{"id":21548,"date":"2020-01-30T10:34:08","date_gmt":"2020-01-30T10:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/glosario-digital\/spam"},"modified":"2026-05-11T23:03:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T23:03:53","slug":"spam","status":"publish","type":"encyclopedia","link":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/spam","title":{"rendered":"Spam"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"spam\"Definition:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Spam <\/i><\/b>is what is known as unwanted bulk email. That is, an email that is sent to a multitude of people without prior approval, with the aim of promoting a product, service or even a particular scam. These messages are often promotional, advertising and contain links to suspicious websites that may infect the recipient’s electronic device with a virus or other malware.<\/p>\n\n

Origin of the term Spam<\/h2>\n

The term “Spam” comes from the combination of the English words ‘spiced’<\/strong> and ‘ham’.<\/strong> Its origin dates back to 1937, when Hormel Foods Corporation<\/strong>, an American food company, began marketing a minced meat product. Although initially not very successful, the term gained notoriety in the 1970s thanks to a sketch on the comedy show “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”<\/strong>. In this sketch, a group of Vikings interrupted a menu by repeating“Spam, Spam, Spam<\/em>” excessively, which led to the term being associated with unwanted and annoying information.<\/p>\n

How Spam is Generated<\/h2>\n

Spam is usually sent through mailing lists<\/strong> or by bots<\/a> using servers with changing IP<\/strong> addresses. These messages can be promotional and advertising messages, and often contain links to suspicious websites that can infect the recipient’s device with malware. In addition, spam content may be related to phishing<\/a> activities, impersonation or the dissemination of false information.<\/p>\n

Spam regulations and authoritative resources on Spam<\/h2>\n

Although some companies use spam to advertise their products and services, this practice is prohibited by law<\/strong> in many countries. Using this technique is inadvisable, as the sender may face legal charges. There are legal procedures in several countries to report spammers to the competent authorities in order to prevent future abuse. Here are some reliable resources on spam:<\/p>\n