spam

Spam refers to two distinct things: a processed canned meat product and unsolicited electronic messages. The meat product SPAM was introduced by Hormel Foods in 1937. Its name is commonly described as a contraction of spiced ham, though Hormel markets SPAM as a brand rather than an acronym. The product is canned and designed for long shelf life, contributing to its wide distribution in the United States and globally, including use by soldiers and in various culinary traditions.

Spam also refers to unsolicited messages sent in bulk, typically for advertising, promotional offers, or scams. These messages are transmitted through email most often, but spam also appears on text messaging, social media, and other messaging platforms. Common characteristics include mass distribution, disguise or deception, and requests for personal information or clicks to malicious sites. Techniques used by spammers include spoofing sender identities, phishing links, malware attachments, and automation that targets large recipient lists. The impact includes wasted time and bandwidth, degraded user trust, increased security risk, and costs for individuals and organizations.

The term spam, in reference to unsolicited messages, derives from a Monty Python sketch and was popularized by early network-wide emails such as a 1978 ARPANET promotional message. In response to such activity, many jurisdictions regulate commercial email and related practices. In the United States, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 sets rules for commercial messages and provides opt-out mechanisms; in Europe, privacy and consent requirements under the ePrivacy Directive and GDPR influence anti-spam measures. Defenses include technical filters, authentication standards, user reporting, and best practices such as obtaining consent where required and honoring unsubscribe requests.