Spam and Beyond: An Information-Economic Analysis of Unwanted Commercial Messages

Abstract

The phenomenon of unwanted commercial messages (UCM), including e-mail spam and emerging forms that target other Internet communications facilities, is analyzed from an information-economics perspective. UCM traffic pays off for its senders when it is noticed and consumed by Internet users; the industry is, therefore, dependent on a common-pool resource that is accessed through an information asset. An analytical model of the industry is derived and solved computationally, and two dimensions of information quality held by the senders of UCM traffic are manipulated in the model. It is shown that such manipulations can moderate over time both the number of UCM campaigns undertaken and the amount of Internet bandwidth consumed by UCM. Manipulations of the information-quality dimensions affected by e-mail filtering reduce the amount of traffic that penetrates an Internet user's attention space but increase the amount of Internet bandwidth consumed. This is consistent with data reported by e-mail security providers as filters have been deployed. It is also shown that both public and private entities have adopted policies and practices with unintentional informational side effects. These effects may have led to more rather than less, spam e-mail traffic. It is concluded that the lessons learned from the case of e-mail spam can be applied to the development of policies and practices for mitigating newer, emerging forms of UCM, including versions targeting instant-messaging systems and Web logs.

Toward an information-compatible anti-spam strategy

“…Although our instinct is to keep our email addresses private, models show that fewer spam messages would be aimed at the average inbox if all addresses were public knowledge. 6 The discussion surrounding a proposed do-not-spam registry in the U.S. is an example of this particular information effect interacting with anti-spam policy. 1…”

“…6 As filters improve, the information assets of spammers become more valuable and lead to more, not less, overall spamming activity. This is troubling to contemplate, because it means no amount of spending on better filters will be enough.…”

Economic assessment of externalities for interactive audio media anti-SPIT protection of internet services

“…In Plice et al (2008), it is showed that internet users consider spam 'objectionable', due to the fact that it induces direct cost (security infrastructure) and indirect cost (information overload). Spam is mainly fought by two parties ).…”

Economic Evaluation of Interactive Audio Media for Securing Internet Services

“…degrading user experience 2. containing malicious software that, when is executed, could destroy the computing system 3. transferring and discovering waste a significant amount of network and computing resources [23] from user side, shows that internet users consider spam "objectionable" due to fact that it induce direct cost (security infrastructure) and indirect cost (information overload). The real financial profit of spam is aiming for the cost of sending spam against anti-spam techniques to be less than the return from the negligible response from recipients [24].…”