that plays out on the TV news every time some group calls for a boycott of some company.<br /> <br /> Yes, fake unsubscribe links prey on naivete, and the spammers are *more* to blame. But you don't have to become a power user to learn that many of them don't work. This isn't parallel parking, executing a perfect three-point turn, or changing your own oil, this is learning to tell road signs from billboards.<br /> <br /> Assigning blame isn't an either-or choice. Spammers get most of it, because they're actively exploiting it. Novices get very little of it, because they've been tricked into helping out. But people who should know better but remain wilfully ignorant ought to get *some* of the blame when they open the latest virus (despite being told "Don't open anything that says XYZ!"), click on the "Install spyware now!" link, etc.<br /> <br /> --Kelson As I said, I can understand newbies making mistakes like this. And in the case of unsubscribe links, the messages have been mixed (some places *have* recommended opting out of everything you see).

But I don’t think this is all beginners, and there are some things you really should pick up, like the fact that buying products advertised in spam will just keep the spammers in business. That’s not technical knowledge, it’s a story that plays out on the TV news every time some group calls for a boycott of some company.

Yes, fake unsubscribe links prey on naivete, and the spammers are *more* to blame. But you don’t have to become a power user to learn that many of them don’t work. This isn’t parallel parking, executing a perfect three-point turn, or changing your own oil, this is learning to tell road signs from billboards.

Assigning blame isn’t an either-or choice. Spammers get most of it, because they’re actively exploiting it. Novices get very little of it, because they’ve been tricked into helping out. But people who should know better but remain wilfully ignorant ought to get *some* of the blame when they open the latest virus (despite being told “Don’t open anything that says XYZ!”), click on the “Install spyware now!” link, etc.

–Kelson

]]> by: Anonymous http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10657 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2005/04/20/users-to-blame-for-spam/#comment-10657 <i>"But people who should know better but remain wilfully ignorant ought to get *some* of the blame when they open the latest virus..."</i><br /> <br /> We agree.<br /> <br /> Here's another spin. In an ideal world there would be no spam and therefore no problem. We would never be able to blame users for clicking on links and acting like idiots in this respect. No spam, no blaming users. However, as soon as you introduce spam into the equation you open up the possibility to blame users. Users didn't ask for spam. Users are being hit by outside forces and it negatively impacts them, yet they get blamed for their actions. <br /> <br /> For some reason my argument above reeks of "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." ;-)<br /> <br /> “But people who should know better but remain wilfully ignorant ought to get *some* of the blame when they open the latest virus…”

We agree.

Here’s another spin. In an ideal world there would be no spam and therefore no problem. We would never be able to blame users for clicking on links and acting like idiots in this respect. No spam, no blaming users. However, as soon as you introduce spam into the equation you open up the possibility to blame users. Users didn’t ask for spam. Users are being hit by outside forces and it negatively impacts them, yet they get blamed for their actions.

For some reason my argument above reeks of “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” ;-)

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