December 1st, 2004
Tech execs: Wake up and smell the spam
Spam is an awareness problem, not a product or technology problem, Symantec CEO John Thompson said during a panel discussion hosted by Esther Dyson on the "Accountable Net." Esther defines the Accountable Net as strengthening the current Internet initiatives toward “authentication of servers so that users know whom to trust, or whom to hold accountable when trust is betrayed.”
The panelists in addition to Thompson (in the photo left to right: Brian Arbogast/Microsoft, Richard Gingras/Goodmail Systems, Meng Weng Wong/PoBox, Brad Garlinghouse/Yahoo, and Thompson) agreed that the policy issues are more challenging than the technology aspects, but there isn’t a silver bullet. The panelists pointed out that many Internet users are "lazy," and need some incentive and education to practice better e-mail hygiene.
Whatever the case, the industry needs to settle on standards for domain authentication. Thompson is not encouraged that agreement on a standard is forthcoming from the big e-mail vendors. “It’s a long-term problem that will require sustained effort. Some of it is technology, but education, training and awareness are key. If you don’t change behavior, behavior will be legislated or regulated and that’s something industry can’t afford to have happen."
