Legitimate Companies Contributing To The Spam Problem

Filed in archive Spam on December 15, 2007

In order to get a copy of this program called Stuffit Expander, you have to agree to give your email address, which is then added to an "opt-in" mailing list where the manufacturer, Smith Micro, sends you email about their products.

Oh sure, you are given the opportunity to opt-out, but it's extra work. How many people go through the trouble of opting-out, when most spam experts suggest ignoring the opt-out function for the very reason it invites more spam. (Why? People who run spam sites may honor opt-out requests, but then they'll sell your email address to someone else who will spam you.)

Legitimate companies should not require signing up for their email list in order to obtain free products. Legitimate companies should also employ double opt-in systems to ensure only those people who actually want to sign up to be on a mailing list are added. Anything else is basically contributing to the spam problem.