beeldspam

Beeldspam, or image spam, is unsolicited messages that rely primarily on images to convey a message. It is distributed via email and other messaging platforms, and may contain little or no textual content. Some image spam uses tracking pixels to determine whether a message was opened, enabling senders to gauge campaign effectiveness.

Formats and techniques include emails with embedded images loaded from external servers, as well as image-only messages that have no alt text or accompanying copy. Deceptive image file names, logos, and branding are used to make messages appear legitimate, and links may be embedded in or around images to direct recipients to phishing sites or malware downloads. Image spam can promote products, scams, or illicit content.

Impact and challenges: Image spam can invade privacy, consume bandwidth, and erode trust in electronic communications. It complicates filtering because image content is harder to analyze than text. Many users rely on client settings that block remote images by default.

Detection and countermeasures: Email security systems analyze image content, image-hosting domains, and associated URLs; filtering, URL reputation, and machine-learning classifiers help identify image spam. Standards like DMARC, SPF, and DKIM help prevent spoofed senders. Users can opt to block external images and report spam; platforms employ moderation for image-based posts.

Regulation and scope: Beeldspam falls under broader spam laws in many jurisdictions, which typically require opt-out mechanisms and identify the sender. Enforcement varies, and new formats—across email, messaging apps, and social networks—continue to challenge regulators and researchers.