What is SPAM?

Spam is an unsolicited email message or posting, commercial in nature, that is sent to multiple recipients and does not contain a valid opt out. Spam is always commercial advertising, often for dubious products, get-rich-quick schemes, or quasi-legal services or pornography. It is also commonly known as junk mail, unsolicited commercial email (UCE) and unsolicited Bulk email (UBE).

Origin of the word ‘spam’

The word ‘spam’ comes from Hormel Foods’ canned meat, SPAM, via a famous skit from the BBC TV comedy show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus. In this skit, a cafe menu offers almost nothing without several portions of SPAM and a chorus of Vikings sings ‘spam’ repeatedly, drowning out other conversation. From this, the word ‘spam’ has been applied to data overloads in online games, bulk USENET postings and now to bulk email and bulk messaging in other media.