SPAM, or unsolicited commercial e-mail, is junk e-mail or mail that has been sent to you by someone you don't know, unsolicited without your consent. The sender takes your address from Web sites, newsgroups, or domain registrations. The messages can be abundant, and often host viruses that may harm productivity and cause frustration. SPAM robs valuable network resources from essential business and educational operations.

It is not illegal to send SPAM; it is actually considered to be a legal form of free speech under the First Amendment. However, those who find themselves wading through SPAM in their mailboxes every day find it to be annoying and time-consuming.

There are a variety of methods available for blocking mail sent by known sources of SPAM, including subscription-based agencies that maintain databases of addresses known to have proliferated SPAM. In an attempt to prevent, or at least reduce the volume of SPAM that is directed at NIU's e-mail users, Information Technology Services (ITS) has recently subscribed to two of these services.

Now when mail is received by NIU's post office, the sender's address is cross-referenced against the databases of known offenders. If a match is made, the mail is returned to the sender with a "failure to deliver" notification message. All mail remains encrypted, and cannot be read by anyone but the person to whom it was addressed.

If someone you know has unsuccessfully attempted to send mail to your NIU account, contact the ITS Customer Support Center at 753-8100, or complete the trouble report form on the Web at: http://www.its.niu.edu/its/formsproc/problem_submission_form.htm.