2002-09-06»
drive-by spamming: still a theoretical dangerยปQuote from Adrian Wright, the expert “quoted” in a ZD Net story which claimed spammers were using open WiFi points to send “millions” of unsoliticed e-mails :
It seems I’ve been everso slightly misquoted in that I actually said ‘could’ in this presentation. i.e. “These people COULD simply drive up to a building armed with their… Apart from that it looks like a good story!
Although I know of no hard evidence that this practice of wireless drive-by spamming is taking place, I would be surprised if it was not happening – given the increasing difficulties spammers face in retaining legitimate ISP access – within the more developed nations anyway.
My emphasis. In other words, “drive-by spamming” is still a something that some people endlessly predict will happen if you leave your AP insecure, but of which no record exists in the wild.
Adrian also said that drive-by spamming had been covered many times (true) and ZDNet was one of the most prominent new sources documenting the existence of this practice. Wait – you’re using as an authority the very organisation who completely misquoted you? On the same topic? Is that wise?