I have been recieving these very strange emails lately, from different senders, yet they are similar.
They start with a bit of strange text, then an add for some stock (at least I think thats what it is...)
Here are a few of them.
FROM: Hollis Yoder
TITLE: Are so isle
"Ay, ay, said he, laughing, like your character, indeed. and what I and once I had her in the open, I could please myself. among soldier-men to their big dinners; and still I had the same scabbit hills of sand. There was, indeed, only one thing in the nature
a manner more befitting your age. I beg at least that Mr. Stewart them into my hand in the same room with James More; and of all the settled; I am now going forth and will return in one half-hour, when I there that my respect is undiminished. If that were possible, I should
Then, Mr. Drummond, it will have to come to the throat-cutting, said We were soon alone in a chamber where we were to make-shift with a The which we did until the girl returned, and I must suppose would have alone now this long time in Leyden; and when I was by way of at my
the girl than I had guessed, and more good humour about the man than I For all which, as the day drew on and nobody came near, I began to be flesh, we must all go, all go. And if the gentleman was so far from a picture that I could not bear to doubt her innocence. The next, she
them into my hand in the same room with James More; and of all the see your lassie then. What say ye, Davie? Will ye ride with Alan? Little else of it since I ever came out of France. says he, forby a was no longer by to be their milk-cow; at which, to my very own great
Nor you neither, said I. You least of all. It concerns your nature of my relations with James More and his daughter. I was know very well I have no right to be saying it. After what passed The word in your throat and in your fathers. I cried. I have dared
sprang no faster up into her cheeks, than what it flowed back upon my friend, and we should first condole with him on his bereavement. hand: and I knew what to expect. Dinner was scarce ate when he was getting, which was not at all the kind I would have chosen: and
him, I think, the worst of all. And it used to cut me to the quick to That seemed to me the chief affair: to see them go. I dwelled upon More. I had altogether three letters in the time of our separation. that the bare name of soldier rises on my stomach. Our traffic is
indeed, I was near as sorry for the girl, and sorry enough to be scarce that thought, all else that was upon my bosom - fears, suspicions, the I stepped before her so as to intercept her walking on. it once and then cast it from you. Theyre YOUR colours now; I wear
down to meat, we threesome. Alan had Catriona sit by him and wait upon no way by it. You see, this estate of mine has fallen in, which makes I am not here to discuss that with you, said I, but to be quit of"
FROM: Gladys Christian
TITLE: my help
The girl, my daughter, has no choice left to exercise. Her character it so that you were caring for poor me. O, Davie, Davie. made sure there was a tempest brewing there; and considering that to be way and another; and yet, there was some feeling too, for which I hated
of the sea that lies next to Scotland. It was better days with me when He had an appointment of a private nature in the town it was with the the sun had gone down, a little wisp of a new moon was following it kneeling down to you in the street, I could be kissing your hands for
his affairs and pleasures, neglected her without compunction or remark, proud to receive our benefactor, whom we regard as a brother and a son. again, I wish you could see into my heart, I cried. You would read door. I made my disposition, and paid and dismissed the men so that
storm of weeping that I thought it must have broken me. All thought I have nothing left to give or to keep back, said she. I was all occasion to be jealous; and he kept the talk so much in his own hand, said you should be free, and I must speak with you alone; little I
accident that brought the three letters the same day, and that gave turned her eyes upon me wide open with a look that bade me stay. I her own chamber. I could very well understand how she should avoid to of the valley. But if you had only some of this language, you would
And the chief of my concern was only the kind of father-in-law that I and I could not fancy, even in a dream, a better fortune than to get fallen all my length and more than all my height in a few seconds; but, I have besides studied your character, he went on; your talents are
your favour, why, very well. But we may at least congratulate you on here at my heart. What will he be wanting at all events with that near suppressing the letter; for it came long after date, and was You should have thought of all this long ago, said I, before you
water came there to await their passages; and I daresay there was worse summon up the past by the sound of it, and to gaze across on her, and David, said he, since you are so obliging as to propose it, you might And can YOU no help me? I asked, you that are so clever at the
fashion for some while, following our conductor mostly by the sound of affections and had the same rejected. And in the meanwhile I would be lane, and presently found ourselves wading in the night among deep sand where was no man to be seen, nor any house of man, except just Bazins
morning. I concluded, on the whole, that delay would not hurt What security have I. he cried. Am I to let my daughters would never make yourself out so lonely. Here are three letters; that"
FROM: Dominique Ortega
TITLE: pclearing
"care of my friends life - was clean swallowed up; and I rose to my Some little time I raged about the streets, and told myself I was the them - them that would sell their coats for ye, and them that never altogether; mine for good, my little friend and that mans no longer at
our first interview there were some expressions you misapprehended and courage was run out, but where to begin I knew not. In this painful The which we did until the girl returned, and I must suppose would have have remarked his daughters dresses, which were indeed all equally new
his affairs and pleasures, neglected her without compunction or remark, myself, you have been betrayed into two-three unpalatable expressions. kittle bit. He filled a glass of wine. Though between you and me, word - me and mine are not fit to speak to you. O, I could be
a wame and a wheen words; though Ill can never deny that he fought been so melancholy to remember. There were two that did their best into strange countries or lying dead on the red mountain; and they will I will look neither back nor forward, she interrupted. Tell me the
Well, well, says Alan, holding her hand in his and viewing her, and Nor you neither, said I. You least of all. It concerns your she went I made sure of the longer hearing to my suit; and the ground of a prospect, where there stood out over a brae the two sails of a
where we could hear a bullering of the sea. We travelled in this position, where she had been entrapped into a moments weakness, and mans fine presence and great ways went together pretty harmoniously. to dwell more upon the first than upon the second, and to be more
flesh, we must all go, all go. And if the gentleman was so far from With which I called upon his name, and we both stood up to be a mark Why, very true, says he, with an immediate change. And you must I am not thinking of you, she said, I am thinking of that man, my
consult about your father; for the way this talk has gone, an angry man we were to be seen there even from the English ship; but I kneeled down we came to the top of a small brae, and there appeared out of the keep the ones I wanted and that were something worth; I will not be
another, to have burned these things that she had worn so close upon are alone, is never done with the singing of your praises. no way by it. You see, this estate of mine has fallen in, which makes The first that I opened was naturally Alans; and what more natural
were the last to leave that fortress, and heard the doors of it close Deed, and I thought you knew me better. I have not behaved quite well spare your breath - ye can do naething. Theres just the two sets of"
FROM: Bert Garrett
TITLE: Be an theft
"fashion for some while, following our conductor mostly by the sound of that the bare name of soldier rises on my stomach. Our traffic is the off-set; and then, if I were you, and ye could do it naitural, I Well, said I, this that I have got to say is very difficult, and I
once, said I. What do you think I answered? That if I liked you as I if I were you I would not wear two thoughts on it. Only its right I the sun had gone down, a little wisp of a new moon was following it angry with her save by fits and starts. Her plea was good; she had
nobody set out by a path that led directly seaward, and by which I Well, said I, this that I have got to say is very difficult, and I doubt. So do you, and I would make that good with my sword against all asks you because he thinks I would be less likely to come wanting you.
I did and made it a long business, folding them with very little skill have hirsled you at once either to the altar or the field. My esteem of the sea. I stopped and laughed at myself at a street corner a I have long meant to set you right upon. My daughter stands beyond
rallying talk about Catriona, which it cut me to the quick to read in have come to you, beggar-folk, and have not behaved to you very well, other; neither seemed to observe me, she gazing on the floor, he weemenfolk have got no kind of reason to them. Either they like the
bent my mind to entrap her to an interview before the men returned. her scarce ever but at meals, and then of course in the company of events that flowed from that accident, and which I might have prevented Catriona, I cried, gazing on her hard, is it a mistake again? Am I
to consider how very poorly they were likely to fare when Davie Balfour consult about your father; for the way this talk has gone, an angry man I do not know that ever I heard him speak so straight to peoples care of my friends life - was clean swallowed up; and I rose to my
a manner more befitting your age. I beg at least that Mr. Stewart your favour, why, very well. But we may at least congratulate you on to be such a gomeral that ye cannae tell the tane frae the tither. thought I did - and O, but I like you better. - I would marry you at
embarrassed. If any had seen us there, it must have been supposed that I have decided on the latter of the two ways open. James More. If we were alone even for a moment, I made it my devoir to see you, she said. And then of a sudden her face flamed, her eyes
you. And to that end I must talk of your position. Now, Mr. Drummond, to you, but that was weakness. And to think me a coward, and such a satisfy myself exactly; and none else shall anyways meddle - you the"
(This was the first and is a bit different)
FROM: Madge Ochoa
TITLE: To or refection
"Pain is only weakness leaving the body. U.S. Marines proverb Those who play bowls must look out for rubbers Play on 'An apple a day keeps the doctor away'
Possible Interpretation: Quiet people are often thoughtful. What goes up must come down. A little Learning is a dang'rous Thing;
A chain is no stronger than its weakest link. It's a poor job that can't stand at least one supervisor.
Don't burn your bridges before they're crossed. Pen is mightier than sword. If the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain..
Nice guys finish last. From The Mourning Bride, act i, scene i, by William Congreve. From The Mourning Bride, act i, scene i, by William Congreve. An Englishman's home is his castle
This too, shall pass. Possible Interpretation: World War II propaganda illustrating the perils of gossip. Alternative: Who shall guard the guardians?
The wish is father to the thought. A cat may look at a king.
Keep no more cats than catch mice. Better late than never. Money makes the mare go.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Patience is a virtue. Possible Interpretation: Refers to doing two things at once, or multi-tasking. As California goes, so goes the nation.
Repeating a lie doesn't make that lie true. Alternate version: In for a dime, in for a dollar. Give and take is fair play.
Red sky at night: shepherd's delight. Red sky in the morning: shepherd's warning. No hoof, no horse.
Beggars can't be choosers. Software and Sex are good, when they are free. Fretting cares make g
Hope for the best, expect the worst. Grace Hopper Interpretation: Do not hinder your own actions or the actions of others to spite some one. You must never confuse your feelings with your duties. He who hesitates is lost.
Simple minds think alike. (William Truong) When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Chance favors the prepared mind.
He who pays the piper calls the tune. An Englishman's home is his castle The coat makes the man. That which does not kill you, makes you stronger. If it is broken, fix it... with duct tape.
Possible Interpretation: fancy way of saying that we should play as a team and not as individual players. There's no arguing with the barrel of a gun. Alternate: If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried. Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves."
I havent attempted to piece them together or anything, i dont know if they will form something coherant or...not...or...
I dont know, tell me what you think.
Well...
(http://www.mygroceryshop.com.au/images/spam_ham.jpg)
It's a secret code from the government. Look closely, there's a pattern, and it's quite visible once you get it. You see words that dont' fit, like character and open and two-three. I've done this before. It's quite fun when you get it. :P
Spam. Generated, garbled spam. Some people have published their "spam poems" so I think its the best spam out there.
While we have a thread devoted to spam, here's the link to the telemarketer warrior! #1 on ytmnd (which I normally despise)
http://howtoprankatelemarketer.ytmnd.com/
Speaking of spam, recently my yahoo email has been getting confused and putting spam into my normal folder, and normal stuff (Say myspace notifications) in my bulk folder! Is spam getting smarter to fool the filters? It's starting to work itself out a bit, but I'm still getting the odd spam slipping through the cracks.
I think the problem with your Yahoo Spam Filter just may be the part of it that's "yahoo".
*ahem* It's been 100% reliable for over nine years, thanks. ::)
(http://atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu/pix/random/laptopspam.jpg)
Spam spam spam spam, spam spam spam spam!
I'm getting strange Swedish newsletters from some autocad company, and I don't understand most of their contents. It's not spam, per se, as I signed up for something of theirs and they started sending newsletters in Swedish, altho I'm rather sure I put my nationality and country in as being Finnish :P The part that bothers me is that I have no idea where in the letters - if such exists - the unsubscribe link is...
I rather like the first one I got, especially the saying
"If at first you dont suceed, destroy all evidence that you tried"
EDIT:
Heres a new one from today.
FROM: Kathryn Crawford
TITLE: Be Mask
"unexpected of all, we appeared to be no more struck with all these captain and passengers, not knowing of her destitution - and she being Ye see what way I stand with it; and its clear Im no very likely to water. The body of the vessel was thus quite hid as I drew near, but
grammar; so that, for a brother and sister, we made a most uneven pair. It is what we have to speak of, said I, and the sooner yet the Captain Sang, raging and saying the thing was a disgrace; that it was had wished the same. I stood up on the other side and spread my arms;
at the Assembly, and to make a complete roll of all that ever was were the good days, but it is all like a dream that I have seen and trust Catriona in the hands of any other Christian being; the answer to myself; and what was in my own, I was afraid to consider. I need make
and fro before her, in the manner of what we call a smugglers walk, I do not know, said she; I am only telling you the seeming in my two faces smiling across at me - Miss Grants and Catrionas. the morning, in a burst of wintry sun between two squalls of hail, I
up and was so good to you. And everybody in the world would do the Since I could make no more of her, I was fain to be content with this. spoke it out with an accent so particular that I seemed to see the look from the window, being seven storeys above ground. All I could do was
contrivances, which gave me a near sense of foreign travel and a new why. I have been a bad ungrateful girl to you; and do what you please The rain passed ere day; it was but a sloppy morning as we came into life upon your knees. O, I ken well enough it was for your father that
What kind of justice do you call this, to blame me for some words that Catriona. It is her I will never look the road of, not if she lay she stepped upon the deck, smiling, and making my best bow, which was now vastly finer than some months before, when first I made it to her
themselves, at least - the public was none the wiser; and in course of Ah, she will say so indeed. cries Catriona. Yet it was for the name witty; and I was at a little pains to be the BEAU, and she I believe ready: but both our master and the patroon of the boat scrupled at the
is she had a very good reason, if she would have told us. Sailing were the good days, but it is all like a dream that I have seen and wagged along, and there was not a pennyweight of difference; and the lass that could resist the temptation. Its supposed by divines to be
any sun at all, it shone direct in our two chambers. From a tavern was hanged; and behold. when I met Mr. Simon in the causeway, I was her. But there was one misfortune: thinking to help, she was rather"
EDIT 2:
The first one is bits and pieces of the Novel "Catriona" The sequel to "Kidnapped" by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Ay, ay, said he, laughing, like your character, indeed. and what I [most admire in it. ] (chap27)
[...the fine morning would decoy her forth;] and once I had her in the open, I could please myself.
(chap30)
[Next Alan came, and I went] among soldier-men to their big dinners; and still I had the same [ thought.] (chap30)
[It was plainly hard upon the sea, yet out of all view of it, and beset on every side with] scabbit hills of sand. (chap30)
There was, indeed, only one thing in the nature [of a prospect, where there stood out over a brae the two sails of a windmill...]
(chap30)
[... and my daughter divert yourselves in] a manner more befitting your age. (chap29)
I beg at least that Mr. Stewart [would come here;...] (chap29)
[...and that gave]them into my hand in the same room with James More; [and of all the events...] (chap27)
and of all the [Our traffic is] settled; I am now going forth and will return in one half-hour, [when I expect to find my chambers purged of you.] (chap28)
when I there (unknown)
[You would read there] that my respect is undiminished. (chap26)
If that were possible, I should [say it was increased.] (chap26)
Then, Mr. Drummond, it will have to come to the throat-cutting, said [I.] (chap27)
(I havent finished the rest because I dont have time...)
We were soon alone in a chamber where we were to make-shift with a The which we did until the girl returned, and I must suppose would have alone now this long time in Leyden; and when I was by way of at my
the girl than I had guessed, and more good humour about the man than I For all which, as the day drew on and nobody came near, I began to be flesh, we must all go, all go. And if the gentleman was so far from a picture that I could not bear to doubt her innocence. The next, she
them into my hand in the same room with James More; and of all the see your lassie then. What say ye, Davie? Will ye ride with Alan? Little else of it since I ever came out of France. says he, forby a was no longer by to be their milk-cow; at which, to my very own great
Nor you neither, said I. You least of all. It concerns your nature of my relations with James More and his daughter. I was know very well I have no right to be saying it. After what passed The word in your throat and in your fathers. I cried. I have dared
sprang no faster up into her cheeks, than what it flowed back upon my friend, and we should first condole with him on his bereavement. hand: and I knew what to expect. Dinner was scarce ate when he was getting, which was not at all the kind I would have chosen: and
him, I think, the worst of all. And it used to cut me to the quick to That seemed to me the chief affair: to see them go. I dwelled upon More. I had altogether three letters in the time of our separation. that the bare name of soldier rises on my stomach. Our traffic is
indeed, I was near as sorry for the girl, and sorry enough to be scarce that thought, all else that was upon my bosom - fears, suspicions, the I stepped before her so as to intercept her walking on. it once and then cast it from you. Theyre YOUR colours now; I wear
down to meat, we threesome. Alan had Catriona sit by him and wait upon no way by it. You see, this estate of mine has fallen in, which makes I am not here to discuss that with you, said I, but to be quit of"
I still haven't worked out what the point of these spam poems is ... do the spammers have shares in a large poetry publishing corporation, and expect to make large profits by getting everyone into poetry?
No idea, I thought it was to evade the spam filters. But I wouldn't recommend opening spam if you know it's spam. Why risk potential virus infections?
EDIT: Oh, there you go then!
Quote from: Pumaman on Wed 13/12/2006 20:59:09
I still haven't worked out what the point of these spam poems is ... do the spammers have shares in a large poetry publishing corporation, and expect to make large profits by getting everyone into poetry?
By adding lots of random content, they hope to fool spam filters. Spam filters sometimes work woth a spam word ratio: the more 'spam words' the higher the change a mail IS spam. SO by adding lot's of non spam words, spammers hope their mails get through those filters.
A relatively new way of tracking your surfing habits and securing personal info is through the use of transparent "web bugs," small (usually 1x1) .GIF files that are linked to various Web pages. As said above, the point of the word jumble is to get through the spam filter. If you e-mail client is setup to auto-load images (as many are), the 1x1 .GIF attachment will load - without you realizing it.
Why do this? When the image is requested by your e-mail client, the spammer knows he found a "valid human" on the other end -- and your e-mail goes on the "known good" list. This just means that you will end up getting more spam later.
Some email servers know about this trick, and will strip off the .GIF. So, when it reaches you, it is just a waste of bandwidth -- nothing more. (Really, I think they should just bounce the mail at that point -- but most servers are not that agressive).
--jim
Quote from: JimmyShelter on Wed 13/12/2006 21:06:05
By adding lots of random content, they hope to fool spam filters. Spam filters sometimes work woth a spam word ratio: the more 'spam words' the higher the change a mail IS spam. SO by adding lot's of non spam words, spammers hope their mails get through those filters.
Yes, but what's the point of spam that only contains a random poem? I mean, there's no point in sending spam unless you hope to make some money out of it, so how does cunningly evading the spam filters to deliver a pointless message to people make sense?
If it had a poem followed by "BUY THIS VIAGRA" or "YOUR EBAY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN LIMITED PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR CREDIT CARD DETAILS" you could kinda see how they intend to profit, but this doesn't seem to be the case.
Read my earlier post for the update!
Quote from: Pumaman on Wed 13/12/2006 22:59:12
Yes, but what's the point of spam that only contains a random poem?
How about... person recieves blatant spam. They ignore it. Person recieves poem with the GIF Jimmy mentioned and has a read - BAM! - the account is live! They get loads more spam!
Well what's the point in more spam of the same type? I mean, they'll need the mumbo jumbo to get past the filters in the future, too.
Thunderbird strips images out of e-mails, that aren't embedded in the mail itself. I've found it really useful. Dunno if IE does the same.
Quote from: JimmyShelter on Wed 13/12/2006 21:06:05
Yes, but what's the point of spam that only contains a random poem? I mean, there's no point in sending spam unless you hope to make some money out of it, so how does cunningly evading the spam filters to deliver a pointless message to people make sense?
Quote
Well what's the point in more spam of the same type? I mean, they'll need the mumbo jumbo to get past the filters in the future, too.
That isn't of much concern to the "address gather" guy. He makes his money by creating lists of valid e-mail addresses. That is to say, his customer isn't you -- it is other spammers who want valid people. He just sells the list. How the actual spammer gets through your filters is their problem!
On the same topic, people in the busniess of gathering addresses also send "fake spam" -- just a really annoying e-mail (stock tips or something) and a really big UNSUBSCRIBE thing at the bottom. If you click "unsubscribe", you validate your address -- and get put on the list. It's called "malicious harvesting". It sucks.
Once you are "harvested" - through whatever method - your e-mail will be sold many, many, times. I think the going rate is around $40 per million...
http://www.americaint.com/bulk-email-lists/buy-email-lists.html
How do I deal with spam? Well, I have an interesting technique that I will share with you. I created a second e-mail account on my server (junk@hejl.com) - and I give the address out EVERYWHERE. My intention, in fact, is to get the "junk" address on all of the big lists. And - it worked. When spammers send their bulk e-mail, I have my e-mail server check for a post or a "cross post" to the junk address. If this happens, I bounce the email, and blacklist the sending IP for about 10 minutes.
Try it! It's cool. Send a single e-mail to both: jim@hejl.com and junk@hejl.com
It will bounce right back.
Amazingly, this has worked very well. My e-mail server bounces dozens of these "cross posted" e-mails every day. And, spammers hate bounces. It's a great way to get "invalidated" -- and off the list.
--jim
Quote from: JimHejl on Wed 13/12/2006 23:31:27
The motivation for the spammer is to find a "live" e-mail address. That is... a human being is on the other side, reading it. So, the GIF thing is a trap -- when you open it, you validate your e-mail.
Didn't someone else just say this?
Quote from: JimHejl on Wed 13/12/2006 21:36:45
A relatively new way of tracking your surfing habits and securing personal info is through the use of transparent "web bugs," small (usually 1x1) .GIF files that are linked to various Web pages.
Relatively new? I can't remember the last time I saw an e-mail client that didn't automatically hide images.
Quote from: ManicMatt on Wed 13/12/2006 01:40:14
Speaking of spam, recently my yahoo email has been getting confused and putting spam into my normal folder, and normal stuff (Say myspace notifications) in my bulk folder! Is spam getting smarter to fool the filters? It's starting to work itself out a bit, but I'm still getting the odd spam slipping through the cracks.
Grrr. I've been getting the same problem. I guess spammers have figured out a way to get around the blocks yahoo uses... sad really.
Quote from: Jay on Thu 14/12/2006 20:56:46
Relatively new? I can't remember the last time I saw an e-mail client that didn't automatically hide images.
The _method_ of harvesting/validating e-mail in this manner is relatively new. E-mail clients have been able to hide images for a very long time (although the idea was mostly to hide porn). "Automatically hide" doesn't mean anything. It's just a setting - and some people have it enabled, and some people have it disabled.
Just change your settings to display email as plain text and turn off previews. Voila. Pretty basic really.
Though I can't claim that this actually cuts down on your spam over time. Once your address gets out, it seems that you're f---'ed.
My address "got out" about seven years ago..
(Okay I don't know how many years ago, but a very long time ago)
Plain text huh? Ok!
Actually, not sure if there's a text mode in Yahoo mail. I was actually talking about email clients (Thunderbird, Outlook, etc).
Of course, the best option is to just delete spam without even looking at it. If it's not an email that you're expecting to get or it's not from someone you know, just delete it.
Spam that gets through to me is very easy to identify. The subject line about always is either blank or starts with FW:, RE: or a combination/repetition of those. And sender address' are afidkdjfkl@afioadf.dfoaidf, and I know for sure dfoaidf is not a domain end thingy.
I did actually get fooled into opening some spam the other day. It was a day after I'd posted my guy with horns sprite in the critics lounge, and I had an email with the subject "Horn guy" so.. I thought it was an email about that! But it was junk... (With an image in it too)
Maybe they meant to write "horny guy"?