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