What to do ?????????? 11

[BlckJckFrnk]

I work in a samll of 50 and I try to due my best to get rid of spam. While going through my spam filter, I came across one for a kiddie porn site. Not only one, but two. This is the first time I had to deal with this issue, if it is an issue. Again this is the first time. Should I confront the end user that it was directed too???? Should I tell a mgr???????

 

[edemiere]

Well, I would mention it, but only with respect to it coming to the office because we both know you cannot control spam that just seems to show up. I wouldn't necessarily worry about who it was addressed to, but let them know as an FYI sort of thing.

At least that is how I would approach it with the information you have given.

Cheers!

 

[CajunCenturion]

Although the spam was addressed to a particular end-user does not mean that the end-user requested it, or signed up for it, or had anything to do with it being sent. How the email address was obtained is anybody's guess. To bring this to management's attention, at least in the specific case, would, IMHO, not be appropriate.

You might want to have a generic policy about spam, agreed upon by management, and what your end users should do if and when it arrives, including some reporting guidelines, and with one option certainly being to make yourself available to help address and rectify the problem.

If you go to the users, it may be view as an accusatory action, but if you let them come to you for help, then it's much easier to deal with without getting personal.

Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[Kjonnnn]

These days you cant really accuse someone because of spam or even some cookies.

People get dozens of porn spam messages without going to a porn site. Sometimes even when searching on the net people may click the wrong thing and end up in one of those porno popup loops that you cant get out of.

Downloaded pics or the porno sites in their history would be more convincing.

 

[BlckJckFrnk]

Thanks for the input.......It all helps.....

 

[edfair]

You might go to the users as a matter of policy and tell them that your filter had caught the mesage and request their input on disposition.
Lets them know the filter is in place, but also lets them know you are not going to destroy anything with their name on it without their approval.
I would also inform management of the intent without specifying the content.
I think it would build trust on all sides.

Ed Fair
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[GwydionM]

The thing about Spam is that it can be profitable if one in 100,000 gets taken up. That's why it is much worse than junk mail, where the sender has to pay for a postage stamp and where it needs a 1 in 200 return to make money, on average.

I am a British male, and am happy to say this much on my profile. But I still get offers of breast enlargements, characters claiming that they share my zip code, and others saying that Russian women prefer American men. One of them also offered to help me stop eating, do they sell cyanide capsuals?

But only very rarely is it funny. Most of it is boring, and I may also have missed one or two genuine people because there is so much wasteful rubbish.

 

[chiph]

BlckJckFrnk -

I would ignore it, as the chances of anyone being stupid enough to request kiddie pr0n while at work are pretty remote. Unless, of course, that was the only type of spam this person ever got...

But an occasional one showing up in the filter is not a cause for concern. The sender is the one who needs a talking-to, but finding them is usually impossible, as the return address and return IP address is always forged.

Just be glad your filter caught it.

Chip H.


If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first

 

[BlckJckFrnk]

Again Thanks for all the comments. All users are awhere of our spam policy and we know from time to time your going to get obscene material, but this was a kiddie porn site which through us for a bit of a loop.

 

[GlenJohnson]

Since it was kiddie porn, I would ask management if you should contact the authorities. Porn is one thing, kiddie porn is another. This should ALWAYS be reported to the authorities in my opinion. You want to send me breast enlargement e-mails, porn e-mails whatever, no problem. First time I get an e-mail for kiddie porn, I'm going straight to the FBI. Sorry to sound harsh on the subject, but this is one thing I won't tolerate any way shape or form. The fact that it was directed at someone doesn't matter. The fact that it exists does.

Glen A. Johnson
Johnson Computer Consulting

http://www.johnsoncomputers.us

"The best fire does not flare up the soonest."
George Eliot (1819-1880); Englist novelist.

Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884

 

[Grenage]

It would seem rather pointless to tie up the authorities time answering to complaints they can do nothing about.

Dodgy sites such as these won't be on American soil or on any soil we ever heard of I imagine.

 

[wbg34]

GlenJohnson is dead on with this one. I would notify management about what was received and then contact the authorities. If the Authorities feel it is a waste of time, then let them tell you. Kiddie Porn mailing lists are definately one place that you do not want to find your E-mail address listed.

 

[Kjonnnn]

It think its irresponsible to turn the man in for one spam email from a kiddie porn site. You don't know how it will effect his life. Allegations in this society are often more detrimental than truths.

Can you guarantee that the accusation WONT circulate among your employees? And if he's found innocent can you guarantee that everyone that heard the pedophine rumor will also hear the "it was nothing he's innocent" rumor? Can you guarantee he will get his life back?

Do you have:
- Any evidence that he repeatedly goes to kiddie porn site (web log?)
- Any evidence of downloaded kiddie porn pictures?
- Evidence of any other inappropriate interactive email activity on his part that might be a red flag?

If you wanna monitor his email, web surfing and downloads for a season, fine. But ONE email doesnt make him a pedophile, any more than it makes any one of you a pornographer because of the porn spam YOU get.

Use WISDOM with the power you have as an IT Professional.

 

[CajunCenturion]

Kjonnnn -> "It think its irresponsible to turn the man in for one spam..."

It may be, but why are you assuming it's a man?

Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[Kjonnnn]

Because usually its men reported on in the news.

The gender is a nonissue.

 

[GlenJohnson]

This person recieved SPAM, not a reply. This person did nothing wrong. If I recieved something like this, I wouldn't think twice about contacting the authorities. I never go to porn sites, but I get tons of spam from them. Don't assume the person did anything wrong. Contact authorities.

Glen A. Johnson
Johnson Computer Consulting

http://www.johnsoncomputers.us

"The best fire does not flare up the soonest."
George Eliot (1819-1880); Englist novelist.

Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884

 

[Kjonnnn]

Glen your responses confusion me.

You said the "person" received spam and did nothing wrong. To not assume the person did anything wrong ...

But you say turn him in anyway.

If thats the case, why put his life in the shadows with no evidence... once the FBI gets involved ... who knows what happens.

Look at the guy accused in the Olympics bombing...

 

[GwydionM]

If I found such a case, I would:

a) Give details of the sender to the authorities, without saying anything about the possibly innocent recipient.
b) Tell the recipient what you've done, that they got the benefit of the doubt but that such things do get noticed.

Kids do need to be protected, this overrides the normal respect for other people's privacy.

 

[Nortellian]

Accuse me and I'd own your company.

 

[Kjonnnn]

Glen ... I dont think the authorities have a problem finding the porn sites ...