Why is it called spam, anyway? A brief inbox history

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > > Why is it called spam, anyway? A brief inbox history

May 12, 2023

If you have an email address, you’ve likely received spam messages before. Spam email may come across as harmless, but these unsolicited messages sometimes attempt to steal your information. Learn more about the history of spam email and how it got its name.

Why is it called spam, anyway? A brief inbox history – Microsoft 365 (1)

What is spam email?

Spam email, also known as junk mail, is unwanted or unsolicited messages that wind up in your inbox. In other words, spam email comes from mailing lists that you never signed up for. For example, if you suddenly receive emails from a cruise company offering buy one, get one deals, but you’ve never signed up for emails from said company or even been on a cruise, you’ve received a spam message. Spam messages may come from companies who are simply trying to advertise their products or services, but other spam messages are known as phishing attacks. Phishing emails attempt to steal your information by appearing to come from a credible source, like your bank or car insurance company.

Why is it called spam, anyway? A brief inbox history – Microsoft 365 (2)

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Why is it called spam?

Using the word “spam” to describe pesky messages came from the TV show Monty Python’s Flying Circus. A sketch in one of the episodes featured Vikings who passionately chant about Spam, the brand name for canned, processed meat. Their chants in the sketch became so loud and repetitive that they muted any other conversations.¹ Eventually, this sketch became synonymous with annoying messages, and “spam mail” was born.

“Spam messages may come from companies who are simply trying to advertise their products or services, but other spam messages are known as phishing attacks.”

What was the first spam email message?

The first known spam email sent was in 1978. Gary Thuerk, a marketing manager, sent approximately 400 people an email advertising his company’s new computer model. His spam efforts reportedly earned the company $13 million in sales.²

How do spammers get your email?

There are a few different ways that spammers can get your email. Once of the methods spammers may use is simply guessing your email. They can also scan the web looking for your email¬—if your email is posted online, they can find it. Some spammers purchase email lists from other companies or services. It’s important to check a website’s privacy policy when you sign up for their emails to see what they may do with your email address.

How to recognize spam email

If you receive an email from an unknown company or a company that you’ve never purchased from, it’s likely spam mail. If you think an email you’ve received is spam, look for these signs:

Urgent messages, for example, messages that say “Act Now” or “Limited Time Only”
Messages that are too good to be true, for example, free money, student loan forgiveness, or prizes
Unusual email addresses or email addresses whose domains don’t match the company they claim to work at

Tips to prevent spam email

Most email providers like Outlook have excellent spam filters. If you find that you’re getting more spam than usual, you can make your Outlook filters more vigilant. To change your filtering settings: